Feeding Dairy Cattle Chapter 41

Objectives Select appropriate feeds for dairy animals Select rations for dairy cows for maximum production Select rations for replacement animals for fast, economical growth Select an appropriate feeding method

Basic Feeding Facts Feed costs are 40 to 50 percent of total milk production costs Feeding has the most influence on the amount of milk any cow produces The basis for dairy rations is roughages

Methods of Feeding Dairy Cows Traditional Farms feed concentrates individually based on milk production Most farms feed roughages by free choice Roughages are fed in feed bunks or mangers Modern farms are moving toward free choice feeding

Methods of Feeding Dairy Cows (cont.) Challenge or Lead Feeding Challenge the cow to reach its maximum potential milk production More concentrates in early lactation Less concentrates in late lactation When production drops, decrease concentrate Challenge feeding requires good record keeping

Methods of Feeding Dairy Cows (cont.) Feeding Total Mixed Rations All or almost all ingredients blended together Total mixed rations are fed by free choice Common to place cows in feeding groups Ration contains roughages and concentrates Many advantages and disadvantages

Methods of Feeding Dairy Cows (cont.) Special Equipment for Feeding Total Mixed Rations Two items of special equipment are needed Mixer-blender unit Weighing device

Methods of Feeding Dairy Cows (cont.) Feed Analysis Recommended regardless of feeding system Grouping Cows to Feed Total Mixed Rations Success depends on dividing herd in groups Automatic Concentrate Feeders Magnetic, electronic, and transponder

Roughages for Dairy Cattle Roughly 60 to 80 percent of dry matter in dairy rations should be roughages Roughages used are hay, silage, and pasture Wide variety of nutrient value in forages

Roughages for Dairy Cattle (cont.) Hay Feeding value depends on kind of hay, maturity when cut, and harvesting method Hay has traditionally been handled in a baled form, requiring a lot of hand labor Cows eat more high-quality than low-quality hay Alfalfa is the best hay for dairy cattle use

Roughages for Dairy Cattle (cont.) Green Chop Some farmers harvest forage by chopping it daily, feeding it in bunks Reduces field losses Problems include need to chop each day Moisture content varies considerably

Roughages for Dairy Cattle (cont.) Silage Almost any crop can be made into silage Silage has a higher moisture content than dry roughages Haylage Hay crop made into silage

Roughages for Dairy Cattle (cont.) Corn Silage Popular roughage for dairy cattle Is easily stored and handled Low in minerals, needs supplements

Roughages for Dairy Cattle (cont.) Other Feeds Sorghum Silage Coastal Bermuda Grass Silage Small-Grain Silage Straw Corn Stover Pasture

Grains for Dairy Cows Grains are included in the ration for energy content Grains contain about 70 to 80 percent total digestible nutrients (TDN) Grains processed prior to feeding are more digestible

Grains for Dairy Cows (cont.) Corn Most commonly used grain in dairy cattle rations Very high in energy and palatable High-Moisture Corn Stored at relatively higher moisture content in a silo

Grains for Dairy Cows (cont.) Oats Excellent for dairy cattle Lower energy but higher in protein than corn Oats add fiber and bulk to the grain mix Replace no more than one-half the corn in ration

Grains for Dairy Cows (cont.) Barley Almost the same as corn Replaces up to 50 percent of grain ration Wheat High in energy and protein Prices are high for wheat No more than 50 percent of grain ration

Protein Supplements for Dairy Cows Examples Corn gluten meal Distillers’ dried grains Soybeans and soybean meal Sunflower meal Linseed meal Cottonseed meal Urea, other Nonprotein Nitrogen

By-Products and Other Processed Feeds for Dairy Cattle Examples Alfalfa meal Alfalfa leaf meal Beet pulp Brewer’s grain Citrus pulp Cottonseed, whole

By-Products and Other Processed Feeds for Dairy Cattle (cont.) Examples (cont.) Corn gluten feed Hominy feed Malt sprouts Molasses Potatoes Soybean hulls

By-Products and Other Processed Feeds for Dairy Cattle (cont.) Examples (cont.) Wheat bran Wheat middlings Whey

Minerals for Dairy Cattle Requirements Calcium Phosphorus Magnesium Potassium Sodium Chloride

Minerals for Dairy Cattle (cont.) Requirements (cont.) Sulfur Iodine Iron Copper Cobalt Manganese

Minerals for Dairy Cattle (cont.) Requirements (cont.) Zinc Selenium Molybdenum

Vitamin Needs of Dairy Cattle Dairy cows need vitamins A, D, and E supplements Massive doses of vitamins taken over a long period of time may be toxic Six grams of niacin per cow per day has resulted in increased milk production

Water Needs of Dairy Cattle Milk is 85 to 87 percent water Dairy cows require more water than any other farm animal when lactating As the air temperature increases, the need for water also increases

Body Condition Score Refers to the amount of fat the animal is carrying Scores range from 1 (very thin) 5 (excessive fat) For maximum milk efficiency, dairy cows must not be too thin or too fat

Feeding Lactating Dairy Cows Total ration should contain from 18 to 19 percent crude protein during early lactation Reduce crude protein to 13 percent later in lactation period Protein degradability should be considered when feeding high-producing cows

Feeding Dry Cows Nutrient needs typically not as high as during lactation Maintain a total dry matter intake of about 2 percent of body weight If no grain fed early in dry period, some should be fed during last 2 weeks before calving

Feeding Herd Replacements Feeding Calves from Birth to Weaning Calves need to receive colostrum milk within 30 minutes of being born and for 24 hours Colostrum is first milk produced by fresh cows Colostrum protects calves from disease Calves should be started on solid feed as early as they will eat it

Feeding Herd Replacements (cont.) Feeding the Calf from Weaning to 1 Year Replacement heifers must be fed properly if they are to be ready for breeding on time About 4 to 5 pounds of grain per day Energy intake levels should be carefully controlled as heifers grow from 3 months to puberty (9 to 11 months)

Feeding Herd Replacements (cont.) Feeding Heifers 1 to 2 Years of Age Good-quality forage is basis for feeding Gain of 1.6 to 1.8 pounds per day is desirable Heifers on mature or heavily grazed pastures will require additional feed Feeding during last 2 months of gestation is critical for heifer’s condition at calving

Balancing Rations for Dairy Cattle Steps used in balancing rations same as for any other kind of animal University cooperative extension services can provide nutrient requirements and feed composition tables for dairy cattle

Feeding and Reproduction Underfeeding or overfeeding energy feeds to developing heifers can lead to reproductive issues Overfeeding causes early heat, however, cow may have later breeding issues Underfeeding may cause silent heats or discontinued heats

Feed Inventory Management decisions based on feed inventory Sell extra feed Buy additional feed needed Put more feed (forage or corn) in the silo Make adjustments in the feeding program to fit feeds available Plan future cropping program

On-Farm Feed Processing May be done by commercial mills or on the farm Feed used each year is deciding factor On-farm feed processing requires large investment in equipment Cost of commercial mixing should be compared to cost for on-farm processing