Level II Agricultural Business Operations

Nutrient content of feed

Nutritional requirements

Analyse forage quality

Winter feeding plan

Oesophagu

s

ForageForage GrassGrass SilageSilage StrawStraw

ConcentrateConcentrate Barley, Wheat, Soya, RapeBarley, Wheat, Soya, Rape

Feed

WaterDry Matter

Protein Fibre Vitamins

MineralsEnergy

Dry matter (DM) is the feed remaining after all the

water has been taken out

DM includes:

◦ Energy (ME)

◦ Protein (CP)

◦ Fibre (NDF)

◦ Fats & Oils

◦ Vitamins & Minerals

DM ME CP

Barley 86.0 13.2 11.5

Wheat 86.0 13.6 10.0

Maize 86.0 13.8 10.0

Soyabean 89.0 13.4 50.5

Megalac 95.0 29.0 0.0

DM ME CP

Soyabean 86.0 13.2 50.5

Rapeseed 90.0 12.0 40.0

Distillers Maize

89.0 14.0 31.0

ME CP NDF

Grass 11.2 16.0 57.7

Silage 10.6 13.0 46.0

Straw 6.3 3.5 81.0

Soya hulls 11.9 11.6 64.0

1. Water

2. Energy

3. Protein

4. Fibre

5. Minerals & Vitamins

50 – 80% cows body is water

Milk contains 87% water

Transport nutrients around body

Facilitates excretion of waste products

Regulates body temperature

A cow needs 60-116 litres water/day

Survive (MAINTENANCE)

Produce milk (PRODUCTION)

Produce offspring (REPRODUCTION)

Gain condition (PRODUCTION)

Cow details

650kg liveweight

40 litres/day

6 weeks calved

LWT 500 550 600 650 700 750

Maint. 59 64 69 74 79 84

The example cow is 650kg, so she will require 74MJ/day to maintain herself.

MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS

What is the cow’s maintenance requirement?

How many MJ to make 1 litre of milk?

REQUIREMENT = MAINTENANCE + PRODUCTION

NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENT OF DAIRY COWS (2)

(1) DAI LY MI LK YI ELD & ENERGY REQUI RED

Maintenance requirement for energyX MJ

Daily yield 5 MJ Y MJ

TOTAL ENERGY REQUIRED (X + Y) MJ / day

Litres X

74

Maintenance Value

MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS

Cow details

650kg liveweight

40 litres/day

6 weeks calved

Milk Production

General rule = 1 litre of milk requires 5MJ of energy

Example cow = 40 x 5 = 200MJ

(1) DAI LY MI LK YI ELD & ENERGY REQUI RED

Maintenance requirement for energyX MJ

Daily yield 5 MJ Y MJ

TOTAL ENERGY REQUIRED (X + Y) MJ / day

Litres X

74

40

DAILY MILK YIELD

200

TOTAL ENERGY FOR MILK PROD.

274

TOTALENERGY REQUIRED

PRODUCTION REQUIREMENTS

Build & repair the body’s enzymes,

hormones, tissues (muscle, skin, organs)

Growth

Milk Production

Pregnancy

3. Concentrate Protein 3. Concentrate Protein ContentContent

Silage CP content Concentrate Protein %

12 – 14% 18 – 21

8 – 12% Greater than 21%

Low Protein Silage – Specifically formulated diet

To ensure efficient rumen function:

60:40 Forage:Concentrate (DM)

Length of fibre (25-50 mm)

Straw inclusion

Bone formation – Calcium, Phosphorus

Milk production - Calcium

Reproduction – Vitamin K

Muscle function – Vitamin E, Selenium

Steps in planning a winter feeding

plan:

Analyse forage

Balance forage with concentrates

Feed ration to ensure sufficient

intake

Monitor cow performance

Silage is usually the main winter forage:

Take samples for analysis

Take care with sampling procedure

Take sufficient samples

Gradually build up level of concentrate (21 day) Maximum feed level in parlour

◦10 kg cows

◦8 kg heifers

If higher feed levels are required consider◦Mid day feeds◦Out of parlour feeders◦Complete diet feeding (TMR)

Advantages Less digestive

upsets Cheaper blend vs

nut Low cost – no

equipment needed

Disadvantages Feed Space Labour Cows bullying

Advantages Fewer digestive

upsets Cows fed

individually Cows fed to Yield

Disadvantages Capital cost 1 station/25 cows Bullying

Advantages Uniform diet Optimum rumen

efficiency Encourages high

intake Flexibility –

alternative feeds

Disadvantages Capital cost Complicated diets Over mixing Under/overfeeding Suitable housing

Offer adequate fresh forage Allow 5-10% refusal Ensure adequate feed space (450 – 600 mm/cow)

Provide clean and adequate water Troughs should allow 10% of herd to drink at any one time or 100 mm/cow

Assessment of cow fat reserves based on visual assessment and handling.

Gives subjective assessment of thin and fat cows regardless of frame size or breed.

Based on scale of 1-5 (1=extremely thin, 5=extremely fat) with increments of 0.5.

Two main areas for assessment:

2. Loin

1. Tailhead

Tailhead

Loin

Shallow fat-lined cavity felt at taihead.

Fatty tissue felt under the skin.

Pelvis felt easily.

Ends of transverse processes feel well rounded and upper surfaces padded with fat.

Depression visible in loin.

Feed intakes

Milk yields

Milk protein

Condition scores

Careful winter feed planning essential

Balance silage quality with concentrate

Feed sufficient ration

Ensure adequate intake

Monitor performance and body condition