Feeding management

Feed for rumen microbial production

Rumen microbes need a consistent supply of balanced energy, protein, water and minerals. To promote healthy rumen function, cows need:

• available water
• effective fibre to stimulate cud-chewing
• sufficient rumen mat (fibre)
• balanced nutrients in a consistent supply.

Manage maximum daily dry matter (DM) intake with a balanced diet of protein, starch, sugar and neutral detergent fibre (NDF).

Maximise pasture and forage intake

Homegrown forage is the cheapest source of feed for milk production. Aim for maximum daily intake of good quality forage, supplemented and balanced with other feed sources.

Allocate sufficient pasture or forage. Assess DM available and use strip grazing and suitable grazing rotations to manage intake and quality.

Apart from forage availability, NDF is most likely to limit forage intake. A cow´s daily intake of NDF from forage is limited to 1% of their live weight. The quality of grazed-forage changes from week to week, so check and balance the total diet regularly.

Minimise daily variation in the forage you feed your cows. Because rumen microbes can take up to 4-6 weeks to adapt, implement change gradually. If changing from ryegrass pasture to oats, feed one forage at night and the other in the day to build up the microbe population.

Conserved forages

Well-made conserved forages contribute energy, protein and fibre. Because corn silage tends to be high in energy but low in protein, protein needs to be supplemented in the diet from other feed sources.

Conserve excess pasture at times of high growth to manage pasture quality as part of the grazing rotation. The method of growing, harvesting, wrapping/storing, and feeding out influences conserved forage quality, and its DM and nutrient intake by the cow.

Test the quality of conserved forages before feeding (refer to Feed testing and sampling). Forage chop-length is important for both silage quality and to provide effective fibre (2-5 cm in length).

Grain feeding level and frequency

Avoid acidosis by minimising slug feeding. Spread high daily grain intake over several feeds for a more steady nutrient supply to the rumen and a potentially higher DM intake.

Quickly move cows onto fresh or conserved forage after feeding grain in the dairy and limit grain fed in the dairy to 3 kg/cow/milking. Use alternative feeding systems to feed grain intakes that are above 6 kg/cow/day.