Megalac Product Sheets
Megalac Product Sheets
Megalac Product Sheets
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Rumen pH 6.2 Abomasum pH 2.5
Why Feed Megalac?
Thirty years of trial work at universities, research centres and on farms demonstrate
improvements in herd productivity by incorporating Megalac into rations. Megalac avoids
the negative effects on fibre digestion associated with many unprotected fats and oils.
Megalac is made by reacting fatty acids
and calcium.
Megalac bypasses the rumen
(ideal pH >6) but is broken down in the
abomasum (pH 2.5) to release the fat
and calcium for digestion.
Megalac is 96% digestible.
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
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30
32
34
36
38
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42
44
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Megalac-fed Cows
Control
University of Reading , UK
Week of Lactation
Recent work at the University
of Reading recorded an
average increase in milk yield
of 4.3 litres of milk/day when
Megalac was added to the
ration.
More Milk
Megalac increases the energy supply for milk production and has the highest measured
net energy of lactation (NE
L
) value of any ingredient.
Megalac can improve digestibility of other dietary components to further increase
energy supply.
Results from 18 research studies showed an average increase in milk yield
of 2.3 litres/cow/day due to feeding Megalac.
University of Florida, USA
Conception rate to 1st service (%)
Conception rate to 2nd service (%)
Pregnancy rate (%)
Control Diet
33.7
28.8
52.3
Megalac-supplemented
45.5
75.0
86.4
Improved Fertility
Increasing energy supply helps reduce body condition loss.
Improving energy balance increases the chance of successful pregnancy.
Megalac increases progesterone, the essential hormone for pregnancy.
Work at the University of Florida in which Holstein cows were offered 450g Megalac for 120
days from calving, showed an increase in pregnancy rate. They also gave an extra 1.6 litres
milk/day.
Better Health
Megalac is an excellent ingredient to help formulate balanced rations which contribute to
improved health.
Volac MEGALAC
Acidosis Megalac is not fermented in the rumen, helping reduce acid load.
Lameness Reducing acidosis can help reduce lameness.
Displaced abomasum Better balanced rations can help reduce incidence.
Other Benefits
Reduces saturated fatty acid concentration of milk fat.
Reduces production of methane.
400-800 Lactating Cows
125 Dry Cows
150-500 Beef Cattle
50-100 Sheep & Goats
Typical Feed Rate (g/head/day)
40 kg/d Milk yield
4.0 % Milk fat
1.6 kg/d Milk fat yield
1.6 kg/d Fat to supply
How Much Fat to Feed?
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Volac MEGALAC
When to Feed
Milk yield increases rapidly after calving, while dry matter and energy intake rise at a
slower rate. This leads to an energy gap in early lactation when cows mobilise body
fat and lose condition to supply the energy shortfall.
Megalac can be fed throughout lactation, but is particularly targeted to increase
energy density in early lactation rations (more energy per bite).
ME 34 MJ/kg DM
Research work indicates that the amount of
fat to supply should equal the amount of fat
produced in the milk. Fat may come from the
diet or from body fat reserves.
Ideally Megalac should be incorporated
into the ration over a few days to help
acclimatise the animal to the new
ingredient.
Months after Calving
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Energy Gap
Dry Matter Intake Body Weight Milk Yield
See Fat Calculator: www.volac.com/fat-calculator
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Volac MEGALAC
Description
A dry free-flowing granular
product with consistently-
sized large granules and
minimal fines.
Made
in the
UK by
Volac
For full product details and information
on how Volac's "Lifetime in Milk" solutions
can help realise your herd's full potential,
call us on Freephone 0800 919808
www.volac.com/megalac
Packaging
Available in 48 x 25kg bags (1.2 tonnes) on wooden 4-way pallets, mini-bulk bags and
true bulk.
Storage
Store in cool, dry conditions.
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1
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4
6
Oil
84
Ash
12.5
Calcium
9
Moisture
5
Typical Analysis (%) Fatty Acid Profile (% of total fatty acids)
ME 33.3 MJ/kg DM Saturated Unsaturated
C16:0
48
C18:0
5
C18:1
36
C18:2
9
Volac is a member of the Roundtable on
Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and our policy
is to source palm oil-based ingredients from
RSPO members only.