Feeding dairy cows - 5 things you should remember

Nutrition starts with the dose - what we are going to feed and in what quantities.

The basis of professional feeding of dairy cows is precise balancing of the feed ration, based on knowledge of the nutritional value of the roughage used. It is the quality and nutritional value of silage that determines the results obtained in breeding and is the basis for accurately balancing the dose. In addition to the standard parameters analyzed in silage, such as protein, fiber fractions and ash, great attention should also be paid to the digestibility of organic matter, intestinal starch content and digestible NDF. These parameters are very important in the nutrition of dairy cows, because they determine the potential of roughage, allowing for a precise balance of the feed ration.

A properly developed and capacious rumen and the unique microflora residing in it are responsible for many metabolic processes, not only the processing of roughage into high-value protein in the form of milk and meat. It also affects the health of animals and protects against metabolic diseases, reducing the possibility of acidosis and ketosis and limiting methane secretion. 

How to arrange the nutritional dose in Smart Feed?

Smart Feed calculates this based on the criteria and entered values ​​in the production range, as we need to establish the level of demand of the animals, which varies depending on what stage of development or lactation they are at.

The demand depends on the production goal, i.e. how many kg of milk the cow is to produce or the growth that the animal is to achieve. It is also important to remember about the nutritional needs depending on body weight, to which should be added the needs related to the development of the fetus in a pregnant cow and the cow's growth in the first and second lactation. That is why fresh feed on the feed table, adapted to the needs of animal groups, is so important.

The dose consists of various components - feed products. The starting point is the feed available from your own farm, i.e. your own resources. We know how much of it there is and what its nutritional value is determined based on laboratory tests. Sometimes you can change the proportions, but remember that rumen nutrition requires stability. Nutritional value is the amount of energy, protein, fiber and minerals. The next component may be purchased feed, which is selected based on nutritional value and price. The purpose of feed additives is not to solve nutritional problems, but to support digestion and more effective use of nutrients. In their case, you need to know to what extent and how quickly a given feed ferments in the rumen. The degradable product undergoes fermentation in the rumen, while the non-degradable product passes through it in an undegraded form. 

5 things you should remember

Dairy cattle breeders and producers have access to a large amount of feed and premixes. However, before they start using them, they should carefully analyze their composition and at what stage of life they are intended. Then they should take into account their impact on the feed ration and what benefits they can bring to the herd.

In the era of fluctuating milk and feed prices, the economic aspect of production is not without significance today. It requires breeders to have extensive knowledge and a broader than ever view of many interrelated aspects. What matters is not only the milk yield of cows, but primarily production efficiency, which includes:

• Producing good quality roughage
• Using a balanced and optimal dose, adequate to the animals' needs
• Proper management of cows in the perinatal period
• Appropriate rearing of heifers
• Optimization of costs and maximization of profits obtained from production milk.

All these aspects are expected to have a positive impact on production and take into account the increasing consumer requirements in terms of environmental impact. Good quality, sustainable production and appropriate price.

Each farm must find the best and most economically optimal solutions.