1. Feeding Dairy Cattle
Chapter 41

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

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

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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

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

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

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

23. Minerals for Dairy Cattle
Requirements
Calcium
Phosphorus
Magnesium
Potassium
Sodium
Chloride

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

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

26. 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

27. 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

28. 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

29. 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

30. 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

31. 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

32. 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)

33. 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

34. 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

35. 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

36. 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

37. 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