Level II Agricultural
Business Operations

Nutrient content of feed

Nutritional requirements

Analyse forage quality

Winter feeding plan
Forage
 Grass
 Silage
 Straw
Concentrate
 Barley, Wheat, Soya, Rape
Feed
Dry Matter
Water
Energy
Protein
Fibre
Vitamins
Minerals

Dry matter (DM) is the feed remaining after all the
water has been taken out

DM includes:
◦ Energy (ME)
◦ Protein (CP)
◦ Fibre (NDF)
◦ Fats & Oils
◦ Vitamins & Minerals
DM
ME
CP
Barley
86.0
13.2
11.5
Wheat
86.0
13.6
10.0
Maize
86.0
13.8
10.0
Soyabean
89.0
13.4
50.5
Megalac
95.0
29.0
0.0
DM
ME
CP
Soyabean
86.0
13.2
50.5
Rapeseed
90.0
12.0
40.0
Distillers
Maize
89.0
14.0
31.0
ME
CP
NDF
Grass
11.2
16.0
57.7
Silage
10.6
13.0
46.0
Straw
6.3
3.5
81.0
11.9
11.6
64.0
Soya hulls
1.
Water
2.
Energy
3.
Protein
4.
Fibre
5.
Minerals & Vitamins

50 – 80% cows body is water

Milk contains 87% water

Transport nutrients around body

Facilitates excretion of waste products

Regulates body temperature

A cow needs 60-116 litres water/day

Survive (MAINTENANCE)

Produce milk (PRODUCTION)

Produce offspring (REPRODUCTION)

Gain condition (PRODUCTION)
MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS
Cow details
650kg liveweight
40 litres/day
6 weeks calved
LWT
500
550
600
650
700
750
Maint.
59
64
69
74
79
84
The example cow is 650kg, so she will require
74MJ/day to maintain herself.
NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENT OF
DAIRY COWS (2)
What is the cow’s maintenance
requirement?
How many MJ to make 1 litre of
milk?
REQUIREMENT = MAINTENANCE + PRODUCTION
MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS
Maintenance Value
(1) DAILY MILK YIELD & ENERGY REQUIRED
Maintenance requirement for energy
X
Daily yield
Litres
X
5
MJ
TOTAL ENERGY REQUIRED (X + Y)
Y
74
MJ
MJ
MJ/day
Cow details
650kg liveweight
40 litres/day
6 weeks calved
Milk Production
General rule = 1 litre of milk requires 5MJ of energy
Example cow = 40 x 5 = 200MJ
PRODUCTION REQUIREMENTS
(1) DAILY MILK YIELD & ENERGY REQUIRED
Maintenance requirement for energy
X
Daily yield
40
Litres
X
5
MJ
TOTAL ENERGY
FOR MILK PROD.
MJ
Y 200 MJ
TOTAL ENERGY REQUIRED (X + Y)
DAILY MILK
YIELD
74
274
MJ/day
TOTAL
ENERGY REQUIRED

Build & repair the body’s enzymes,
hormones, tissues (muscle, skin, organs)

Growth

Milk Production

Pregnancy
3. Concentrate Protein Content
Silage CP content
Concentrate Protein %
12 – 14%
18 – 21
8 – 12%
Greater than 21%
Low Protein Silage – Specifically formulated diet
To ensure efficient rumen function:

60:40 Forage:Concentrate (DM)

Length of fibre (25-50 mm)

Straw inclusion

Bone formation – Calcium, Phosphorus

Milk production - Calcium

Reproduction – Vitamin K

Muscle function – Vitamin E, Selenium
Steps in planning a winter feeding plan:

Analyse forage

Balance forage with concentrates

Feed ration to ensure sufficient intake

Monitor cow performance
Silage is usually the main winter forage:

Take samples for analysis

Take care with sampling procedure

Take sufficient samples
Gradually build up level of concentrate (21 day)

Maximum feed level in parlour
◦ 10 kg cows
◦ 8 kg heifers

If higher feed levels are required consider
◦ Mid day feeds
◦ Out of parlour feeders
◦ Complete diet feeding (TMR)
Advantages
 Less digestive upsets
 Cheaper blend vs nut
 Low cost – no
equipment needed
Disadvantages
 Feed Space
 Labour
 Cows bullying
Advantages
 Fewer digestive
upsets
 Cows fed individually
 Cows fed to Yield
Disadvantages
 Capital cost
 1 station/25 cows
 Bullying
Advantages
 Uniform diet
 Optimum rumen
efficiency
 Encourages high
intake
 Flexibility – alternative
feeds
Disadvantages
 Capital cost
 Complicated diets
 Over mixing
 Under/overfeeding
 Suitable housing
Offer adequate fresh forage
 Allow 5-10% refusal
 Ensure adequate feed space
(450 – 600 mm/cow)

Provide clean and adequate water
 Troughs should allow 10% of herd to
drink at any one time or 100 mm/cow




Assessment of cow fat reserves based on
visual assessment and handling.
Gives subjective assessment of thin and fat
cows regardless of frame size or breed.
Based on scale of 1-5 (1=extremely thin,
5=extremely fat) with increments of 0.5.
Two main areas for assessment:
1. Tailhead
2. Loin
Tailhead
Shallow fat-lined
cavity felt at
taihead.
Fatty tissue felt
under the skin.
Pelvis felt easily.
Loin
Ends of transverse
processes feel well
rounded and upper
surfaces padded
with fat.
Depression visible
in loin.

Feed intakes

Milk yields

Milk protein

Condition scores

Careful winter feed planning essential

Balance silage quality with concentrate

Feed sufficient ration

Ensure adequate intake

Monitor performance and body condition