Unit 9: Dairy Cattle Feeding Chapter 9. Unit 9: Dairy Cattle Feeding Unit 9 Objectives: Unit 9 Objectives: Discuss life-cycle feeding programs for dairy.

Unit 9: Dairy Cattle Unit 9: Dairy Cattle FeedingFeeding

Chapter 9Chapter 9

Unit 9: Dairy Cattle FeedingUnit 9: Dairy Cattle Feeding

Unit 9 Objectives:Unit 9 Objectives:Discuss life-cycle feeding programs for dairyDiscuss life-cycle feeding programs for dairy Identify nutrient needs and additives usedIdentify nutrient needs and additives usedUnderstand nutrition related Understand nutrition related

diseases/disordersdiseases/disorders


Feeding for Milk ProductionFeeding for Milk ProductionGeneralGeneral

What types of systems are in use for milk What types of systems are in use for milk production in today’s industry?production in today’s industry?

What influences which system is utilized?What influences which system is utilized?Feeding is often the determining factor in Feeding is often the determining factor in

productivity of lactating dairy cowsproductivity of lactating dairy cows Represents 50% of the total cost of productionRepresents 50% of the total cost of production

Nutrient requirements for lactation are several Nutrient requirements for lactation are several times that of maintenance requirementtimes that of maintenance requirement


Things to remember:Things to remember: There is more variation in protein content and quality and There is more variation in protein content and quality and

energy in forages & concentratesenergy in forages & concentrates Primarily concerned with NEl, CP, DP, RUP, & AA Primarily concerned with NEl, CP, DP, RUP, & AA

contents of the rationcontents of the ration Mineral content and interactions are becoming much Mineral content and interactions are becoming much

more important and manipulatedmore important and manipulated

Forage ConsumptionForage ConsumptionEstimated daily intake of forages is based on body Estimated daily intake of forages is based on body

weight and forage qualityweight and forage quality What does forage quality have to do with it?What does forage quality have to do with it?


Forage intake must be restricted somewhat to Forage intake must be restricted somewhat to allow for sufficient grain supplementation to allow for sufficient grain supplementation to support milk productionsupport milk production

Silage can replace hay at a ratio of 3:1Silage can replace hay at a ratio of 3:1Pasture intake will usually exceed silage intakePasture intake will usually exceed silage intakeSome evidence that increased feeding times can Some evidence that increased feeding times can

increase total forage consumptionincrease total forage consumption Increasing forage variety can also help increase Increasing forage variety can also help increase

consumptionconsumption


Concentrates for Dairy CattleConcentrates for Dairy CattleConcentrate mixtureConcentrate mixture

Grains, milled feeds, protein supplements, min/vitGrains, milled feeds, protein supplements, min/vit Mixture will vary with the forage programMixture will vary with the forage program Consider availability and cost of nutrientsConsider availability and cost of nutrients

Level of concentrate fed depends:Level of concentrate fed depends: Amount of forage consumedAmount of forage consumed Milk productionMilk production Milk fat compositionMilk fat composition NEVER feed over 60% concentrate in the diet – NEVER feed over 60% concentrate in the diet –

drastically changes VFA composition in the rumen – drastically changes VFA composition in the rumen – what health problems does it cause?what health problems does it cause?


Intake is affected by:Intake is affected by: PalatabilityPalatability Time they have access to feedTime they have access to feed

How has feed access changes over the years?How has feed access changes over the years? How did we used to offer feeds?How did we used to offer feeds?

