As dairy farmers grapple with high feed costs cutting into their bottom lines, NOVUS International has launched a new product designed to help maximize returns on feed investments while safeguarding feed inventories. The company’s latest innovation, NEXT ENHANCE® CGO Feed Solution, offers an intelligent nutrition approach to optimizing dry matter intake and improving overall profitability.
NEXT ENHANCE® CGO Feed Solution is scientifically formulated to help dairy farmers get more out of their forage by increasing the efficiency of feed utilization. The product allows farmers to maintain milk production levels and cow body condition, all while reducing dry matter intake (DMI) per kilogram or pound of milk produced.
“High feed costs continue to cut into profits for our dairy customers,” said Ricardo Teles, Global Ruminant Solutions Senior Manager at NOVUS. “Our goal in developing this product was to positively impact profits by affecting how much dry matter farmers feed their herds. With NEXT ENHANCE® CGO, we’re maximizing a dairy farmer’s income over feed cost. We see a consistent reduction in dry matter intake without negative impacts on milk production or the cow’s body weight or body condition. In fact, in some instances, we’ve seen a boost in production.”
NOVUS’s research shows that the use of NEXT ENHANCE® CGO Feed Solution can lead to a decrease in DMI by 0.95 kg (2.08 lbs) per cow per day. This reduction in feed intake translates into significant savings in feed costs. According to Sarah Stocks, NOVUS Technical Services Manager, “A decrease of 2 pounds of dry matter intake per cow per day is significant. It means a 33-pound bag of NEXT ENHANCE® CGO can save 81,729 pounds of total mixed ration. A return like that allows the product to pay for itself while the customer sees additional income and can feel more secure about feed costs and feed inventory.”
The economic benefit of cutting back on feed without compromising production could be a game-changer for dairy farmers, who often face volatile feed prices and weather-related challenges. With the flexibility to manage feed inventory more efficiently, NEXT ENHANCE® CGO can help buffer farmers against potential feed shortages caused by drought, flood, or variations in feed quality.
The new product also aims to create a buffer for dairy farmers by reducing the total mixed ration (TMR) costs, giving them more breathing room to handle unexpected fluctuations in feed supply. “Because the cows are eating less, farmers can enjoy a buffer between their forage and drought, flood, or feed quality that can impact feed inventory,” Stocks noted.
The launch of NEXT ENHANCE® CGO comes at a critical time as dairy farmers in the United States and Europe continue to feel the impact of higher feed prices. The product is currently available in select U.S. regions and parts of Europe, with plans for further expansion.
“Farmers and nutritionists alike are looking for solutions that improve efficiency and sustainability,” said Teles. “NEXT ENHANCE® CGO is the solution that can meet these demands while supporting profitability.”
Dairy producers interested in learning more about NEXT ENHANCE® CGO Feed Solution are encouraged to speak with their local NOVUS representative to see if the product is available in their area.
