Key Factors Affecting Feed Intake and Milk Yield
- Non-dietary factors such as stocking density, feeding frequency, and feed push-ups impact feed intake and milk yield.
- Proper feeding management is crucial for cattle health and welfare.
- Insufficient feeding can lead to hunger and reduced immune function.
Strategies to Improve Feed Access
- Reduce stocking density.
- Increase feed quantity and offer feed ad libitum.
- Provide adequate linear bunk/trough space.
- Use physical barriers to reduce competition.
- Increase feeding frequency (minimum twice daily) and push-ups to prevent feed sorting.
Importance of Rumination
- Supports digestion, saliva production, and rumen function.
- Influenced by diet, health, overcrowding, and grouping strategies.
- Occurs primarily when cows are lying down, necessitating comfortable resting areas.
- Changes in rumination rates can indicate stress or illness.
Feeding Requirements & Best Practices
- Daily access to a palatable, nutritionally balanced diet is essential.
- Work with a qualified nutrition advisor to formulate feeding programs.
- Ensure diet composition suits production levels, reproduction stages, and environmental conditions.
- Frequent feeding and feed push-ups help maintain consistent access.
- Include fibrous feeds to support rumen health and reduce acidosis risk.
- Consider automated rumination monitoring systems.
Heifer Nutrition Considerations
- Energy and protein requirements depend on size, growth rate, and temperature.
- Good nutrition ensures proper frame size and growth rates.
- Strategies:
- Group heifers by age and weight to reduce competition.
- Monitor body weight, wither/hip height, and daily gains.
- Target post-weaning daily gains of 0.6 kg (small breeds) to 0.9 kg (large breeds).
Transition Cow Nutrition
- Increased nutrient demands require careful dietary management to prevent metabolic diseases.
- Nutritional strategies:
- Monitor and adjust nutrient balance to prevent milk fever.
- Ensure effective fiber intake to minimize sub-acute ruminal acidosis.
- Track dry matter intake, rumen fill, and body temperature.
- Gradually increase concentrate intake post-calving.
Calf Nutrition & Feeding
- Calves benefit from high milk intake (>8 L/day for Holsteins), especially in the first 4 weeks.
- Proper nutrition supports satiety, digestion, and healthy growth.
- Best practices:
- Feed milk/milk replacer ad libitum or at least twice daily.
- Offer milk at ~40°C (104°F) for optimal digestion.
- Use teats or dry teats to satisfy sucking instincts.
- Introduce high-quality calf starter within the first 7 days.
- Wean gradually over at least 5-10 days when consuming >1.4 kg (3 lb) of starter daily.
Pasture Feeding
- Grazed forage can be a valuable feed source if properly managed.
- Heifers benefit from pasture with supplemental grain and minerals.
- High-quality pasture may meet dry cow needs but often requires supplementation for close-up cows.
- Lactating cows need supplemental grain for optimal microbial protein synthesis and body condition maintenance.
Water Access and Quality
- Clean, palatable water must be available at all times to maintain hydration and health.
- Factors affecting water needs include diet, temperature, and metabolic activity.
- Key recommendations:
- Ensure waterers are accessible and at appropriate heights for all cattle groups.
- Provide sufficient drinking space to reduce competition.
- Check waterers daily for cleanliness and proper function.
- Test water quality at least annually and during high-risk periods.
- Ice and snow are not suitable water sources.
By implementing these strategies, Canadian dairy producers can optimize cattle health, welfare, and productivity through effective nutrition and feeding management.
