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Davidsons Dairy Tech

Name: Davidsons Dairy Tech
Address: Gray Street, Shotts, ML75EZ, GB
Telephone: 01501 820 473

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Davidsons Dairy Tech

Davidsons Dairy Tech Team - A dedicated team of consultants united by a passion for Dairy.

Delivering expect nutritional and technical advice tailored to increase cow performance, farm productivity and overall business efficiency.

13/08/2026

𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐫𝐲 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐮𝐩 𝐭𝐨 𝟖 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐤 𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐰, 𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐚𝐲🥛

A recent study published in the 'Journal of Dairy Science' found that dry cows exposed to heat stress produced up to 8 litres less milk per day in their next lactation compared to cows kept in a cooled environment.

The dry period is one of the most critical stages in a dairy cow's production cycle, prepairing for her next lactation by:

✅ Rebuilding the mammary gland
✅ Developing new milk producing cells
✅ Preparing the udder development for high yields

When cows experience heat stress, their bodies prioritise keeping cool. Blood flow is redirected towards the skin, reducing support to the mammary gland. This can lead to:

🔹 Less oxygen reaching the udder
🔹Reduced nutrient supply for mammary development
🔹Altered Hormone function
🔹Lower milk producing capacity in the next lactation

Are your dry cows experiencing heat stress? Talk to your Dairy Tech Consultant today to discuss soultions to help reduce the impact of heat stress and protect your herd performance.

To read more, click here: https://www.davidsonsfeeds.co.uk/2025/08/13/is-heat-stress-an-issue-on-your-herd/

10/08/2026

Do you weigh your heifers?⚖️

Here's the big question: Why don't we normalise weighing our heifers?

Too often, the only target we focus on is age at first calving. But should that really be the only measure of success?

Read more here > https://www.davidsonsfeeds.co.uk/2026/08/10/why-dont-we-normalise-weighing-our-heifers/

☎️If you are looking for advice on how to monitor heifer performance at key stages, get in touch with our calf and heifer specialists today on 01501 820473

28/07/2026

💧 The Importance of Water 💧

Did you know that, after oxygen, water is the second most important nutrient for cattle?

Depending on their age, body condition and stage of lactation, a cow's body is made up of between 50% and 80% water.

Water plays a vital role in:
🐄 Regulating body temperature
🐄 Supporting rumen function
🐄 Aiding nutrient absorption

And with milk containing around 87% water, it's easy to see why a plentiful supply of clean, fresh water is essential for both animal health and productivity.

During hot weather, a dairy cow can drink up to 200 litres of water per day!

Cows also prefer to drink in social groups, particularly after feeding or milking. They can drink at a rate of 14 litres per minute, so if 10 cows are drinking together, that's 140 litres every minute. As each cow needs around 70cm of trough space, that group requires 7 metres of drinking space.

🤔 How many of your cows might want a drink at the same time?

Cows are extremely sensitive to taste and smell, so water troughs need regular cleaning—and don't forget the field troughs that can easily become "out of sight, out of mind".

Many grazing cows are now moving onto aftermath fields that may not have carried stock for 10 months or more. When did those troughs last get cleaned?

It takes as little as 0.5g of manure in a water trough to make the water 30 times less palatable to cows.

Keeping water clean, fresh and freely accessible is one of the simplest ways to improve cow health, encourage feed intake and support milk production.

Happy cows = happy farmer! 💙

20/07/2026

Is your grass quality falling back without you noticing? 🌱

Grass quality for dairy cows often declines during July, especially after the intense weather conditions we've experienced recently. As grass matures, its feed value naturally decreases, which can have a direct impact on cow performance.

🌿 Grass becomes more mature
As grass ages, it produces more stem and less leafy material. Stems contain more fibre and are less digestible than the leaves, reducing the overall feed quality.

⚡ Lower energy
Mature grass contains fewer readily digestible carbohydrates, meaning cows get less energy from every kilogram they eat.

🥛 Reduced protein
Crude protein levels also decline as grass matures. If this isn't addressed through supplementation, it can limit milk production and overall herd performance.

Regularly monitoring grass quality and adjusting your feeding strategy can help maintain milk yield and keep cows performing at their best.

16/07/2026

🥵Record-breaking temperatures are here... but what does that mean for your dairy cows?

We have seen record breaking tempertures, with atleast one day reaching 31.1°C. While we may enjoy the sunshine, our dairy cows certainly don't.

🚨 HEAT STRESS
One of the best ways to assess heat stress is using the Temperature-Humidity Index (THI).
In temperate climates, research shows that milk production can drop by up to 20% as THI increases from 68 in spring to 78 in summer.

Last week, our Dairy Tech Consultants recorded an alarming THI of 83 on farm.

What does that mean for your herd?
🐄 Reduced milk yield
🐄 Reduced fertility
🐄 Decreased dry matter intake (DMI)

Heat stress isn't just a short-term issue. It can affect up to three generations, impacting the future fertility and performance of your herd.

Practical ways to reduce heat stress:
✅ Maximise airflow and ventilation in sheds for dry cows, milking cows and calves.
✅ Ensure unlimited access to clean, fresh water, with adequate trough space so all animals can drink comfortably.
✅ Reduce stocking density wherever possible to minimise heat build-up and allow cows more space to cool themselves.

