Thursday, 28 June 2012 14:50

Puts zest in your paddocks

Written by 

WHEN FARMER Henry Schipper’s vet rung him earlier this year with a proposal to try a new plant extract on his pasture, he agreed as there was “nothing to lose”.

On his 107ha Hauraki Plains farm Schipper applied Biozest to half the property. He says the effect on milk production was almost instant.

“As soon as the cows go on Biozest treated pasture, the fat and protein content in milk shot up,” he told Dairy News. Urine samples from treated and untreated paddocks are also said to show Biozest reduces urea excretion by 33%.

Schipper, who has trialled Biozest for four months, plans to keep going with it.

“In fact, I will do the whole farm with Biozest this season. My milk production from treated pasture definitely went up. I think it helps the animals utilise grass better.”

Schipper, who milks 300 cows, says 2011-12 was a great season and Biozest further helped push his returns up. In a bad year, he expects Biozest to offset production drop by lifting fat and protein content in milk.

Biozest, a liquid, is mixed with 50-500L of water. Schipper applies about 1L of Biozest per hectare. He says there have been no animal health issues so far. Feed costs are also less as pasture growth is improved.

Biozest is marketed by Indigo Investment, whose managing director Nathan Balasingham describes the product as “a new generation product”. 

Biozest is an example of the new science ‘biomimicry’, where nature’s own process is cleverly imitated, he says. 

“Biozest is made from plant extracts. It is prepared by a process that preserves the potency of the cell stimulant obtained from plants. 

“The Biozest cell stimulant is the same natural stimulant that is present in animal, plant and microbial cells. Used at extremely low rates, it will increase the metabolic behaviour of the microorganisms to high activity levels. Microorganisms treated with a continuous supply of Biozest maintain the maximum metabolic rate.”

Featured

Every vote will count - Alliance chair

An independent report, prepared for Alliance farmer shareholders is backing the proposed $250 million joint venture investment by Irish company Dawn Meats Group.

John Deere technician's record hat trick

Whangarei field service technician, Bryce Dickson has cemented his place in John Deere’s history, becoming the first ever person to win an award for the third time at the annual Australian and New Zealand Technician of the Year Awards, announced at a gala dinner in Brisbane last night.

Australia develops first local mRNA FMD vaccine

Foot and Mouth Disease outbreaks could have a detrimental impact on any country's rural sector, as seen in the United Kingdom's 2000 outbreak that saw the compulsory slaughter of over six million animals.

National

All eyes on NZ milk supply

All eyes are on milk production in New Zealand and its impact on global dairy prices in the coming months.

Machinery & Products

Amazone unveils flagship spreader

With the price of fertiliser still significantly higher than 2024, there is an increased onus on ensuring its spread accurately at…

Leader balers arrive in NZ

Officially launched at the National Fieldays event in June, the Leader in-line conventional PRO 1900 balers are imported and distributed…

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

Full cabinet

OPINION: Legislation being drafted to bring back the controversial trade of live animal exports by sea is getting stuck in the…

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter