Maxmedia Video Podcasts

This episode dives deep into the world of animal feed supplements, known as 'lekke,' explaining how understanding your animals' changing nutritional needs can significantly boost your farm's bottom line.

Discover the four essential categories of licks – mineral, protein, energy, and production – and learn how to choose the right one based on your animals' production stage, the type and quality of available pasture (whether green or dry), and even seasonal variations.

 

 

Mineral licks (Phosphate Licks): Understand their crucial role in animal health and economics. These licks typically contain macro-minerals like calcium (12%), phosphorus (6%), magnesium, sulfur, and potassium, as well as trace elements such as manganese, copper, zinc, cobalt, iodine, iron, and selenium. They are most effective when pasture is in its active growth phase, as this is often when phosphate and other trace elements are deficient. Phosphate supplementation offers significant economic advantages, including increased calving percentage (reproduction), weaning mass, milk production, occupation, and growth, primarily by stimulating increased grazing intake. However, phosphate licks should not be used as the sole supplement on dry pasture and need to be supplemented with protein and energy when low-quality roughage is used.

 

 

Protein Licks: Explore how to effectively supplement dry, low-quality forage. Protein licks typically contain around 25% protein, less than 45% total digestible nutrients (TDN), and a maximum of 10% urea, alongside other minerals and Vitamin A. They are essential when animals graze on stubble land, dry ryegrass, straw, and dry veld where dry, low-digestible feed is abundant. The sources distinguish between protein licks that are primarily urea-based (more than 80% of protein from urea) and those with more natural and bypass protein (less than 60% of protein from urea). Urea-dominant licks benefit maintenance animals on pasture or roughage containing less than 1% nitrogen or approximately 6% protein. Protein licks with less urea and more natural protein are better suited for young, growing animals and wool sheep on dry pasture. Signs of protein deficiency include significantly reduced grazing, even with ample dry roughage, and small, black, very dry, and hard manure.

 

 

Energy Licks: Learn when to use these for animals on protein-rich green pastures or when forage intake is low. Energy licks usually provide 15–16% protein, more than 45% TDN, and 8 MJ ME/kg energy, along with various minerals. Some energy licks include an ionophore, which inhibits less efficient rumen microbes, improves digestion, and increases energy release from feed, leading to better feed conversion. These are advisable for animals grazing on protein-rich green pastures like lucerne, medics, and ryegrass, or when dry matter intake is low due to pasture shortage. Green pasture is typically low in energy but high in soluble and degradable protein, and rumen microbes require energy to convert ammonia-nitrogen into protein. Energy licks fed with green pasture should preferably not contain non-protein nitrogen (NPN).

 

 

Production Licks: Uncover how these nutrient-dense supplements support growing young animals, late-pregnant, and lactating livestock. Production licks generally contain about 20% protein, more than 54% TDN, and 8 MJ ME/kg energy, in addition to essential minerals. They are excellent for animals with high nutritional demands due to their production status, such as growing young animals and late-pregnant and lactating animals on dry pasture. These licks must contain sufficient bypass protein to meet the higher protein needs of these animals. While production licks are more expensive due to their higher intake (approximately three times that of maintenance licks), their strategic use for the shortest possible period without sacrificing efficiency is crucial. The potential loss of income from, for example, a cow failing to conceive, far outweighs the cost of a strategically used production lick.

 

 

Safety First: Get vital advice on handling urea-containing licks, including adaptation periods and avoiding toxicity. It's crucial to remember that excess urea is toxic, and rumen microbes need to adapt to it. Animals receiving urea supplements for the first time are more sensitive than those on a continuous urea regimen.

For animals unaccustomed to urea-containing licks, it is recommended to provide only a salt lick for about seven days beforehand to prevent a salt craving when the urea-containing lick is introduced. Always ensure that licks do not get wet, as urea dissolves easily in water that collects in the troughs, which can lead to poisoning if animals consume the water.

In this episode, we explore the challenges of managing FMD, including the virus's ability to survive in water, soil, and on surfaces for up to a month, and even become airborne. We also critically examine commonly used disinfectants.

 

The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised concerns, warning against spraying or fogging certain chemicals like chlorine-based agents due to adverse health effects on workers. Traditional surface disinfectants, including hypochlorite, can contain toxins classified as health hazards and pollutants.

 

But there's good news! We introduce Peroxsil, a groundbreaking hydrogen peroxide-based disinfectant distributed by Ladismith Powder. Developed in response to the global agricultural sector's demand for sustainability and eco-friendly products, Peroxsil stands out as a powerful, effective, and broad-spectrum solution that is safe for people, animals, and the environment.

This chlorine- and alcohol-free solution disinfects through oxidization, degrades harmlessly into water and oxygen, and poses no corrosive effects on most construction materials, making it one of the safest disinfection modes available. Rigorous tests by the Agricultural Research Council have confirmed Peroxsil's efficacy in killing the FMD virus at doses safe for both humans and animals. It acts as a fungicide, antibiotic, virucide, and nematicide.

 

Ultimately, it's up to livestock farmers to choose products that align with sound environmental, social, and governance (ESG) business ethics, ensuring proper usage in accordance with label instructions. Join us as we highlight why embracing innovative, verified solutions like Peroxsil is essential for effective FMD control and the long-term health of your farm.

Join us for an insightful episode where we dive deep into effective dry cow management and its fundamental role in preparing a cow to reach her full milk potential during the subsequent lactation period. This crucial phase lays the groundwork for her health and nutrition in the next cycle.

