Ration Guidelines and Recommendations for Dry and Lactating Dairy Cow (NRC 2001)
Stage:
Early
PreEarly
Early
Highest
Dry
Calving Lactation Lactation
Yield
MidPeriod
Lo DMIa Hi DMIa
(Peak)
Lactation
Wk relative to calv. -8 to -3
-3 to 0
2
2
7
>12
Body weight
751
751
680
680
680
680
Days in milk
--11
11
50
-Milk, kg/d
--35
35
54.4
35
lbs/d
--77
77
120
77
BW gain/loss, kg/d
0.67
0.67
-1.6
-0.6
-0.2
0.3
Days pregnant
270
270
----DMI, kg/d
13.7
13.7
15.6
18.8
30.0
23.6
Lbs/d
30.1
30.1
34.3
41.4
66.0
51.9
Late
Lactation
variable
680
-25
55
0.5
-20.3
44.7
Negative Energy Balance
Fiber & Energyb
NEl, Mcal/lb DM
0.48
Mcal/kg DM
1.05
EE d, % DM
-NFC, % DM
< 42
NDF, % DM
> 33
Forage NDF, % DM
> 21
Protein
RDP, % DM
8.7
RUP, % DM
2.1
CP, % DM
10.8
Major Minerals
Ca, % DM
0.45
P, % DM
0.23
Mg, % DM
0.12
Na, % DM
0.10
K, % DM
0.52
Cl, % DM
0.15
S, % DM
0.20
e
DCAD , Meq/kgDM
1
Other Mineralsf
Vitaminsg, IU/day
Vit A
82600
Vit D
21500
Vit E
1200
0.700.73c
1.541.62c
-< 43
> 33
> 21
9.9
1.3
10.2-12.0
0.60-1.5d
0.3-0.40
0.35-0.40
<0.15
<1.00
variable
<0.40
< -10
100000
25000
1200
1.01
0.84
0.73
0.67
0.62
2.23
1.85
1.61
1.47
1.37
< 6-7
< 36–44
> 25-33
> 21
< 6-7
< 36-44
> 25-33
> 21
< 6-7
< 36-44
> 25-33
> 21
-< 36-44
> 25-33
> 21
-< 36-44
> 25-33
> 21
10.5
9.0
19.5
10.3
5.6
15.9
9.8
6.9
16.7
9.7
5.5
15.2
9.5
4.6
14.1
0.79
0.42
0.29
0.34
1.24
0.40
0.20
+
75000
21000
545
0.68
0.37
0.24
0.28
1.14
0.33
0.20
+
75000
21000
545
0.60
0.38
0.21
0.22
1.07
0.29
0.20
+
75000
21000
545
0.61
0.35
0.19
0.23
1.04
0.26
0.20
+
75000
21000
545
0.62
0.32
0.18
0.22
1.00
0.24
0.20
+
75000
21000
545
a
Dry matter intake (DMI) in early lactation varies tremendously. Diets were formulated assuming either a “normal” NRC
predicted dry matter intake or a 20% above average in dry matter intake (Hi DMI).
b
Energy intake must be maximized, but recommended energy concentration of early lactation rations must be limited to
prevent rumen acidosis. Cows are expected to utilize body reserves to meet energy and protein requirements.
c
Energy increased to prepare rumen for lactation diet, promote feed intake, and reduce risk of displaced abomasums after
calving. d EE = Ether extract. Maximum fat depends on the nature of the supplemental source of fat (calcium soap, animal,
vegetal). d When anionic salts are added to transition diet, Ca should not be restricted, but rather raised to 1.5-1.8% of diet
DM. e DCAD (meq/kg DM) = (%Na/0.023 + %K/0.039 +) – (%Cl/0.0355 + %S/0.016), where Na, K, Cl and S are % of diet
DM f Micro minerals: Co, Cu, I, Fe, Mn, Se and Zn are usually added at a rate of 1-2% of diet DM with a commercial premix. g Vitamins concentration in forages are variable and usually not accounted for in ration balancing. Vitamins are often
included in micro-minerals premixes.
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