Dairy Cattle Feeding Guides - Chapter 9

FEEDING FOR MILK PRODUCTION

Feeding more than any other single practice determines the productivity of the diary cow.

Forage Consumption:

  • Dairy rations are based on forages but the cow cannot eat enough forage to sustain high levels of milk production.
  • Estimating daily intake of forages is based on body wt. and forage quality. (see thumb rules pp. 397-398)
  • Cows are limited on the total amount of dry matter they can consume daily.'
  • 1.75% to 2.0% of body wt. is used to describe maximum forage consumption which leaves room in the stomach so the cow can consume her grain etc.

Concentrates for Dairy Cattle

  • -includes grains, mill feeds, protein supplements, and minerals
  • - level of concentrate feeding depends on: forage consumption, amount of milk produced, % fat
  • - concentrates should not exceed 60% of total diet

Feeding Guidelines

Nutrient requirements vary with phase of lactation (see Figure 9-1, p. 400)

  • early lactation - 70 days after calving (increasing milk production)

            --    milk production peaks 6-8 wks postpartum

            --    increase grain 1-2 lb daily

            --     avoid overfeeding grain (more than 65% of total dry matter)

            --    maintain fiber levels at 17 to 19% ADF

            --     extra dietary protein. ..bypass protein

            --    1 - 1.5 lbs of added fat daily

  •  peak dry matter intake - 70-140 days postpartum (declining milk production)

            --max. DM intake reached 12 - 14 wks.

            --grain intake may reach 2.5% of body wt., maintain forage level between 1 to 1.25% body wt.

            -- high producers (>70 lbs; 4% FCM) should be fed all natural protein (i.e. no urea)

  •  mid to late lactation - 140-305 days after calving (declining milk production)

            --milk production declining and the cows is pregnant (you hope anyway)

            --match grain intake with milk production; avoid wasteful grain feeding to low producers

            --time to put wt. back on cows

            --avoid over conditioning

  • dry period-45-60 days before the next lactation.

            --forage quality is not as critical

            --DMI is approx. 2% of body wt.

            --excess feeding of corn grain or corn silage can cause fatty livers (fat cow syndrome)

            --feed low Ca and salt levels 2 weeks before calving

            --cows need to be in "good" condition when calving

Things to Remember in Feeding for Milk Production

  • - feed growing cows enough to allow for growth as well as for maintenance & milk production
  • -additional nutrient allowances are usually made during late pregnancy
  • -more cow are underfed on energy than on protein
  • -most lactation rations will contain 13to17% CP and 60 to 70% TDN (.6 to .8 Mcal NEL/lb)
  • -the concentrate mix contains:

    -- energy feed(s) 

    -- protein feeds (s)

    -- .5 to 1% trace mineralized salt

    -- no more than 6% molasses

    -- no more than 1% urea

    -- up to 8% added fat (ruminal unprotected plus protected sources)

    -finally ground pelleted forage or grains should not be fed alone to lactating cows

    - best to feed some hay with silage

    -have good quality water available at all times

    -give due consideration to the relationship of feeds to milk flavor

    -added fat

        -- high producing cow during the 1st 12 to 16 wks of lactation will benefit most from added fat

        --cow under heat stress may also benefit form added fat

        --supplemental fat can blended with concentrate mixture

        --too much added fat can cause reduced fiber digestion, reduce feed intake, and digestive             upsets (especially unsaturated fatty acids)

    --whole or processed oilseeds (unsaturated, but slowly digested)

        -- feed 5 to 7 lb oilseeds per head per day

        -- may be fed whole or rolled

        -- heat treated soybeans have a greater protein bypass properties than unheated soybeans

        -- when feeding added fat, increase dietary Ca to .9%+, the Mg to .3%, the ADF fiber to 20%, and increase protein content by 1 to 2%.

-protein

    -- undegraded and degraded protein

    -- normally total protein contains 60% degradable and 40% undegradable

    -- balancing a diet based on undegraded and degraded protein may allow the producer to lower total protein level which would provide an economic benefit

    -- high producer, those produce more than 5% of the body wt of milk have shown to benefit form diets formulated to contain greater than normal proportions of bypass protein

 

 

 

 

 

 

Email me :dkennedy@creek.astate.edu