1. Focus on Feeding Jo Crosby Dairy Extension Centre

2. Feed is a significant cost to the business 55% total cost of production 87% variable costs Ref: Dairy Industry Farm Monitor Project 2008/2009 South West Victoria

3. Survival Profit = income - expenses

4. Make every feed dollar work for you Make the most of home grown fodder ─ optimise pasture utilisation ─ use nitrogen strategically ─ conserve true surplus as GOOD QUALITY silage and hay Feed the cows cost effectively ─ use feeds efficiently ─ prevent metabolic problems ─ purchase feeds on price / MJ or % CP

5. Make the most of home grown fodder Optimise utilisation of home grown fodder Use nitrogen strategically Conserve true surplus as GOOD QUALITY silage and hay

6. Optimise utilisation If 10t home grown fodder costs $550/ha to produce 7t utilised (70%)= 7.9c/kg DM 6t utilised (60%)= 9.2c/kg DM 5t utilised (50%)= 11.0c/kg DM 4t utilised (40%)=13.7c/kg DM

8. Strategic use of nitrogen Response to N (kg extra pasture DM grown/kg N applied) 10152025 Cost/kg extra pasture DM grown 12c8c6c4.8c Assumptions: Urea $550/t landed 1t Urea = 460 kg N

9. Conserve true surplus

10. Feed the cows cost-effectively Use feeds efficiently Prevent metabolic problems Purchase feeds on price / MJ or % CP

11. Response to supplements 0 - 1.8 L/kg DM supplement fed

12. Factors influencing milk response Milk Response Cow Condition Level of production Quality of Concentrate Quality of Pasture Method of feeding/ Stage of lactation Amount of pasture Amount of concentrate Cow Health

13. Potential intake 20kg DM pasture 16kg DM pasture 4kg DM grain

14. Potential intake 20kg DM pasture 12kg DM pasture 4kg DM grain

15. Maximum response Supplement fulfils a need Quantity Quality

16. Maintain rumen health Diet balanced and adequate for stage of lactation Use feeds efficiently

19. Rumen health

20. Maintaining rumen pH 30 – 35 % diet = neutral detergent fibre (NDF) 75% of all NDF should come from forage 50:50 rule ─ At least 50% of the diet should be derived from pasture, hay and /or silage ─ No more than 50% of the diet from concentrate 50% of cows at rest are ruminating

21. Protein and energy Requirement depends on: Size of the cow Milk production Stage of pregnancy Activity Condition

22. Body stores used for milk production DRY MATTER INTAKE MILK PRODUCTION BODY WEIGHT Body stores regained for next lactation Dry period rumen rehabilitation MONTH

23. Prevent metabolic problems Acidosis Laminitis Grass tetany Milk fever Ketosis Displaced abomasums

24. Lucerne hay @ $350/t (80%DM, 8MJ,16%CP,55%NDF) Pasture hay @ $300/t (80%DM, 9.5MJ, 12%CP, 50%NDF) Compare feed costs

25. Which feed is the cheapest? Supplement$/tc/kg DMc/MJ ME c/kg CPc/kg NDF Lucerne hay35043.85.5273.479.5 Pasture hay30037.53.9312.575.0

26. Make every feed dollar work for you Make the most of home grown fodder ─ optimise pasture utilisation ─ use nitrogen strategically ─ conserve true surplus as GOOD QUALITY silage and hay Feed the cows cost-effectively ─ use feeds efficiently ─ prevent metabolic problems ─ purchase feeds on price / MJ or % CP