Concentrate feeding levels should be appropriate Concentrate feeding levels should be appropriate for each operationfor each operation

No book-value is very accurateNo book-value is very accurate Can underfeed the high producer and overfeed the low Can underfeed the high producer and overfeed the low

producerproducer


Steps in Ration Balancing for Lactating Dairy Steps in Ration Balancing for Lactating Dairy CattleCattleEstablish needsEstablish needs

Maintenance plus milk production & reproductive needsMaintenance plus milk production & reproductive needsDetermine feeds availableDetermine feeds available

ForagesForages Kind & qualityKind & quality

Concentrate MixConcentrate Mix Kind & amountKind & amount

Establish feeding levelsEstablish feeding levels ForageForage

Appropriate for quality and productionAppropriate for quality and production

Unit 9: Dairy Cattle FeedingUnit 9: Dairy Cattle Feeding ConcentrateConcentrate

Supply additional nutritional needsSupply additional nutritional needsBalanceBalance

Make sure protein & energy needs are metMake sure protein & energy needs are met Evaluate forage : concentrate ratioEvaluate forage : concentrate ratio Check protein sources and amino acid levelsCheck protein sources and amino acid levels Ensure proper min/vit supplementationEnsure proper min/vit supplementation

Feeding GuidelinesFeeding GuidelinesGroups can be separated based on:Groups can be separated based on:

Stage of lactationStage of lactation AgeAge Dry periodDry period What groups can/should we have?What groups can/should we have?

Unit 9: Dairy Cattle FeedingUnit 9: Dairy Cattle Feeding Early Lactation or Post-fresh GroupEarly Lactation or Post-fresh Group

0 – 60 or 70 DIM0 – 60 or 70 DIM Milk production increases rapidly, peaks 6-8wks Milk production increases rapidly, peaks 6-8wks

post-calvingpost-calving Avoid excessive levels of grainAvoid excessive levels of grain Encourage forage intakeEncourage forage intake Keep it palatableKeep it palatable High dietary proteinHigh dietary protein Limit urea contentLimit urea content Increase energy density (increase fat content)Increase energy density (increase fat content)

Unit 9: Dairy Cattle FeedingUnit 9: Dairy Cattle Feeding Peak MilkPeak Milk

Highest DMI’sHighest DMI’s 60 – 140 DIM60 – 140 DIM Maximal DMI during peak milk increases total milk Maximal DMI during peak milk increases total milk

production – each 1# peak milk = 300#’s milk in production – each 1# peak milk = 300#’s milk in lactationlactation

Feed several times/dFeed several times/d Maximize ration forage content without Maximize ration forage content without

compromising energy, protein, and amino acidscompromising energy, protein, and amino acids Mid to Late LactationMid to Late Lactation

140 DIM to dry period140 DIM to dry period Milk production declines, cow is pregnantMilk production declines, cow is pregnant

Unit 9: Dairy Cattle FeedingUnit 9: Dairy Cattle Feeding Match grain intake to milk production – be careful not Match grain intake to milk production – be careful not

to waste feed and over-condition cowsto waste feed and over-condition cows Dry period (Far-Off)Dry period (Far-Off)

21 – 60d prepartum21 – 60d prepartum High forage contentHigh forage content Maintain body condition – don’t lose weight, maybe Maintain body condition – don’t lose weight, maybe

slight weight gainslight weight gain Enough grain and supplement to support CP, Enough grain and supplement to support CP,

energy, and min/vit requirementsenergy, and min/vit requirements Drop Ca supplementation levelsDrop Ca supplementation levels

Unit 9: Dairy Cattle FeedingUnit 9: Dairy Cattle Feeding Dry Period (Pre-fresh)Dry Period (Pre-fresh)

0 – 21d prepartum0 – 21d prepartum Increase ration energy & protein contentIncrease ration energy & protein content Make ration more energy denseMake ration more energy dense DMI’s reduced greatly prior to calvingDMI’s reduced greatly prior to calving Manipulate ration min/vit concentrations to help with Manipulate ration min/vit concentrations to help with

post-calving problems – what are the target post-calving problems – what are the target problemsproblems

DCADDCAD Increase feed palatabilityIncrease feed palatability Decrease stocking rateDecrease stocking rate Maintain pen cleanlinessMaintain pen cleanliness


Things to RememberThings to RememberFeed young growing cows for growth, as well as, Feed young growing cows for growth, as well as,

milk productionmilk production What about a separate first calf heifer group?What about a separate first calf heifer group?

