The reasons for an in-dairy feeding system might appear obvious, including a desire to reduce the waste that accompanies feeding in the paddock, increasing milksolids per cow, reducing the level of equipment and time committed to daily “in paddock” feeding, and improving fertility.
However those involved in advising on feeding cows properly, and installing feed equipment will testify the “road to hell is paved with good intentions” and it’s possible to spend a lot, change a lot in cows’ diets, and still not achieve all the system intended to.
Waikato dairy nutritionist Sue Macky cautioned that timing the installation of a system wrongly would impact the results.
“A newly calved cow is a picky cow thanks in part to hormonal effects, and means the wrong time to put in a new system is over calving. She needs to have been introduced to the system and the feed at least two to three weeks before, and ideally at the end of lactation as late lactation cows will eat anything.”
Choosing a readily accepted feed like dried distillers grain (DDG) regardless of longer term intentions would get all cows eating, making it relatively easy to change feeds.
However wrong timing when introducing a system, particularly over calving, could cause an already sub-clinical cow to become clinically ketotic if wasn’t eating what she should be.
Research in Australia has shown when cows were given the same amount of consistent quality feed, on average 15% of cows ate less than operators thought they were, meaning 15% were eating more. The effect heightened the risk of acidosis in the overfed cows, and energy deficits in the underfed.
“The priority has to be that 100% of cows eat 100% of the feed 100% of the time.”
Macky urged farmers not to try to “skip a few rungs to get to the top of the ladder” when determining feed system and feed type. For the majority of New Zealand farms the feed need was simply more drymatter down the throat, without getting overly hung up on components.
She urged farmers not to worry about multiple input feed options too soon, saying that not enough NZ cows were getting their 4% bodyweight in drymatter every day, and once that was achieved, fine tuning and additions could be considered.
“When you achieve that, you will know. Often the production potential of the cow will be limited in the first place because the cow was not fully grown – feed is used for growth not milk.
The cow’s ability to only ingest so much feed while on the platform or in the herringbone dairy, and the need to consider environmental implications, also prompted Macky to caution about opting for in-dairy systems without considering feedpad options.
‘A newly calved cow is a picky cow thanks in part to hormonal effects, and means the wrong time to put in a new system is over calving.’
If the need at certain times, like low pasture cover spring periods, was for significant amounts of supplement and/or pasture damage limitations was a factor, then a feedpad could be a better option, as with the need to feed bulk feeds like maize silage.
Because time was limited for consumption, the addition of liquids like molasses and even water could have a positive “Weetbix” effect, in that it is possible to eat more Weetbix with moisture than without.
Adding minerals to feed appealed on grounds of convenience, but dusty types including limeflour and magnesium oxide could reduce intake and palatability. Mineral pellets are a low dust option and not always a higher cost, or minerals could be added through a Dosatron into feed bins or through molasses.
Nutritional checklist for in-dairy feeding system
Be realistic about where your system is at
Consider cow liveweight, which will determine a cow’s intake ability and need, and determine where feed will go first.
Assess your current pasture management, realistically determining if this can be improved further before opting for a feed system – “grass-plus” is the aim, to ensure your cheapest feed is fully utilised.
Calculate your farm’s comparative stocking rate
Kilograms of liveweight per tonne of drymatter available per year.
The best profit levels sits at 75-80kg LWT/ t DM/ha/year.
Target farm production based on milksolids (MS)/kgLW, relative to farm system.
Remember the “100%” rule
A system must be able to deliver consistently on:
- 100% adaptation – introduce the right feed at the right time.
- 100% palatability – smell, taste, texture and dust and mineral additive impact.
- 100% comfort – consider bin position, noise, space, water, stock skills.
- 100% consistency – ensure chosen feed can be delivered consistently, without interruption to avoid acidosis, ketosis etc.
