Improve Dairy Nutrition Using
Supplementary Feeds
Introduction
Supplementary feeds, such as those which are available from feed millers and
blenders, provide opportunities for dairy farmers to increase production and
profitability. This document outlines some of the opportunities, and provides some
analysis of what using supplementary feeding might mean for farmers.
Why increase production?
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The Government’s Business Growth Agenda set a goal of increasing the ratio of
exports to 40% of GDP by 2025.
The Ministry of Primary Industries’ Export Double goal requires 5.5-7% annual
increases in export values by 2025.
The industry set goals for the period 2009-2020 to increase farm profitability by
$110/ha/year, and milk solids by 10-15%.
Land availability for conversion to dairy farming is declining, as prices trend
upwards.
Environmental and other compliance costs are increasing.
Overheads including heifer replacement costs are increasing.
Increased overheads require increased production to maintain profitability.
Short lactation lengths, and premature culling result in low lifetime milk yields.
Cows are not achieving their genetic potentials.
What is limiting production?
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Consistent availability of good quality pasture due to variations in climate and
season.
Reducing availability of land to grow good quality pasture and other crops.
Unbalanced nutrient intakes that do not meet cows’ energy, protein and mineral
requirements.
Is pasture the only solution?
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Spring calving herds generally calve 1-2 months before the spring flush of
pasture, which can result in energy and dry matter (DM) shortfalls in early
lactation.
Autumn calving herds require supplementary feed to maintain production.
Maximum DM intakes cannot be achieved with low-DM pastures.
Summer pastures are often low in energy and protein.
Lush spring pasture may lack functional good quality fibre.
Dry summers or harsh winters can lead to pasture shortages.
How do dairy farmers currently fill these gaps?
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Maize, pasture, whole crop and lucerne silages.
Offering by-products such as palm kernel expeller, canola, cottonseed, DDGS
meals.
Forage brassica crops such as kale, swedes, turnips and rape.
Blended or pelleted meals.
What do we know about what we currently use?
Classification Raw Material
Cottonseed meal
Pasture (spring)
Soybean meal
Protein feeds
Palm kernel meal
Distillers’ Grains
Blended
&
pelleted meals
Grains (Wheat,
barley, maize)
High energy
Blended
&
pelleted meals
Variable
in Grass (summer)
Protein
/ Grass silage
Energy
Maize silage
Effective Fibre
Low
low
low
Low
Low
Dry Matter
High
Low
High
High
High
Low
High
Low
High
Low
High
High
High
Moderate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Why and when should farmers feed supplements?
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Increase DM intakes when pasture growth is poor, or access to pasture is limited
(due to environmental conditions).
Try and meet the energy gaps, especially during early lactation.
Provide minerals and vitamins, e.g. magnesium (for grass staggers).
During bad weather.
Increase milk solids yields, body condition or fertility.
Benefits of supplementary feeding
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Increase in milk solids yields per cow per day, lactation and lifetime.
Higher stocking densities and milk solids yields per hectare.
Improved fertility and conception rates, allowing voluntary culling and income
from heifers sold.
Lower replacement rates, which increase cows’ productive lives and reduce
capital costs.
Easier herd management due to tighter calving intervals.
Improvements in animal health and immunity due to better body condition.
Better welfare of stock and farm workers.
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Improved growth and body condition of heifers, to achieve target weights at
mating and calving, resulting in higher lifetime yields.
Different feed supplements can be used for different nutrient demands during the
lactation cycle.
Strategic feeding of minerals, e.g. calcium, phosphorous, sodium, magnesium,
cobalt, copper, iodine manganese, selenium, zinc.
Easier flow of cows in milking shed, more contented cows, encouraging quicker
milk let-down.
Supplementary feeding needs to be part of a long-term feeding management
programme on-farm, so economic returns can be optimised.
Nutritional benefits of compound feeds
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High energy.
Nutritionally balanced, being comprised of a combination of grains (wheat,
barley, maize, sorghum), milling by-products (broll, hominy), by-products of oil
extraction (palm kernel meal, soybean, canola, cottonseed meals) or distilling
(distillers’ dark grains and solubles).
Strategic vitamin and mineral supplementation to counteract metabolic issues,
e.g. magnesium (for grass staggers), and nutritional shortfalls.
May contain rumen buffers to reduce the risk of acidosis.
May contain bypass fats for increased energy intakes.
Available in meal or pellet forms.
Minimal wastage if fed in feed troughs or through in-shed feeding systems, vs
pasture and other supplements.
Easily to manage with the option to turn “on and off” or adjust allowances as
required.
Lower labour costs vs silage when fed in troughs or sheds.
Can be purchased and paid for as and when needed.
NZFMA members produce safe feeds according to good manufacturing
processes that comply with relevant legislation, e.g. biosecurity, Ruminant
Protein Regulations.
Lower mycotoxin risk due to the mixes of raw materials used vs feeding single
raw materials, and may also contain mycotoxin binders.