Introduction
This brochure highlights important practices for farmers to
improve milk production. The brochure's extension
message is one of a larger programme of on-farm
demonstrations being delivered by MAFRD.
The brochure is being funded through a two-year EU
project to strengthen MAFRD's advisory and technical
services. The project is helping MAFRD to coordinate the
advisory network of local advisers and private advisory
bodies, as well as promote the opportunities and benefits to
the farming community of using the advisory services. The
project is also supporting the implementation of rural
development measures aimed at using farm advisory
services, as well as ensuring that training is harmonised
with EU requirements under the Common Agriculture Policy
(CAP) and the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance for
Agriculture and Rural Development (IPARD).
_______________________________________________
Feeding dairy cattle
Feeding accounts for up to 70% of the cost of
production on the dairy farm. The balance of the feed
ration for milking cows varies according to the
different stages of production. Proper feeding of cows
can contribute to reproductive efficiency, as well as
increase the quality and quantity of milk.
Feeding of pregnant heifers

Nutritious matter is required for:
 Heifer growth
 Foetal (calf) development
 Preparing heifers for lactation


The quantity of food with high energy and protein
content (concentrated food) should be reduced in the
last two weeks before calving. This food (concentrate
feed) should be completely removed in the last week
(before calving).
Different factors affect milk production
These include: the breed and its hereditary
characteristics, the age of the cow, its body mass, its
lactation stage, its lactation frequency, oestrus (heat),
the interval between calving, the nutrition, the
duration of dry period, the body condition of the cow
at the time of calving, the quantity of milk produced
daily, climate, animal diseases and use of medication.
When feeding dairy cattle, four stages can be
distinguished:
1. Feeding at the beginning of milk production
stage (entry stage up to 10 days).
2. Feeding at maximum milk production
(advancement stage 10-40 days).
3. Feeding at the stabilization stage (up to
10 months after calving).
4. Feeding during the dry period (two months
before calving).
Feeding cows during the dry period
 This is the last stage before calving.
 Cows in this stage should “dry” gradually
(reducing milk production).

The animal should be prepared for the next
lactation.
The calf growth is intensive.
The production of milk at this stage has
consequences for the calves and the next
lactation.
The use of genetic potential of the animal
depends on care and proper feeding during
this stage.
How to dry a dairy cow
 Milking is done twice a day over three days,
then two days with no milking.
 The animal is milked once (the udder’s last
medical check-up).
A. Examples of feeding rations when a dairy cow
is dry (600 kg body mass)
Summer feeding (per day):
Example 1:
Meadow hay
Alfalfa
Concentrate
4 kg
20 kg
2 kg
Example 2:
Pastures
Meadow hay
Concentrate
20 kg
4 kg
2 kg
Winter feeding (per day):
Example 1:
Meadow hay
Maize silage
Concentrate
Example 2:
4 kg Meadow hay
15 kg Dry slices
2 kg Beer maker
Concentrate
6 kg
1 kg
20 kg
2 kg
Remark: Concentrate and liquid food should be
removed in the last week before calving. Quality hay,
oat and wheat bran may be used.
B. Examples of feeding rations for cows in full
lactation (600 kg body mass)
2. Cows with high milk production should
consume at least 4% of digestive dry matter
(DDM) of their live weight.
Food
3. Feeding green food straight after milking
stimulates DDM consumption.
Meadow hay
Alfalfa hay
Maize silage
Concentrate
Quantity of milk produced/ per
day
10 lit
17 lt
20 lt
25 lt
2
4
25
10
4
3
12
4
10
3
2
3
25
6.5
Rations for calves with body weight of up to 250
kg
Example 1 (per day in kg):
Hay
3.2 kg
Concentrate
4 kg
Or
Silage
7 kg
Concentrate 3.6 kg
Rations for calves with body weight of up to 400
kg
Example 2 (per day in kg):
Hay
3 kg
Concentrate
6.5 kg
Or
Silage
13 kg
Concentrate 4.5 kg
1. The cow should be stimulated to achieve
maximum consumption up to 10 weeks after
calving; (checks for milk increase to be made
every 15 days).
Rural Agricultural Advisory
Service of Kosovo
4. Cows should have food available for at least
20 hours a day.
5. Food in a feed trough should be stirred
(rolled).
6. The DDM content in a ration of voluminous
food should be 50-75%.
7. If stall temperature is over 27º C and relative
humidity over 80%, then 60% of food should
be given to cows during night time.
FEEDING AND RATION
FORMULATION FOR MILKING
COWS
8. Cows should have sufficient drinking water
available 24 hours, (as they drink up to 4
litres of water for every one litre of milk
produced).
9. Milk production from heifers is 25% lower
than from cows which have stopped growing.
10. Consumption of quantities of voluminous
food increases the fat quantity in milk.
11. Voluminous food should be chopped (2.5-3
cm) to stimulate salivation. Very fine food
has a counter-productive effect.
12. Protein energy deficiency is often present in
cows.
Practical recommendations when feeding dairy
cows:
An EU funded project managed
by the European Office in Kosovo
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY
AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
13. Cows should be fed with hay prior to feeding
silage.
Source of technical information: Prof. Dr. Ragip Kastrati,
Agriculture Faculty
Implemented by consortium CA17 International (lead),
Chambre d’Agriculture Charente Maretime (partner) & Etcharry
Formation Developement (partner) (all from France), and
Novus Consulting (partner from Kosova)
Implemented by: