When it comes to dairy farming, nutrition is more than just feeding cows—it’s the foundation for maximizing milk yield, maintaining health, ensuring reproductive efficiency, and supporting longevity. A well-structured, cost-effective nutrition plan that integrates with broader herd management practices can elevate performance and boost profitability.
Decades of research have sharpened our understanding of how to create effective feeding programs. By consistently implementing the basics and making small, evidence-based adjustments, dairy producers can significantly enhance herd outcomes. Let’s explore the key components of a modern, efficient nutritional program and management system.
Back to Basics: Daily Nutritional Best Practices
The foundation of any feeding program lies in executing the basics well. These include:
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Harvesting high-quality forages at earlier stages of maturity to improve digestibility and nutrient content.
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Testing forage regularly and adjusting rations based on dry matter and nutrient content.
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Providing constant access to feed—ideally for 20+ hours/day—with feed available immediately after milking.
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Managing feed bunks to ensure even distribution and 1–2% feed refusal after 24 hours.
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Allocating proper bunk space—30 inches per fresh cow and 24 inches per high-producing cow.
Five Areas to Fine-Tune for Improved Milk Performance
1. Corn Silage Strategy
Corn silage and high-moisture corn digestibility increases over time, peaking between 4 to 8 months in storage. Adjust rations based on silage age to ensure optimal energy intake and avoid acidosis. Kernel-processed silage or shredlage can improve starch digestibility and reduce sorting.
2. Manage Fresh Cows Separately
Fresh cows (first 21 days post-calving) benefit from dedicated care and specialized diets. Focus on:
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Highly digestible forages
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Slower-digesting starches like dry ground corn
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Supplements like rumen-protected choline
Maintain bunk space (30 in./cow) and avoid overcrowding to promote intake and recovery. Heat stress should be mitigated through fans and sprinklers.
3. Tailored Diets for Late-Lactation Cows
Later-lactation cows (150+ days in milk) should be maintained at their current body condition. Diets with more forage and slower-digesting starches help keep nutrients directed toward milk, not fat accumulation.
4. Minimize Feed Shrink
Losses during mixing, feeding, or silage handling can be costly. To reduce shrink:
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Use well-sealed bunkers packed to 45 lb/cu. ft.
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Feed out at least 8–12 in. daily from the face
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Avoid “digging” into bunkers and monitor temperatures using thermal tools
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Train staff on consistent feeding protocols
5. Separate First-Lactation Cows
Grouping first-lactation cows together can reduce competition, increase intake, and improve performance. While research is mixed, herd-specific evaluation can determine if separation is beneficial based on space and resources.
Extending Beyond the Milking Herd
High-performing milking cows start with strong management before and after lactation. Here’s how to support success across all herd stages:
Prevent Subclinical Milk Fever
Over 50% of mature cows experience subclinical hypocalcemia post-calving, which can lead to serious health problems. Prevention includes:
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Feeding anionic diets in the final 3 weeks pre-calving
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Administering oral calcium post-calving, especially in high-risk cows
Early Nutrition for Calves
Early-life nutrition directly impacts future milk yield. Focus on:
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Feeding 4 L (4.2 qt) of colostrum within 6 hours of birth
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Feeding whole milk or high-solids milk replacer at 15% of body weight
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Avoiding weaning stress with consistent feeding protocols
Studies show these strategies can increase first-lactation yield by 1,100–3,000 lb (500–1,360 kg).
Lameness: Early Detection Matters
Lameness reduces feed intake and production. Regular scoring helps identify issues early. Address cows with a score of 2 (slightly arched back when walking) promptly to prevent further issues.
Avoid Overfeeding Dry Cows
Too much energy in dry cow diets can reduce pre-calving intake and lead to metabolic disorders. Balance energy levels with high-fiber, low-energy forages like chopped straw.
Cow Comfort and Reproduction: Critical Factors
Improve Cow Comfort
Comfort affects milk output and health. Key areas include:
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Controlling heat stress with fans, sprinklers, and temperature sensors
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Proper stall design for lying and lunging space
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Avoiding overcrowding (no more than 115% stocking rate; 100% for fresh cows)
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Lighting strategies (long-day light for lactating cows, short-day light for dry cows)
Focus on Reproductive Efficiency
Timely breeding (within a 13.5-month calving interval) is essential. Use reproductive tracking tools, heat detection systems, and synchronization protocols to improve conception rates.
Final Takeaway: A Whole-Herd Perspective
Nutrition isn’t just about the milking herd—it’s about the whole life cycle. From calves to dry cows, every stage impacts the next. By combining daily best practices with fine-tuned nutrition and management adjustments, dairy producers can unlock higher production, better health, and longer-lasting cows—ultimately boosting profitability.
Effective dairy management means viewing nutrition as part of a broader, integrated system—where each small improvement leads to measurable gains across the herd.
