An alternative which offers food for thought

As a result, to maintain their margins, I would encourage dairy producers to look for cost efficiencies wherever possible.

One of the biggest costs on-farm is feed, to which the protein portion is a significant contributor. It is possible to reduce its impact on a farmer's bottom-line profitability if protein sources are chosen based upon proven performance.

Protein options based upon rapeseed are often overlooked by dairy farmers, as on face value they are lower in energy and crude protein compared to soya-based feeds.

However, rapeseed-based proteins have been shown in an analysis of 49 trials, published in an internationally respected scientific journal, to increase dry matter intakes (DMI) and milk yields.

When replacing Hipro soymeal (DMI of 0.29kg/day and milk yield of 0.73kg/day1), both yield and DMI increased due to rapeseed providing a better balance of amino acids for milk production, creating a pull for energy to match, that leads to drive for more intake.

Treatment of rapeseed meal using gentle steam treatment increases the rumen bypass protein, enhancing performance and hence value of rapeseed meal to dairy farmers.

Heat-treated rapeseed meal provides about 50 per cent more rumen bypass protein compared to standard rapeseed meal, and the higher bypass protein content is better utilised by the cow to produce milk.

Additionally, rapeseed-based products have better environmental footprints than imported soymeal, because rapeseed is grown and processed in the UK, whereas soymeal is typically imported from North or South America, with higher associated food miles and concerns over reduction in habitats and biodiversity.

Also, at £70/tonne cheaper than soya, heat-treated rapeseed products such as ProtoTec allow dairy herd performance to be maintained, while increasing producer margins and reducing the UK's protein deficit.

Dr Michael Marsden, Trident Feeds