More cows are usually underfed on energy than More cows are usually underfed on energy than proteinprotein

Balancing for amino acid content can help minimize Balancing for amino acid content can help minimize overfeeding of proteinoverfeeding of protein

Limit finely ground feedstuffs (except for grain) to Limit finely ground feedstuffs (except for grain) to prevent drop in milk fat testprevent drop in milk fat test

Inclusion of hay is recommendedInclusion of hay is recommended


Have water available at all timesHave water available at all times 3-5 lbs of water/lb milk/d3-5 lbs of water/lb milk/d

Adding fatAdding fat Adding fat helps in early lactation to improve energy Adding fat helps in early lactation to improve energy

densitydensity Avoid excessive fat levels due to unpalatability and feed Avoid excessive fat levels due to unpalatability and feed

freshness problemsfreshness problems

bST usebST use Begin at 9Begin at 9thth week of lactation week of lactation Increases milk production by 8-10lbs/dIncreases milk production by 8-10lbs/d Does increase DMIDoes increase DMI


Feed for Dairy CalvesFeed for Dairy CalvesCommon Feed for CalvesCommon Feed for Calves

ColostrumColostrum Remove calf from cow immediatelyRemove calf from cow immediately Try to get 2 quarts on colostrum in within 30 min to 1 hrTry to get 2 quarts on colostrum in within 30 min to 1 hr

Milk replacerMilk replacer Various programsVarious programs

20/2020/20 Accelerated growthAccelerated growth Antibiotics usually includedAntibiotics usually included


Calf StartersCalf Starters Usually 16-20% CPUsually 16-20% CP Must be extremely palatableMust be extremely palatable Antibiotic is recommended to help w/ respiratory and Antibiotic is recommended to help w/ respiratory and

scour problemsscour problems Encourage starter intake ASAPEncourage starter intake ASAP

Wean when they eat 3 lbs/d for 3 consecutive daysWean when they eat 3 lbs/d for 3 consecutive days Calves with growth faster and more efficiently on dry Calves with growth faster and more efficiently on dry

feedfeed Do not feed hayDo not feed hay


Heifers 4-12 mos of AgeHeifers 4-12 mos of AgeNeed to supplement grain to help meet energy Need to supplement grain to help meet energy

needsneeds Rumen capacity isn’t sufficient to get all needs from Rumen capacity isn’t sufficient to get all needs from

forages aloneforages alone

Include an ionophore for improved rate of gain & Include an ionophore for improved rate of gain & feed efficiencyfeed efficiency

DO NOT let them get over conditionedDO NOT let them get over conditioned Decreases reproductive performanceDecreases reproductive performance Decreases milk production capabilityDecreases milk production capability


Heifers 12 mos to calvingHeifers 12 mos to calvingForage should be able to support their nutritional Forage should be able to support their nutritional

requirementsrequirements Supplement enough grain to include min/vit and Supplement enough grain to include min/vit and

ionophoresionophores

Target breeding weight is 800 lbsTarget breeding weight is 800 lbs 550 for Jerseys550 for Jerseys Heifers must gain 1.75lbs/d to reach target wt by 15 mosHeifers must gain 1.75lbs/d to reach target wt by 15 mos Breed by weightBreed by weight Goal should be to have average first calving <24 mosGoal should be to have average first calving <24 mos Avoid over conditioningAvoid over conditioning

Some producers include straw or other high fiber Some producers include straw or other high fiber components to slow down growthcomponents to slow down growth


Mix with dry cow 60d prior to calvingMix with dry cow 60d prior to calvingMinimum of 21d in a pre-fresh groupMinimum of 21d in a pre-fresh group

Keep DMI and energy levels upKeep DMI and energy levels up Adjust to higher grain content and better quality foragesAdjust to higher grain content and better quality forages

Unit 9: Dairy Cattle Feeding Chapter 9. Unit 9: Dairy Cattle Feeding Unit 9 Objectives: Unit 9 Objectives: Discuss life-cycle feeding programs for dairy.

Documents

forage quality

milk production feeding

milk production forage

dairy cattle concentrates

total forage consumption

forage variety

forage program mixture

increased feeding times