Feeding regimes for freshly calved cows have 2 ultimate goals: Getting your cows to peak strongly while also getting them back in calf

Feeding regimes for freshly calved cows have 2 ultimate goals: Getting your cows to peak strongly

while getting them back in calf.

To achieve this we need to:

• Feed a balanced level of concentrates in relation to your base forage (grass vs silage) to supply enough energy to to limit BCS loss in early lactation and to

allow your cow to reach her peak milk yield

• Supply the cow with adequate minerals and vitamins
• Feed a diet with a balanced protein profile
• Have a herd of with a good herd health status
• Have an optimum breeding management programme
• Have an AI programme that breeds for y

Relationship between body condition loss post calving and 6 week in calf rate (for cows with a pre-calving condition score of > 3). Teagasc trial 1999.

Feed enough energy in early lactation to limit BCS loss and maximise peak milk yield:

Maximise the intakes of the highest energy forages available to you:

– The more digestible the forage source the higher its intake potential

– The more digestible the forage source the higher its energy content

Grass is the most digestible forage available to your cows. This high level of digestibility means that cows

will eat more grass than any other forage and that grass has a higher level of energy than any other forage.

The more grass you can get into your cow’s diets the better. It will support higher levels of production while

maximising milk protein % and minimising BCS loss.

However, our approach to grass at this time of the year must be planned. If we over allocate grass now, we will

run down our covers too quickly, running out of grass before the start of the 2nd rotation in early April.

If we under allocate grass, we won’t get all the farm grazed by early April.

Concentrate feeding levels to accompany grass must be balanced to maximise production, while maintaining

enough grazing pressure to eat the grass available to you in your first rotation while grazing paddocks down

to 3.5-4cm.

Early Warning Sign of Underfeeding

1. Low Milk Proteins:

In early lactation, herd protein below 3.05/3.1 are of concern.

2. High butterfat to protein ratio.

This is an indication of ketosis. In early lactation, herd butterfat:protein ratio of above 1.4:1 are of concern. Eg.

Butterfat % of 4.5, to a protein % of 3.15 is a ratio of 1.43:1. The high butterfat % is coming from the body fat

the cow is losing.

Consult your Dairygold Area Sales Manager on what your milk constituents are telling you about

your cow’s diet.

Reason for low milk protein/ketosis/underfeeding:

• Diet is too low in energy; caused by:

1. Feeding low energy (UFL) feeds i.e. poor quality silage or poorly managed grass (with insufficient

concentrates to balance)

2. Low intake of high energy feeds i.e overestimating grass allowance.

ACTION:

• Use the latest and best grassland management techniques to maximise grass intakes and grass

For more information contact your Dairygold Area Sales Manager today.