Focus on Feeding Jo Crosby Dairy Extension Centre

Feed is a significant cost to the business 55% total cost of production 87% variable costs Ref: Dairy Industry Farm Monitor Project 2008/2009 South West Victoria

Survival Profit = income - expenses

Make every feed dollar work for you Make the most of home grown fodder ─ optimise pasture utilisation ─ use nitrogen strategically ─ conserve true surplus as GOOD QUALITY silage and hay Feed the cows cost effectively ─ use feeds efficiently ─ prevent metabolic problems ─ purchase feeds on price / MJ or % CP

Make the most of home grown fodder Optimise utilisation of home grown fodder Use nitrogen strategically Conserve true surplus as GOOD QUALITY silage and hay

Optimise utilisation If 10t home grown fodder costs $550/ha to produce 7t utilised (70%)= 7.9c/kg DM 6t utilised (60%)= 9.2c/kg DM 5t utilised (50%)= 11.0c/kg DM 4t utilised (40%)=13.7c/kg DM

Strategic use of nitrogen Response to N (kg extra pasture DM grown/kg N applied) Cost/kg extra pasture DM grown 12c8c6c4.8c Assumptions: Urea $550/t landed 1t Urea = 460 kg N

Conserve true surplus

Feed the cows cost-effectively Use feeds efficiently Prevent metabolic problems Purchase feeds on price / MJ or % CP

Response to supplements L/kg DM supplement fed

Factors influencing milk response Milk Response Cow Condition Level of production Quality of Concentrate Quality of Pasture Method of feeding/ Stage of lactation Amount of pasture Amount of concentrate Cow Health

Potential intake 20kg DM pasture 16kg DM pasture 4kg DM grain

Potential intake 20kg DM pasture 12kg DM pasture 4kg DM grain

Maximum response Supplement fulfils a need Quantity Quality

Maintain rumen health Diet balanced and adequate for stage of lactation Use feeds efficiently

Rumen health

Maintaining rumen pH 30 – 35 % diet = neutral detergent fibre (NDF) 75% of all NDF should come from forage 50:50 rule ─ At least 50% of the diet should be derived from pasture, hay and /or silage ─ No more than 50% of the diet from concentrate 50% of cows at rest are ruminating

Protein and energy Requirement depends on: Size of the cow Milk production Stage of pregnancy Activity Condition

Body stores used for milk production DRY MATTER INTAKE MILK PRODUCTION BODY WEIGHT Body stores regained for next lactation Dry period rumen rehabilitation MONTH

Prevent metabolic problems Acidosis Laminitis Grass tetany Milk fever Ketosis Displaced abomasums

Lucerne $350/t (80%DM, 8MJ,16%CP,55%NDF) Pasture $300/t (80%DM, 9.5MJ, 12%CP, 50%NDF) Compare feed costs

Which feed is the cheapest? Supplement$/tc/kg DMc/MJ ME c/kg CPc/kg NDF Lucerne hay Pasture hay

Make every feed dollar work for you Make the most of home grown fodder ─ optimise pasture utilisation ─ use nitrogen strategically ─ conserve true surplus as GOOD QUALITY silage and hay Feed the cows cost-effectively ─ use feeds efficiently ─ prevent metabolic problems ─ purchase feeds on price / MJ or % CP