Having the best feed for your cows is essential if you want to produce high quality milk. The quality of the milk depends on a lot of factors, from the type of forage, to the minerals and microbiota in the diet, to the amount of feed, to the climate and weather. In this article, we will cover the most important things to consider when choosing the right feed for your cows.
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Green fodder
Green fodder is one of the best feeds for dairy animals. It provides the necessary nutrients that are required for the health and growth of the dairy animal. The main benefit of green fodder is that it helps to decrease the cost of feeding. Besides, it also contributes to the performance and growth of the animal.
There are many different types of fodder crops available in the market. Some of them include African tall, SSG, Multi-cut pearl millet and maize. They are easy to grow, require minimal land and provide a lot of by-products.
For optimal milk production, it is important to give cows the right mix of green and dry fodder. This is especially true for pregnant cows. As they are preparing for childbirth, they need more nutrients than other animals.
Depending on the climate, the dry matter consumption of an animal is affected. Dairy animals need about 25 kilograms of food per day. In addition, they need more water during hot summers.
Wet and dry forages
Forages are a critical ingredient in a dairy diet and are used to supply nutrients for both lactating and dry cows. Forages can be grown in various swards, including mixed swards and pure stands.
Dry matter content is one of the key factors in determining a forage’s quality. It is important to determine moisture levels, as moisture affects how a cow absorbs nutrients. This is particularly important for primary milk revenue.
Energy is the most difficult nutrient to provide to a dairy cow. The best way to determine energy is by testing forage fiber content. Increasing fiber content can reduce the amount of energy consumed by the animal. Increasing the proportion of fiber in the forage can also increase digestibility, which can benefit milk production.
NDF is another nutrient that is directly related to the amount of energy available to the animal. A physically effective system to measure forage NDF concentration can help to maximize forage quantity and improve milk responses. However, validation is necessary before applying this method.
Minerals
Minerals are crucial for animal productivity. They play an important role in the body’s acid-base balance, nerve conduction, and cell membrane electrical potentials.
Milk production, milk quality, and reproduction are affected by the presence or absence of minerals in a cow’s diet. However, milk producers often don’t know how beneficial a mineral mixture can be.
Research has shown that a complete quality mineral program can positively affect bone development, muscle growth, immune function, and nervous system function. It can also improve skin, hair, and hoof quality.
Many cattle feeds contain low concentrations of certain minerals, and this can lead to reduced milk production, poor reproduction, and infertility. Therefore, it is essential to identify which minerals are missing from a cow’s ration and to find ways of improving its performance.
Several minerals are considered to be critical for milk production. These include calcium, sodium, potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus. The amount of each required in a cow’s ration should be between 0.21% and 0.25 percent of its dry matter.
Rumen microbiota
Rumen microbiota is a key contributor to energy production and digestion in dairy cows. The composition of rumen microbiota changes with the feed intake and diet of the animal.
Several studies have explored the role of rumen microbiota in the milk production of dairy cattle. Rumen microbiota is a highly complex environment, which is largely made up of bacteria, fungi, and protozoa. Protozoa are unicellular organisms that feed on organic matter, cell debris, and microorganisms. They secrete proteolytic enzymes, which can degrade plant polymers.
A study conducted to test the effect of microbial feed supplements on lactating Holstein dairy cows found that increased levels of ruminal microorganisms tended to improve the production performance of the animals. This study is likely the first to report an association between rumen and lower gut microbiomes and their effect on milk production efficiency.
Methane production is a function of hemicellulose degradation. A symbiotic relationship is formed between methanogens and protozoa, which allow methanogens to consume hydrogen produced by protozoa.
