When it comes to implementing a TMR system for dairy cows, the number of animal groups in a TMR system varies widely. The ideal TMR system would have seven animal groups, ranging from high-, medium-, and low-producing lactating cows to far-off dry cows and prebreeding and postbreeding heifers. Some herds separate their first lactation cow group, which is crucial in a dairy farm. This group responds best to undercrowded feed bunks, and resting space should be allocated to each animal.
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Preparation of tmr
In order to achieve optimum milk production and profitability, a cow’s diet must contain a well-balanced blend of grains and forages as well as protein sources. Her diet must also contain adequate amounts of vitamins and minerals, to help her maintain a balance between milk production and growth. The preparation of TMR for dairy cows is crucial for good nutrition. It contains all the nutrients and vitamins necessary to support milk production and maximize profitability.
The preparation of TMR for dairy cows involves combining feeds that are formulated for a specific nutrient content. Commonly used ingredients for TMR are forages, legumes, and grains. Forages, which should account for approximately 40-60% of the total dry matter, should be of good quality. However, many factors affect the amount of forage intake, including palatability, the presence of specific weeds, and water quality. For high-yielding dairy cows, including straw in the TMR can increase dry matter intake. For medium and low-yielding animals, however, inclusion of straw can vary between 30-40%.
DM digestibility
The ruminal degradability of NFC and organic matter was not significantly different among the tested varieties of corn. However, there was a significant effect of variety on NDF and aNDFom digestion, with the PR39T45 exhibiting a slightly lower degradability rate than the other hybrids. These results were significantly lower than that of the control diet with all test articles. This suggests that it is not possible to make a perfect prediction of the DM digestibility of forage.
In contrast, a study by Casper and Schingoethe included dried whey as 15% of the diets, resulting in a significant decrease in milk production compared to a corn-based diet. In another study, Evans et al. included sugar beets in the diets of the experimental herds and found that the amount of sugar added to the feed had no effect on DMI.
D value
The D value of a TMR is important for determining the composition of milk. TMRs typically contain 15 percent of the dry matter that is present in the diet. The milk produced by dairy cows should have a high calcium value to help reduce supplementation costs. The TMR should also be free of soil contamination. However, producers must know the safe level of supplemental gossypol before introducing it into the ration.
The D value of a TMR for dairy cows can be calculated with a model based on the National Research Council’s (NRC) requirements. The researchers used a 3-by-3 Latin square design to minimize carryover effects. The experiment was set up so that each treatment was allowed 17 days to adapt to its new diet, after which data collection and sampling were conducted. The cows were randomly assigned to a treatment sequence within the block based on their fat-corrected milk yield and number of days in milk.
Costs
The initial setup costs for a TMR system are similar to other systems, so most farmers would modify their existing systems in order to incorporate TMR. The actual cost of TMR will depend on the specific type of system you select and the labor required to operate it. The cost of a computerized TMR feeding system can run anywhere from $20 to 30,000. In addition to the cost of the system itself, you’ll need a TMR mixer and storage system, a silage cart, and a computer feeder for your cows.
In addition to the increased production cost, TMR variation can also reduce feed efficiency. Feed cost variation can decrease the profitability of a dairy operation if nutrients are oversupplied or undersupplied. This can also increase the cost of rations and decrease IOFCs. Despite the benefits, TMR variability is often overlooked as a potential source of change in milk production. Nevertheless, rising feed costs may require you to consider the costs of reducing TMR variation.
