diet feeding

18 United News United News 19

diet feeding

Improving the Results from your Diet FeederBy Conail Keown, Dairy Development Adviser, CAFRE (Newtownards)

The increase in milk prices is very welcome and gives a degree of optimism to producers. However some of the price rise will be needed to help cover higher concentrate

feed prices this incoming winter. The quantity and quality of forage will complicate matters further. Particularly silage quality as early indications are available, it is significantly forecast lower this year as a result of difficult ensiling conditions for all cuts. Maize crops also look variable with a warm dry period needed to ensure crops mature and to assist with harvest. Ensuring the best value from your feed this winter means matching the cow’s diet to her nutritional requirements. Not balancing the cow’s diet and overfeeding is financially wasteful. While underfeeding will reduce milk production, increase production costs per litre and create health and reproductive problems. Even with high grain prices, it is still good business to feed early lactation cows to their genetic potential to set them up for the rest of the lactation.

DEVELOPING YOUR FEEDING STRATEGYThe Total Mixed Ration (TMR) system is well established and is now standard on many farms across Northern Ireland. The principle is to provide a balanced mix of both the roughage and the processed ingredients, formulated to supply the cows’ requirements. The TMR should be in a form that prevents selection of individual ingredients and stimulates increased feed intake. For optimum results a TMR is designed to be fed ad lib as the sole feed source, over a 24 hour period. This cannot be accomplished without the use of accurate weighing equipment and mixing equipment and the modern diet feeder has the ability to deliver. The purchase of a diet feeder represents a major financial investment and is usually accompanied by the associated costs of building renovations to accommodate the feeder wagon. Therefore the potential of diet feeding should be maximized on the farm to recoup this investment.

Wallace Patton and son Daniel discuss the incoming pre-calving winter feeding strategy

Good infrastructure for the diet feeder to discharge to various groups is critical to maximise the potential of the machine.

KEY ASPECTS OF SUCCESSFUL DIET FEEDING• Increased dry matter intakes (DMI) can be achieved compared to conventional easy feed silage with concentrates fed twice per day in the parlour. Peak DMI is achieved earlier than conventional systems, thus reducing cow condition loss in early lactation.• Higher DMIs increase milk production by approximately 5 to 8%. Each additional kg DM consumed increases milk yield by 0.9 to 1.5 litres.• Improved milk quality as a result of improved rumen fermentation.• Reduced digestive upsets due to each bite of feed having the same composition, thus minimising pH fluctuations in the rumen.• No need to feed additional mineral/vitamin supplements as all requirements can be included in the TMR.• Eliminate concentrate feeding at milking and improving milking efficiency.• A wide variety of feeds can be used in the TMR providing flexibility and potential cost savings. Wet silage mixed with dry concentrates will produce a more palatable ration compared to conventional feeding.• Due to the accurate weighing of ingredients, there is much better control of the cow's diet.

Undoubtedly diet feeding in the correct manner can lead to a more targeted and successful feeding regime. However, while it is possible to feed all animals on the farm from the diet feeder, it is important to put the greatest nutritional focus on the diet of both the dry and early lactating cows.

ImPROVING ThE EFFICIENCY OF DIET FEEDING• A minimum of two and preferably three cow groups should be arranged to best match rations to stages of lactation. Although this requires more work and may not be practically feasible for some, it allows feed targeting and prevents the under or over feeding of cows. Dry cows should be separated from the lactating groups.• Routinely condition score all cows to assess the effectiveness of the TMR.• A feed centre (building/storage bins) where all the feeds, whether bought in or home-grown on farm, are stored correctly in close proximity for ease of loading into the mixer feeder.• Forage and concentrate must be good quality. Cheap feeds may be negatively reflected on milk income. • Accurate weighing of each ingredient is important and each forage should be analysed for Dry Matter, energy, protein etc.• Correctly balance all rations - your nutritionist must be challenged to provide the most cost effective ration without compromising quality.

• Continual monitoring of feed intakes, milk quantity and quality, cow condition and the consistency of slurry produced.• The diet feeder should be regularly maintained.

In conclusion, the profit margins on many dairy farms are being significantly reduced by poor nutrition. The adoption of improved nutritional management and feeding techniques promote better feed intakes, fewer calving problems, better cow health and improved fertility, all of which make significant contributions to farm profitability. For more information contact your local Dairy Development Adviser.