Lactating Cow Diets

Automated feeding benefits transition cows

dschreiner@lely.com — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Automated feeding systems support herd health and performance by delivering consistent, precise rations around the clock on dairies. It can also benefit more targeted feed groups like dry cows and transition heifers so that cows receive the right nutrients at the right time, supporting a stronger start to lactation.

Global collaboration: Unlocking innovation for dairy producers

gabriela.acetoze@adm.com — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Rumen-protected capsicum helps cows optimize energy partitioning during early lactation. This is a subtle but powerful intervention that translates into measurable performance gains.

What we’ve learned from 15 years of TMR audits

msattler@diamondv.com — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

TMR audits started from a single question: Why did dairies that just bought a new mixer see a bump in milk production? Today, it is a fundamental tool that helps us use our equipment and data more effectively and better support our people and cows. Curiosity and a willingness to feed cows better will continue to influence what comes next.

What do WWII combat analytics and dairy nutrition have in common?

cjenkins@standardnutrition.com — Fri, 10 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Given a set of nutrient requirements and a list of ingredients with known nutrient profiles and value, nutritionists may leverage linear programming to derive the most cost-effective combination of ingredients to supply these desired nutrients. This practice is often referred to as "least-cost formulation."

Linking early-lactation systems to peak milk performance

cesar_matamoros@cargill.com — Mon, 06 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

How a dairy achieves their next increase in peak milk production is unique to their operation. We have many keys in our proverbial keychains that might unlock the door to greater peak milk, but it’s not always easy to know which key to use.

Grouping cows, cutting methane: The next step in precision feeding

cl.huang@wisc.edu — Fri, 03 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

What goes into the bunk doesn’t just affect milk production, it also impacts the farm’s bottom line and its environmental footprint. Our team explored a simple but powerful strategy to address this challenge: nutritional grouping. The results showed promise.

The ‘right’ alfalfa-to-corn-silage ratio

jblackburn@vitaplus.com — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0400

As dairy producers evaluate the economic, agronomic and nutritional demands on their farms, they ask, “How can I make best use of my acreage for the greatest return on investment?” That question challenges farm consultants to rethink traditional approaches.

The data TMR: From silos to mixed rations

katie_raver@rockriverlab.com — Thu, 03 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Just as feed handling and management has evolved greatly over the last 50 years, the same will be true about data management as we move into the future. Identifying all of the data silos on farms and working to integrate them into a singular dataset will empower dairies to make more informed decisions that yield more substantial results quicker.

Challenges, opportunities and the future of AI in dairy nutrition

Fri, 01 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0400

At the intersection of tradition and innovation lies the future of dairy farming, which is increasingly intertwined with artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities. AI has emerged as a transformative force as the industry responds to marketplace pressures and technological advancements. While integrating AI in dairy practices presents challenges, it also offers significant opportunities.

What do the new Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle tell us?

rjv10@psu.edu — Wed, 29 May 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Feed costs account for more than 45% of production costs and approach nearly 60% with high feed costs. Obviously, dairy income is directly proportional to milk volume, composition and quality produced on the farm.

Building out rations to optimize feed costs

jweyers@zinpro.com — Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Focusing on fine-tuning for feed efficiency and partnering with an expert who can help analyze your herd’s needs will be an important strategy as cost pressures continue to rise. With some simple adjustments, you can protect your operation’s bottom line.

More to milkfat than meets the eye

william.seymour@novusint.com — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Milkfat is a valuable commodity and is a reflection of overall rumen health and production efficiency. Take a proactive approach with your nutritionist to find ways to better optimize factors affecting milkfat yield, including taking a closer look at what lies behind the average bulk tank fat test.

Uncovering ration opportunities on the flip side

nmichael@pdscows.com — Mon, 10 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0400

I recently got a phone call from a nearby dairyman, “Joe,” inquiring if I would give him a second opinion on his rations.

Evaluating feed additive pertinence in dairy rations

Fri, 09 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0400

The use of feed additives in livestock diets is part of many nutritional strategies to help optimize performance, health and the well-being of animals.

Have you for-cotton something in your ration?

audrey@agproud.com — Tue, 30 May 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Last fall, when cottonseed prices kept shooting higher, dairy producers were pulling the ingredient out of their rations or reducing their inclusion rates. However, prices have since come back down to the same price as seen last spring in 2022.

Feeding practices to cool hot cows

rrodrigues@provimi-na.com — Fri, 19 May 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Heat stress occurs when an animal generates and absorbs more heat than it can dissipate through respiration, sweating or active cooling. Rumination generates large amounts of heat, so when a cow is hot, her first response is typically to eat less feed.

