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Today, through advancements in nutritional science, we know more precisely what goes on inside the cow. That gives us the opportunity to manage the smaller pieces of the nutrition puzzle – protein fractions instead of crude protein – and to build a more precise diet to optimize cow health and performance.
Increasing nitrogen efficiency and income over feed costs (IOFC) represent goals nutritionists and dairymen alike strive for. In April 2015, the cost of metabolizable protein was $0.64 per pound for the Midwest U.S.
For a cow producing 80 pounds of milk at 3.1 percent milk protein, this represents a nutrient cost of $3.59 per day. The question of whether protein supplementation can be reduced or optimized to improve IOFC should routinely be considered.
The science of dairy cattle protein intakes and the subsequent milk protein production has evolved significantly since amino acid balancing became an important nutrition strategy on dairy farms.
While the industry has come a long way, current and future research in this field will further advance its effectiveness in putting high-value components and pounds of milk in the bulk tank.
Dairy efficiency is a commonly used term and is defined as either milk output per unit of dry matter intake or energy-corrected milk output per unit of dry matter intake. The problem with this measurement is that it is influenced by the energy density of the ration, among other factors.
As a dairy producer, it’s important to know what is happening in your dairy’s nutrition program. Common questions related to amino acid balancing include the following.
Forages are the foundation of all dairy cow and heifer diets. The ruminant digestive system must retain a mat of fiber from forages in order for rumen microbes to proliferate and ferment feedstuffs.
However, that fiber mat must also be digested over time and be replaced by more fiber. Unfortunately, the fiber contained in forages is often the least digestible portion of a dairy cow diet.
Proper nutrition plays an obvious and substantial role in helping cows through the transition period and ensuring a good start in the following lactation.
At the core of successful transition is the impact of nutrition on the cow’s immune function, which is the basis for her ability to stave off infections, metabolic disorders and other challenges that threaten health and performance.
For its 13th year, the North American Manure Expo will be held in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, July 14-15. Thus far, this event has been in eight states and one province. This is the second time Pennsylvania has hosted the show.
Ever have a frustrating day with a silo unloader and an upright silo? Or have the kids complain about having to cover the silage pile in the hillside trench with wooden walls and dirt floors? Or maybe you were the farm kid who spent Saturday mornings cleaning up silo bag plastic?
Yesterday I watched my daughter, Angel, ride her horse. She didn’t have a saddle, only a bridle in her hands. The horse galloped and slowed with a slight pressure from her knees and the lift of her hand on the bridle. The horse and rider were one as they flew across the pasture.
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