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The values in the table below are guideline nutrient requirements and dietary recommendations for dairy cows.
* It is recommended that 75% of the NDF in the diets of lactating cows is provided as forage.
Guidelines for recommended nutrient content. Source: Nutrient requirements of dairy cattle. National Research Council, 1989.
Dry matter intake required to fulfil nutrient allowances for maintenance, milk production and normal life weight gain during mid and late lactation.
Dry matter intake. Source: Nutrient requirements of dairy cattle. National Research Council.
Dry matter intake is one of the key factors for high levels of milk production. Everything that is done to increase dry matter intake, especially for fresh cows, will have a positive effect on the milk production level.
Factors that can influence dry matter intake:
- Roughage quality;
- Freshness of the ration;
- Balance of the ration;
- Feeding frequency;
- Trough space;
- Water supply;
- Management; and
- Weather conditions.
There are many different software programmes available today to help calculate dairy rations.
In order to calculate the ration, and control whether cows perform as expected from it, certain basic information must be available:
- Available feed with dry matter content and analyses of nutrient values;
- Dry matter intake for individual or groups of cows;
- Milk production for individual or groups of cows;
- Milk compression for individual or groups of cows;
- Body condition scoring; and
- Health record for the herd.
A ration calculation should be made every time there is a change of feed, or the cows do not perform as expected from the ration.
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