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For dairy nutritionists and dairy managers, it’s frustrating to learn that the ration delivered to cows is not always the ration that was formulated. A diet can’t do its job when it’s not correctly mixed, delivered or managed.
Rumen-protected histidine is more of an attractive concept today than a commercial product. Yet experimental prototypes are showing potential. As these prototypes advance, factors related to their use and potential in dairy nutrition will gain more attention.
Dairy cows and athletes have more in common than one might expect. Legendary National Football League coach Vince Lombardi said, “Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection, we catch excellence.”
When cows just aren’t performing the way they need to be, the ration often takes the blame. Your nutritionist may need to make some adjustments, but before they do, it might be a good idea to take a look at what is happening to that ration when the formulation moves from theory to practice.
The canola plant was developed in the 1970s to capture the beneficial properties of rapeseed oil and meal – but also to remove the anti-nutritional factors that limited the use of rapeseed oil and meal by the food and livestock feeding industry. Since its introduction, canola meal has continued to improve.
We ensure that our cows receive a well-formulated, palatable ration – but how often do we think about the feeding environment and whether the dining experience enhances or hinders feed intake and production efficiency?
Dairy profitability demands optimizing resources every day. For Sean Jones, that goes double. Sometimes triple.
Jones is the third generation involved in Lester C. Jones and Sons Inc., a multi-family member dairy farm near Massey, Maryland.
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