Feeding

And set up your dairy farm so that your feed strategy helps you achieve your business goals. With milk prices under pressure combined with a swirling business climate, it is valuable to be able to steer yourself towards efficiency and a higher profit margin. How do you do this and what elements can you influence?

Maize is the most common feed for dairy cows. As well as containing vital nutrients, the starch in maize also provides cows with the energy they need to produce milk and/or meat. When harvesting maize for whole crop silage it is essential to conserve 100% as this is your base for the coming year. This article looks at a few points that you should bear in mind.

Water plays a key role in milk production, control of body temperature and many other body functions in dairy cattle. While feed and ration management are generally monitored in detail, water intake, availability and quality are often overlooked. Cows consume around 4-4.5 litres of water per kg of milk produced and drinking water can satisfy 80-90% of a dairy cow’s total water needs. Generally, cows only drink in short bouts (7-12 times a day) during which they consume a total of between 10 to 20 litres of water. Cows prefer to drink after milking and during feeding. This behaviour is clearly seen in herds, where cows will go to drink after visiting the robot.