Don't reduce supplementary feed
As the new dairy season gets underway and farmers tackle ongoing financial challenges, they are being urged not to make hasty decisions about selling cows and cutting back on supplementary feed.
A ruminant nutritionist for Grain- Corp, Christian Muller, says as cows start mating, the risks and rewards of feeding rise sharply, so it’s time for dairy farmers to be wary.
“Getting cows’ nutrition balance right will enable dairy farmers to hit high production numbers and have good cow responses to mating. Get it wrong and the problems will mount.
“Cows are experiencing big energy shifts right now. This season has put a lot of stress on animals and we’re seeing cows approach mating with lower body condition than last year.
“Good quality pasture and supplementary feed are going to be important to help cows get into calf and put milk in the vat.”
Muller says choosing the right feed is more than just filling a cow’s stomach.
“Most farmers know how the rumen of their cows functions, but what they’re less aware of is that they are not only feeding the cow but also billions of bacteria living inside the rumen,” says Muller.
“I’ve had the privilege of studying the science of how the rumen functions for most of my working life, first in South Africa, then at Kansas State University for my Masters. The rumen is a fascinating nutrient factory.
“Inside the rumen there is a mutually beneficial relationship between bacteria and the cow, which means both organisms help each other. Bacteria break down feed consumed by the cow (pasture and other feed ingredients) and provide nutrients to the cow (such as protein, energy, minerals, & vitamins). The cow gives bacteria a healthy environment to live and grow in. One species can’t survive without the other.
“Cows need energy and protein in the right balance, not only to produce milk but also to allow the cow to become pregnant in a timely manner. For cows to get these elements from the grass, they need bacteria to break the feed down into nutrient forms the animals can use.”
To explain why rumen bacteria are important, Muller likens the activity of bacteria to kids playing with Lego.
“Healthy microbes are a source of energy and protein to the cow. Crude protein in feed is the building blocks for the bacteria to produce more bacteria, which means more protein and energy is available to the cow.
“To put these building blocks together, bacteria need fermentable energy. If there are lots of building blocks but the bacteria kids are too tired to put them together, they can’t build as many new structures. Or, if the kids are active but there aren’t enough building blocks, the number of newly built structures will also be limited.”
The key to optimum cow productivity is getting the energy-protein balance right, he adds.
