To determine why the ration along the feedbunks was so inconsistent, a nutritionist for a 1,000-cow dairy in the Upper Midwest recently asked for a TMR audit. His situation nicely showcases what data from more than 1,000 TMR audits in five years revealed.

Feed programs that nurture rumen microbial populations help increase the dairy’s income over feed cost (IOFC). Rumen microbial populations play a pivotal role in converting feedstuffs to high-quality microbial protein and volatile fatty acids (VFA), which serve as energy sources.

A key dairy nutritionist asked us to conduct a TMR audit for two reasons: First, to determine what, if any, factors might be limiting the lactation herd’s feeding system and, second, for insights on further improving the feeding management. The nutritionist had seen the results of previous TMR audits and knew the producer would welcome fine-tuning from a second set of eyes.

When cows in two separate milking parlors receive the same diet from the same feed center, how can one set of cows be 0.2 percent higher in butterfat than the other? That’s the question the manager of a 4,000-plus cow dairy asked one of our regional reps.