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Information ArticleContented Animals Becomes a Talking PointWe've walked through dairy cows in late afternoon two weeks prior to calving and received no special attention. Most have remained sitting and ruminating, with a small number finishing the last few blades of grass available, and not a sound apart from the steady breathing of content heavily pregnant animals.  Read more about Contented Animals Becomes the Talking Point
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DoloZestUnderpinning Sustainable Growth.Growing systems, both horticultural and pastoral have come a long way in the last sixty years, with all available benefits now largely realised. The next step forward involves enhancing existing natural systems and DoloZest, based on dolomite (proven magnesium/calcium rock) is proving the ideal foundation. Regardless of what is grown, timber, meat, milk, wool or horticultural crop, the element required in greatest quantity is calcium. Increased calcium availability, provided it is balanced with other major and minor elements, increases production. This is where dolomite becomes essential. Increasing calcium availability needs increased magnesium availability to ensure both increased quantity and quality. DoloZest, containing a wide selection of beneficial soil fungi and bacteria, enhances and adds a further dimension to the proven performance of dolomite. The added fungi and bacteria have been selected to improve the rate of nutrient cycling, speed the formation of humus, increase phosphorus availability, and fix more nitrogen directly from the atmosphere. A recent Visual Soil Assessment undertaken by Graham Shepherd on a client’s property showed the soil to be sequestering carbon and have a low potential for the emission of greenhouse gasses. Monitoring of properties using DoloZest regularly since 2003, with little or no fertiliser nitrogen use, has shown a steady increase in total dry matter production and more even growth throughout the season. DoloZest, essentially a magnesium fertiliser, is typically applied at 350 – 400kg/ha, providing magnesium at 25–28kg/ha This is the rate required to ensure magnesium deficiencies in intensive dairy situations are significantly reduced to the point where calcium/magnesium related problems are unusual. Pasture analysis from properties where DoloZest is regularly applied normally show magnesium levels between 0.22% and 0.25% depending on direct sunlight prior to sampling. Calcium levels normally exceed 0.60% depending on the clover content of the sample. Late spring early summer pasture samples may provide 1.2% calcium. Animals well fed on pasture containing these levels are seldom deficient in either element. Part of the outstanding improvement in animal health on DoloZest fed pastures is also due to higher energy. Monitoring over the last 4 years shows soluble sugars or energy as measured by brix to often be double that of pastures where growth is driven by regular nitrogen inputs. Intensively managed New Zealand pastures are typically high in nitrate and protein relative to carbohydrate. Extra energy allows more of the ingested protein to be utilised resulting in higher protein: fat ratio milk.
By stimulating soil biology an increase in soil humus is achieved. Humus is the stable fraction of soil organic matter resulting from the decomposition of dung, dead grass, and roots.
Humus is essential for optimum pasture or crop performance as it improves the storage capacity for all nutrients and moisture. Humus rich soils are more resistant to climate change and damage by heavy treading particularly during periods of wet weather. With on-going humus formation fine particled clay soils become softer, more free draining and less prone to shrinkage. They also moisten more readily after a prolonged dry spell. Sandy soils retain more moisture, have a better crumb structure and are less likely to shed moisture after dry weather. Better-structured soils allow plant roots to penetrate more deeply accessing moisture and nutrients from deeper in the soil. Mycorrhizal fungi play an increasingly important role in the supply of nutrient for maximum plant growth. Mycorrhizal fungi grow out from the root solubilizing and harvesting essential nutrients particularly phosphorus. As a result plants are able to increase growth and convert more sunlight via photosynthesis to usable sugars. Some of this increased energy is returned to the fungi for further nutrient harvesting activity. Magnesium also plays an important role in the supply of phosphorus. Magnesium functions as a carrier for phosphorus and a regular input of magnesium helps ensure that phosphorus uptake is efficient. A question often asked is “why apply fungi and bacteria to soils when soils are already teeming with both?” The development of DoloZest resulted from close to twenty years of observing the results of nutrient programmes on our own and a number of clients’ farms. Providing the nutrient recommendations continuously over fifteen years for a number of properties provided the opportunity to observe and monitor results from the inclusion of small quantities of compost. From those observations developed the process of culturing a range of beneficial soil fungi and bacteria, providing them with a food supply, mixing with dolomite and/or lime, and measuring the results from annual applications. The benefits measured and observed are:- *More total annual grass growth *More rapid weight gain *Less weed and pest pressure *Increased clover growth *Reduced need for fertiliser nitrogen *Better mating performance *Cleaner animals *Improved temperament * * * * * * * Recommended application rates:- Intensive Dairying 300 – 350 kg/ha annually Sheep & Beef 150 – 175 kg/ha annually or 300 – 350 kg/ha every second year. As DoloZest is a natural product, it is not possible to guarantee analysis to be absolute. Each mix produced will be such that there will be no significant difference in results obtained. Calcium Ca 15% Magnesium Mg 7% Soft carbon, minimum of 25%
Below is DoloZest tech sheet for 08/09 DoloZest – Magnesium with Attitude
Its taken time, several years in fact and the work hasn’t stopped yet. After years of supplying farmers with dolomite, time during which results were monitored and much research undertaken, we knew that improvements could be made and greater performance and value delivered. What grows above the soil is the visual manifestation of the microbial activity below. Hard to improve on? Possibly, but we will because that’s part of our mission. We’re monitoring properties using DoloZest, have trial work underway and more extensive trial work planned.
For advice on rates of application and answers to any other questions you have Why Use DoloZest?It has long been recognised that the focus on a few major elements and ever increasing dry matter production has resulted in an increased incidence of metabolic disorders, including milk fever, grass staggers, bloat, ketosis, as well as a higher incidence of breeding failures.
Eco-Logic DoloZest is not a one-application cure all. The ingredients have all been carefully selected and the product designed to replace the major elements of Calcium and Magnesium as well as a wide range of secondary and trace minerals. Used on an annual basis DoloZest will ensure that the soil you rely on for your future continually improves providing animals and farmers with unrivalled good health.
A Typical Analysis of Eco-Logic DoloZestAs DoloZest is a natural product, it is not possible to guarantee analysis to be absolute. Each mix produced will be such that there will be no significant difference in results obtained. Calcium (Ca)-15% Magnesium (Mg)- 7% .Trace elements including:- Boron, Copper, Cobalt, Manganese Molybdenum, Zinc and Processed Organic Matter-20% Recommended application rates:- Intensive Dairying =300 – 350 kg/ha annually. Sheep & Beef =150 – 175 kg/ha annually or 300 – 350 kg/ha every second year.
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Eco-Logic DoloZest is a new generation product providing a wide range of essential elements and minerals, along with the essential elements of Calcium and Magnesium in the form of Dolomite. The inclusion of carbonaceous matter inoculated with a wide range of specifically selected beneficial soil organisms means that Eco-Logic DoloZest provides the following benefits:-