We'll explore the four essential pillars that ensure a successful dry period:

 

Body Condition Score (BCS): Discover why monitoring BCS is considered the most important of the four pillars. We'll discuss the ideal BCS at key stages like drying off (BCS 3), calving (BCS 3-3.25), and breeding (minimum 2.75).

 

Learn about the negative impacts of both high BCS (e.g., increased NEFA levels, metabolic disorders like ketosis, depressed peak milk yield) and low BCS (reduced milk yield, lameness, lower conception rates). We'll also emphasize the importance of addressing BCS issues in late lactation, not just during the dry period.

 

Management: Understand how crucial proper farm-level management is for a correct dry cow system and its significant "knock-on effect" throughout the subsequent lactation. We'll cover optimal dry period duration (around 60 days) and the risks of extended dry periods leading to over-conditioned cows.

 

Key management considerations include minimising group changes to avoid impacting dry matter intake, providing adequate housing with one cubicle and one feed space per cow, ensuring clean water access, and managing grazing properly. Learn about the critical need to monitor pit face and forage for moulds, which can cause serious issues like abortions or metritis, and the importance of regular feed trough cleaning.

 

Nutrition: Feeding the dry cow correctly is fundamental. We'll delve into nutritional strategies like the Controlled Energy High-Fibre (CEHF) diet, a single Total Mixed Ration (TMR) system known to benefit permpartum health, dry matter intake (DMI), and overall productivity.

 

We'll discuss managing DMI around 11 kilograms and the use of chopped straw (2.5 to 5 kg) as a crucial filler to control intake, dilute high-quality silage, and manage potassium levels, all while maintaining rumen function.

The role of protein sources (like soybean meal or slow-release urea) for rumen health and colostrum quality will be highlighted, along with the benefits of including some concentrate to help rumen bacteria adapt post-calving. A survey of 277 farms showed that correctly implementing this diet led to a 60% reduction in metabolic disorders.

 

Minerals: Often overlooked, the quality and quantity of minerals are vital. We'll explain why a mineral analysis of forage is the only accurate way to determine supplementation needs.

Crucially, we'll differentiate between inorganic salts (like sodium selenite and copper sulphate), which animals don't utilise as effectively, and organic minerals, which are absorbed, stored, and used more efficiently.

 

Discover how feeding organic forms helps build the cow’s immune system, offering greater protection from metabolic diseases during stressful periods, and improves overall cow performance, including udder health and reproductive function.

 

Tune in to learn how mastering these pillars can lead to a healthier herd, fewer calving issues, and improved milk production.

In today's modern dairy industry, where efficiency, sustainability, and animal welfare are paramount, the collaboration between dairy farmers and animal nutritionists is more vital than ever before. This isn't just about milking cows; it's a complex, science-driven enterprise where nutrition is crucial for productivity, profitability, and herd health.

Join us as we explore how this essential partnership is transforming dairy farming:

 - Optimizing Productivity through Tailored Nutrition: Discover how nutritionists develop precise, science-based feeding programs customized for specific breeds, lactation stages, and local feed resources. Learn how they balance rations for energy, protein, fiber, and minerals to maximize milk production and improve milk quality – directly impacting farm profitability.

 - Enhancing Animal Health and Welfare: Understand the critical role nutritionists play in preventing common health issues like metabolic disorders, low fertility, and mastitis. We'll delve into how designed diets support immune function, digestive health, and reproductive performance, leading to reduced veterinary costs and better overall animal welfare.

- Boosting Feed Efficiency and Reducing Costs: Feed can account for over 60% of total expenses. Hear how nutritionists help farmers optimize feed efficiency, producing more milk per unit of feed, by analyzing ingredients and adjusting rations based on performance data. This partnership is key to reducing waste and making the most of on-farm resources.

 - Fostering Knowledge Transfer and Innovation: Explore the two-way knowledge exchange where nutritionists provide advice on novel feed technologies and best practices, while farmers offer invaluable practical insights. This collaboration drives continuous improvement and a deeper understanding of dairy science.

This partnership combines practical farm knowledge with scientific expertise to create feeding programs that maximize production, promote animal health, control costs, and meet environmental goals. In an era of tight margins and the need to do more with fewer resources, this collaboration is essential, not optional, guaranteeing long-term success and resilience for dairy operations.

Today, we're diving into the fascinating world of dairy, drawing insights directly from the latest 'Dairy Digits' report, a valuable feature compiled by Milk SA.

In this episode, we'll unpack the key market indicators that are shaping the industry, focusing primarily on the South African dairy sector with a look at international price trends. We'll discuss the latest figures on unprocessed milk purchased, noting the estimated 3.56% increase for 2024 to 3,458 '000 tonnes, though April 2025 estimates show a slight decrease of 1.88%. We’ll also examine the significant shifts in South Africa's dairy imports and exports, highlighting a notable 30.1% decrease in imports for 2024 and a 33.6% decrease from January to April 2025, while exports have seen an increase, particularly when including sales to other SACU countries.

Furthermore, we'll explore the crucial price trends, examining the Producer Price Index (PPI) for unprocessed milk—which was 100.5 in April 2025, down 5.81% from the previous year—and the PPI of dairy products, which saw a slight increase of 0.2% to 104.4 in April 2025. We'll also touch upon the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for milk, cheese, and eggs, providing a comprehensive view of price movements. To give you a global perspective, we’ll analyze the international free on board (FOB) prices for key dairy products like Butter, Skimmed Milk Powder (SMP), Cheddar, and Full-Cream Milk Powder (FMP), tracking their movements from January 2014 right up to May 2025.

Join us as we explore these vital statistics to understand the current state and future signals of the dairy industry. Let's get started!