North Canterbury News: April 08, 2021

ALLTECH
14 North Canterbury News, April 8, 2021
ANIMAL CARE/HEALTH
Energy boost ... Cows sometimes need aboost in metabolisable energy.
PHOTO: SUPPLIED
Apractical option for
filling the energy gap
At this time of the year, it is not
uncommon to see autumn calving
herds having areduced appetite after
calving and spring herds not gaining
enough weight before drying off.
This can have serious
consequences: For the autumn calving
herds to not reach expected milk
production targets and budgets, as
well as possibly affecting
fertility results down the
track; and for spring
calving herds, the
challenge would be to
reach targeted calving
body condition score
later in August.
This could be
attributed to many
different reasons, but
regardless of the cause,
the common approach is
to try to fill the energy
gap, which happens after
calving and to try to
increase metabolisable
energy (ME) content in
the diet for the cows to gain weight
before winter.
Many of our customers find that the
most cost­effective and quickest way
to fill this gap is to use by­pass or
rumen­protected fats as asource of
extra energy.
There are many different products
in the current New Zealand market,
including prills, flakes, calcium soaps,
Matt Cassineri
and triglycerides, to name afew.
Each will represent different
quantities of energy available to the
cow.
Obviously, you want the product that
will supply your cows with more
energy and value per dose.
Alltech’s Energy BC will fill the
energy gap without taking space from
other feeds in the rumen.
It is a100% natural
vegetable source of fat,
with the right balance of
saturated fatty acid (C:18
and C:16) to improve
fertility and body
condition without losing
milk production.
Unlike other rumen
protected fats, because
of its form, it is highly
palatable and with no
odour that can put the
cows off their feed.
If you feel that your
cows are not performing
as planned, Energy BC
may be the solution.
This product should be fed for only
ashort period until the cows recover
their normal appetite and intake
increases.
If you are interested in knowing
more about this solution, call Alltech’s
area manager, Matt Cassineri, on (027)
208 4606 or email matt.
cassineri@alltech.com.
Seasonal surge ... Many kittens are in the care of charities around the country.
Charities seek homes
for legion of kittens
By DAVID HILL
Cat rescue organisations throughoutthe
country are looking for families to adopt
animals as the kitten season comes to an
end.
The SPCA has put out anationwide call
for more fosterfamilies to look after
vulnerable kittens, catsand sick animals
as kittenseason pushesresources to the
limit.
In North Canterbury, Cat Care
Incorporated president Betty Jones says
her group is well­supported by foster
parents.
‘‘We are coming towardsthe end of
kittenseasonand it’s been quitebusy.
We’ve taken in alot of feral cats and
we’ve had goodsuccess.
‘‘We’ve got 25 foster parentsand they
all takeindifferenttypes of cats, so we’ve
coped with the demand.’’
Cats needing to be rehomedare
promoted on the Cat CareIncorporated
page on Facebook, she says.
‘‘We’re looking for an inside home for a
wee tabby cat. She’sabout 1­year­old and
she cameinfrom afarm with two kittens.
‘‘She has half of her back paw missing,
but she’s been spayed and she’sbeen
checked by the vet,who says she’sOKto
be rehomed.’’
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PHOTO:FILE
Cat Care has severalkittens in its care
which will needtobe rehomed soon.
Anyone wanting to support Cat Care
can join the ‘‘Kitten Coffee Club’’ by
donatingthe price of acoffeeweekly,
fortnightly or monthly, or contact the
group through the website,
catcare.org.nz.
The SPCAsays its centres around the
country are almost fulltocapacity,with
more than4000 animals in its care —the
vast majority beingcats and kittens.
The callfor foster familiescomesas
researchshows thatstaying in ahome
environment helps animals recover
better from sickness or injury, and it
helps withconfidence and socialisation.
SPCA general managerofoperations
Sam Powell sayskittensare not adopted
out until theyare strong and healthy,and
old enough to have been desexed,
microchipped, vaccinated and receive
flea and wormtreatment.Hence the need
for foster families.
“We havethousands of kittenswho
need careinhomes throughout New
Zealand, at least until they reach the
stage wherewecan prepare themfor
adoption.
‘‘This is why we needtoexpandour
networkoffoster families because we are
overwhelmed at the moment.”
Kitten seasonstretches into autumn
and thisyear is no different, Mr Powell
says.
“Not only does fostering help freeup
space for other animals needing help, but
it’s also beneficialfor those that are too
young or sick to be adopted, and needa
warm, safe place in which to grow and
develop.
“A centre environment can be stressful
for some animals, so being in ahome
environment will help them develop and
recovermuch faster.”
For moreinformation on becoming a
foster parent go to www.spca.nz/adopt.