Prevention is always more effective than managing the consequences. Taking action before and during periods of hot weather will help protect cow welfare, fertility and milk production.
If you're concerned about heat stress on your farm or would like advice on improving cow comfort this summer, get in touch with our Dairy Tech team—we're here to help.

09/07/2026

🌱 Out to Grass, Out of Mind? Don't Forget Your Heifers! 🐄

Spring turnout is a welcome relief, freeing up shed space and reducing workload. But with silage season in full swing, it's easy for heifers to become the forgotten group on the farm.

✅ Monitor stocking density – Don't let grass shortages limit performance. As the AHDB graph below shows, grass growth naturally declines during June–August. Too many heifers and not enough grass can reduce dry matter intakes, slowing growth rates and delaying target bulling weights. Keep an eye on grass covers and stocking rates to ensure heifers have enough available feed to maintain performance.

✅ Group heifers by size – allowing them to be managed and fed according to their requirements.

✅ Don't underestimate the weather – our Scottish rain 🌧️ and cold conditions can force heifers to use energy for keeping warm rather than growing.

✅ Keep feeding concentrates where needed – turnout to grass doesn't mean nutritional management stops. Continued rumen development and consistent growth rates are key to achieving target bulling weights.

Heifers may be out of sight, but they shouldn't be out of mind. A little attention now can make a big difference to future herd performance. 🐄📈

07/07/2026

The successful feeding of dry cows involves planning ahead. Accurate feeding now is an example of nutrition in one period, influencing production in the next.

With autumn calving approaching, now is the time to think ahead!

Every cow has huge potential. Remove the limitations in her way and allow her to achieve what she was bred for.

✅ Plan a dry cow and transition diet.

🌾 Process forages. Grind straw whenever possible.

📊 Measure and monitor dry matter intakes.

⚡Regulate energy intakes, optimise rumen fill, and use top-quality protein sources to achieve 1200–1300g metabolisable protein per day.

🧪 Analyse forages for minerals and feed a balanced diet to avoid high DCAD issues.

💧 Provide adequate housing and feed space, with plenty of clean, fresh water always available—especially during warm summer days.

Get it right now to improve health, productivity, and the overall success of the next lactation✅

It may seem like a lot to consider, but you don't have to do it alone!The Davidsons Dairy Tech team are here to help you develop a practical feeding plan that delivers results - get in touch today - 01501 820473

03/07/2026

CALF PHOTO COMPETITION WINNERS🏆

Thank you to everyone who entered our calf photo competition, we had some great pictures to choose from📸

The winners are:

🥇1st - Hannah McQuaker
🥈2nd - Ruth Cockrem
🥉3rd - Kaitlyn Haddow

Well done to everyone who entered👏

Could the three winners please contact our office on 01501 820473 to claim your prize

01/07/2026

𝐍𝐅𝐂 𝐂𝐎𝐒𝐓 𝐕𝐒 𝐕𝐀𝐋𝐔𝐄

In a recent post, we discussed the importance of calves consuming 15kg of NFC (Non-Fibre Carbohydrates) by weaning to support optimal rumen development.

𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞'𝐬 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠...

Davidsons Performance Calf Starter contains 40% NFC, allowing calves to reach the target 15kg NFC intake by consuming just 37.5kg of starter from birth to weaning.

𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞'𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐍𝐅𝐂 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬:

✅ 40% NFC Starter = 37.5kg feed consumed = 15kg NFC delivered

✅ 30% NFC Starter = 50kg feed consumed = 15kg NFC delivered

That's an extra 12.5kg of feed per calf needed to deliver the same amount of NFC.

The challenge? Young calves can only consume so much starter each day. Lower-NFC starters require more feed intake and often more time to reach the same rumen development target.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐞𝐲 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲:

Weaning decisions shouldn't be based solely on the amount of starter consumed. They should be based on the amount of NFC consumed and the level of rumen development achieved.

Reaching a feed intake target doesn't always mean the rumen is ready for weaning.

𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝟏𝟓𝐤𝐠 𝐍𝐅𝐂 𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭?🐄📈

29/06/2026

Last week, Dairy Tech Calf & Heifer Specialist Holly attended the First Step Academy Conference in Luxembourg, hosted by Zinpro.

The conference focused on the theme "𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐂𝐨𝐰 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐲", exploring practical strategies to improve lifetime performance, health, and productivity🐄

The three-day event provided a wealth of knowledge from industry-leading speakers, with two days of classroom-based learning followed by a farm visit in Germany🇩🇪

The host farm achieves impressive results, producing an averaging of 44.8 kg of milk per cow per day, with 4.1% butterfat and 3.5% protein.

Throughout the farm visit, delegates took part in a range of workshops covering:

• Hoof health
• Transition cow management
• Heifer development
• Cow Signals and housing design
• Mineral supplementation

The visit concluded with a guided farm tour led by the farm manager, providing valuable insight into the systems and practices that contribute to the farm's success.

A fantastic opportunity to learn, share experiences, and bring new ideas home that can support more resilient, productive, and long-lasting dairy cows.

Thank you to Zinpro and all the speakers, organisers, and farmers involved for an informative and inspiring few days👏

Address

Gray Street
Shotts
ML75EZ

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 5pm
Tuesday	8am - 5pm
Wednesday	8am - 5pm
Thursday	8am - 5pm
Friday	8am - 5pm

Telephone

01501 820 473

Website

https://www.davidsonsfeeds.co.uk/news/category/dairy-tech-team/

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