Dairy cows are ruminants, meaning they eat both grasses and grains. Additionally, they spend a great deal of time lying down while ruminating, which aids digestion and keeps the rumen functioning optimally.
Dairy cows primarily feed on forages such as corn silage and grass silage, which are stored over months to improve nutrition for the animals.
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Nutrition
Dairy feeder cows require a balanced diet of high-quality forage and grain to ensure proper milk production. The ruminant feed pyramid is used as the guideline for rations tailored to each stage of lactation, providing all essential nutrients.
In addition to forage and grains, rations should also include other ingredients that provide additional nutrition. Examples include molasses, beet pulp, soyhulls and distillers grains.
Protein, fat, vitamins and minerals are all essential elements in a dairy cow’s diet. A farmer’s nutritionist will ensure that the proper nutrients are included in their feeding schedule.
Dairy cattle must obtain calcium and phosphorus, two essential macrominerals for maintaining bone structure, metabolism and milk production.
Breeding
Dairy feeder cows are bred to produce large amounts of milk. Furthermore, they’re capable of digesting a diet composed of grains and forages.
Dairy cows are ruminants, meaning they feed off plants instead of hunting for their meat. This adaptation allows them to consume large meals quickly.
They often spend their day lying down and ruminating, which appears to be like grinding up their food.
Beef cattle on the other hand, consume both grasses and grains. This allows them to gain weight and store it as fat.
Due to their genetic distinction from dairy cows, beef cattle must be selectively bred for traits that make them more productive in beef production. For instance, they must have good calving ease and be resistant to health problems or mastitis; this necessitates a great deal of attention from farmers.
Genetics
Genetics play an integral role in the performance and profitability of pasture-based dairy operations. Breeds such as Holsteins and Jerseys are the most commonly used on these types of dairies, though other breeds such as purebreds or crossbreds with both Holstein and Jersey blood can also be utilized.
In traditional dairies, yield has long been a top priority trait and selection has made significant progress toward attaining higher-producing cows. However, attaining yield without sacrificing reproductive efficiency can be tricky in pasture-based systems with longer average calving intervals.
To maximize the potential of genomic selection for feed efficiency, an intimate knowledge of its genetic architecture is necessary. To address this challenge, researchers need to pinpoint how variations in coexpression networks relate to genes responsible for feed efficiency and how these genes collaborate with other regulators. Doing so will give us a more complete picture of how genes operate together to determine feed efficiency, helping guide future selection efforts.
Health
Cows require a healthy rumen to digest their feed fully. This aids them in producing more milk and keeping healthy, as an efficient rumen also assists with the absorption of essential nutrients.
Dairy feeder cows can become severely ill if not given proper nutrition. Diarrhea and acidosis, which could damage their rumen, are just two examples. They could also develop hoof issues like laminitis or digital dermatitis if left unchecked.
Dairy feeder cows require a nutritious diet, especially during times of heat stress. Their food should consist of fat, carbohydrates and protein in equal amounts.
They require almost one percent of their body weight in forage each day (15 lbs), providing them with plenty of fiber and keeping their stomach functioning optimally.
They require a warm place to sleep, such as a barn or shed. Furthermore, during grazing season, they must have access to water.
