There are so many choices out there when it comes to feeding cows. For starters, you can buy fresh fodder and dry feeds. These products contain the nutrients and vitamins your cows need to survive and thrive. And there are also supplements you can add to help your cows grow strong.
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Fresh fodder
Fresh fodder is a valuable source of energy for milking cows. This is important because glucose supply can be critical for dairy cows in early lactation.
Several studies have shown that fresh forage increases milk yield. In addition, the consumption of a diet with beets improved dry matter intake. A beet-based diet provided 284 g/kg sugar.
In addition, beets also supported microbial growth. This may be one reason for the improved appetite of the cows. However, this increased rumen MP was not reflected in the milk yield.
The authors did not find a statistically significant difference in the average milk values among the treatments. This could be due to differences in handling procedures.
The study also evaluated the physicochemical characteristics of the three fodders. Those that contained beets showed higher total purine derivatives, which suggest enhanced microbial output.
Dry feeds
Dairy cows require a nutrient-rich diet. To ensure optimal performance, their rations should be varied, high in quality forage, and provide sufficient concentrations of vitamins and minerals.
Modern dairy cows have tremendous milk yield capacity. However, they also need to be given a balanced diet that contains the nutrients they need for proper metabolic function.
Dairy cattle rations should include quality concentrates, high-quality grains, and other vegetable by-products. In addition to providing necessary nutrients, these products can improve the quality and profitability of milk production.
Protein is an essential nutrient for dairy cows. It is needed for growth, maintenance, and production of milk. It is typically measured in feedstuffs as crude protein. It is composed of nucleic acids (N), dipeptides, and other nitrogen-containing compounds.
Minerals and vitamins
Milking cow food should contain the appropriate amounts of minerals and vitamins to ensure optimal growth and production. Insufficient intake of these vitamins and minerals can result in decreased production, increased disease incidence, and reproductive problems.
The major minerals in cattle nutrition are phosphorus, potassium, and calcium. These nutrients play many important roles in the body, and proper mineral selection is important to avoid waste of feed dollars and to improve performance and reproductive efficiency.
Most cattle feeds have too little of each mineral, which can reduce growth and cause health problems. Adding supplemental vitamins and minerals to a grain mix can ensure that all needed minerals are being supplied.
Some heifers are fed free-choice mineral supplements, but if your heifers are consuming adequate feed, then you may not need to provide these. If you do need to supply trace minerals, they should be provided in a salt base.
Protected fats
Protected fats are one of the most important ingredients in modern dairy cow diets. They can help to improve production, reproductive performance, and body condition. They can also provide additional energy for cows. In many cases, a single pound of protected fats can support up to an extra half gallon of milk per day.
In recent years, milk yields have increased. This has been made possible by the use of an energy dense diet. This allows for the cow to compensate for poor quality feed or adverse weather conditions. However, there are limitations to raising energy intake. Specifically, a genetic intake capacity may limit the amount of energy a cow can consume.
For example, in a conventional system, if the rumen fermentable energy of a silage is low, there is a risk of a negative energy balance. This is because starch requires a large portion of cereal. A high level of rapidly available energy can be harmful.
Shelter
There are many things to consider when designing a new or modifying an existing barn for milking cows. For starters, it is important to design a facility that can handle the weather, as well as the animals. A good shelter can also improve the welfare of the animals and reduce losses.
Besides the obvious, such as water and food, the animal shelter should provide optimal bedding for optimal milk production. In addition, it should be able to minimize the impact of climatic extremes.
The size of the stalls should be appropriate for the size of the animal. Larger cows should not be confined in small stalls. Similarly, heifers should not be grouped together. Depending on the number of heifers in the herd, it is recommended to have a stall that measures 30 to 40 square feet per animal.