Different rations may be necessary with different grouping strategies

dairyteam@hubbardfeeds.com — Fri, 03 Mar 2023 00:00:00 -0500

Strategically grouping cows on the farm can result in efficiencies and benefits. For instance, it can lead to improved cow health, increased production, reduced incidences of metabolic disorders and increased income over feed costs while also offering more efficient nutrient utilization across cow groups, thanks to the implementation of separate rations.

Notable changes to the NASEM dairy nutrient requirements software

j.prestegaard@ag.tamu.edu — Wed, 23 Nov 2022 12:38:19 -0500

The most recent report on dairy cattle nutrient requirements was published by the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) in December 2021.

5 considerations for high-group-nutrition success

apereira@landolakes.com — Fri, 09 Sep 2022 12:00:11 -0400

In today’s economic environment of high commodity prices and extreme input costs, producers must look for ways to get the most from their herd. Feeding a balanced ration during peak lactation can maximize milk production and your ROI.

There’s profit in knowing how much your cows weigh

ron.patterson@datamars.com — Wed, 02 Mar 2022 18:58:18 -0500

Ideal weight is relative term across many species. Take humans, for example. Experts have developed an ideal body mass index based on population averages that indicates whether a person is at an ideal weight for their height.

33 cents: The elephant of feed costs

pauldyk@gpsdairy.com — Fri, 31 Dec 2021 14:00:01 -0500

A dime, a nickel, maybe even a penny. Dairy producers and nutritionists go back and forth on cutting feed costs by fractions while optimizing milk production.

Conduct a TMR audit to deliver your best ration

toelberg@diamondv.com — Fri, 05 Feb 2021 16:47:34 -0500

Obviously, the right nutrition has a significant impact on the health of your herd. But delivering those nutrients consistently every time can play a large role in whether cows are productive and healthy.

Ration similarities in herds averaging over 100 pounds of milk

steve.massie@rennut.com — Tue, 29 Sep 2020 23:17:51 -0400

Every four or five years, our company surveys the herds we consult that are averaging over 100 pounds of milk to see what can be learned from this elite group of producers and how this information can be applied to other farms.

Feeding strategies for improving milk protein production

fernando@dellait.com — Wed, 23 Sep 2020 19:59:51 -0400

One reasonable approach to enhance profitability in dairy farms is the strategic production of milk components without negatively affecting cow performance, health or reproduction. Although milkfat has been the main driver in the milk check during the last three years, milk protein production should not be overlooked.

Making the cut: Field observations of robotic milking nutrition

Fri, 07 Aug 2020 13:00:01 -0400

As farms have implemented robotic milking into their operations, the perceived challenge of feeding robotic herds has grown. Many farms that have implemented robotic milking or automated milking systems (AMS) have also embraced the idea of free cow traffic in which the cow is free to do as it pleases in the barn on its own schedule.

Making high-quality TMR: Tips to protect your finished feed

eugene.rodberg@kemin.com — Fri, 22 May 2020 22:03:02 -0400

Total mixed rations (TMRs) as we know them today are an invention of primarily the last 50 years. Prior to TMRs, dairy herds were fed predominantly forages with a limited amount of grain delivered at milking time.

Make better nutritional and management decisions by understanding milk fatty acids

jpeters@standardnutrition.com — Wed, 06 May 2020 13:00:01 -0400

Dairymen, nutritionists and processors all seem to be paying more attention to fat and protein these days, particularly due to their impact on the price of a hundredweight (cwt) of milk.

Rumen insights for managing component efficiency

hank_spencer@cargill.com — Thu, 09 Apr 2020 22:28:16 -0400

As outside pressures continue to limit production and cow numbers, dairies across the country are striving for maximum efficiency across their organizations. When we're limited by these factors, we must attempt to put the most profitable cows in every slot we have available. With component-based pricing, profitable cows are the ones with the highest levels of component efficiency (CE) and not necessarily the ones producing the most pounds of milk.

Don’t be singularly focused when determining profitability

ainsworthj@northstarcooperative.com — Mon, 30 Sep 2019 13:00:01 -0400

Having focus is a good thing, but being singularly focused to measure profitability is not. We know with some certainty, herds which produce more milk or higher components have higher profitability.

Feed efficiency: Are you telling the whole story?

cjenkins@standardnutrition.com — Tue, 06 Aug 2019 13:00:01 -0400

This year, we were fortunate enough to attend an excellent dairy conference hosted in a casino resort in the Southwest.