Spring turnout is one of the most exciting times in the dairy calendar of some herds. Cows head back to grass, feed costs can reduce, and fresh grazing helps drive performance. But while lush spring grass brings clear benefits, it can also create hidden nutritional challenges that many dairy farmers underestimate.
One of the biggest issues seen after turnout is milk fat depression, where milk butterfat levels fall sharply just as cows move onto fast-growing grass. With milk prices under pressure and butterfat increasingly linked to contract bonuses or penalties, this can have a direct impact on farm profitability.
That is why more producers are turning to Equaliser Cream from Cargill – an innovative nutritional solution designed to help maintain and improve milk butterfat levels during grazing and beyond.
Why Does Milk Butterfat Drop at Turnout?
As fields green up in April and May, grass growth accelerates rapidly. Young leafy grass is highly digestible and nutrient-rich, but it can also contain:
- Higher unsaturated oil levels
- Rapidly fermentable sugars
- Lower structural fibre
- Variable dry matter intakes
These factors can disrupt rumen function and alter the production of milk fat precursors, leading to lower butterfat percentages.
For dairy farms supplying contracts where constituents matter, even a small drop in butterfat can quickly reduce income from milk sold.
What Is Equaliser Cream?
Equaliser Cream is a specialist rumen buffer and milk fat support product developed by Cargill to tackle the root causes of milk fat depression.
Unlike standard buffers that focus only on rumen pH, Equaliser Cream is strategically formulated to address the effects of elevated oil levels in grass and other modern dairy diets.
It works by:
- Supporting rumen stability
- Helping counter the impact of high oil forage
- Improving fibre digestion
- Enhancing energy extraction from the ration
- Supporting consistent milk butterfat production
This makes it a practical tool for both grazing herds and some housed systems.
Proven Farm Results Across the UK and Ireland
Equaliser Cream has been fed to thousands of cows across the UK and Ireland since 2020, with strong on-farm performance.
Typical results show:
- +0.3% milk butterfat increase in as little as 7 days
- +0.5% butterfat improvement within one month on average
All achieved from feeding just:
100 grams per cow per day
Equaliser Cream can be included via:
- Farm packs
- Compound feed
- Blends
- Total mixed rations
This makes it simple to introduce into most feeding systems.
A Smarter Alternative to C16 Fat Supplements
Some producers attempt to manage low butterfat through C16 fat supplementation. While this can raise milk fat levels, it often works by increasing energy supply rather than addressing the underlying rumen issue.
Equaliser Cream takes a different approach.
Instead of reacting after butterfat has fallen, it helps prevent milk fat depression from occurring in the first place by improving rumen efficiency and digestion.
This can offer:
- Better cost-effectiveness
- More consistent responses
- Improved feed efficiency
- Reduced reliance on expensive fat supplements
Palm Free and Sustainable
Sustainability is becoming increasingly important for dairy businesses and supply chains.
Equaliser Cream contains no palm oils or palm fats, giving producers a more sustainable option without compromising performance.
For farms looking to reduce palm use while maintaining milk quality, this is a major advantage.
Not Just for Grazing Herds
Although turnout is the peak risk period for butterfat losses, Equaliser Cream is equally valuable in housed herds where diets may contain:
- Silage with high acid load
- Elevated oil levels from distillers or co-products
- Low effective fibre diets
Wherever rumen stress threatens milk constituents, Equaliser Cream can help.
Why Butterfat Matters More Than Ever in 2026
With tightening margins, volatile milk prices and increasing emphasis on solids, protecting butterfat is no longer optional.
A drop of just 0.2% to 0.4% butterfat across a herd can translate into substantial lost income over a grazing season.
Using a proven nutritional tool early at turnout can help secure:
- Higher milk value
- Better margins
- More stable production
- Improved ration efficiency
Equaliser Cream Available from Dugdale Nutrition
At Dugdale Nutrition, we work with dairy farmers across the UK to improve herd performance through practical nutrition solutions.
Equaliser Cream is available for prompt supply and expert advice through our team.
If you are preparing for turnout, seeing falling butterfat, or reviewing your feeding strategy this spring, now is the time to act.
Talk to your local DN sales specialist to discuss Equaliser Cream, turnout nutrition, and protecting milk butterfat in your herd or call us on 01200 420200
