Randy Shaver Dairy Science Department, UW Madison

The paradox of high yield/DMI!

Ever-Green-View My 1326-ET (EX-92 EX-MS) d 3x 72, Wisconsin Holstein sets 72,170 milk production record 2010; Tom & Gin Kestell & Sons, Waldo, WI

WI AgSource DHIA

Herd or High Group DMI & Feed Efficiency Sept Herd Summary Fall-07 3-Herd Summary Feb-04 6-Herd Summary DMI, lb per day Milk/DMI1.6 – – 1.8 FCM/DMI1.6 – – 1.8

Grant, 2007 Reno

Salivary Buffer Flow Ruminal Acid Production

The paradox of high grain prices!

Average #2 yellow corn cash price in Minneapolis, MN at 5 year intervals from Sept Aug through Sept July (USDA ERS, 2011) 25% - ≥ 30% Starch Diets Common ? Dietary Starch Content

24% forage-NDF 16% forage-NDF High Quality Forages Large Forage Supply Forages Favorably Priced Limited Forage Supply Forages Expensive Moderate/Low Quality Forages Practical forage-NDF range in high-group TMR i.e. 60% 40% NDF i.e. 35% 46% NDF

24% forage-NDF 16% forage-NDF Dairy NRC Min. forage NDF & Max. NFC Dietary Guidelines 44% NFC 38% NFC High Fiber Byproducts Starchy Grains

NDF Greater proportion of acetate Starch Greater proportion of propionate Sugar Greater proportion of butyrate or valerate Pectin/Soluble Fiber Greater proportion of acetate Impact DMI, milk yield & composition, & feed conversions

Overcoming variable ruminal starch digestibilities!

a b a a ab b Week × Treatment interaction (P < 0.05)

Interactions between Cow Comfort & SARA influence laminitis incidence CowLikelihood ComfortSARAof Laminitis GoodLowLow GoodHighModerate PoorLowModerate PoorHighHigh

Locomotion Scores on Selected WI Dairies Data collected by Whitney Auth & Dr. Mike Wolf Winter-2006 Locomotion Score Farms 1356 n 476/750287/360279/330540/ %54%51% 227%26%28%27% 317%12%13%16% 48%6% 5% 52% 1%

Cow comfort wins all around!

The paradox of high protein supplement prices & need to reduce N excretion!

USDFRC Effect of CP (Solvent SBM) on Milk & Protein Yield (Olmos & Broderick, 2003)

Strategies to improve MNE may allow for improved fertility Reduced Dietary CP RUP/RDP Balancing Rumen Carbo Balancing RP Amino Acid Supplementation MUN Monitoring

Souza et al., 2012, UW-Madison

Transition cows – Is it diet, facilities, management, or all of the above?

When Cows Leave the Herd (S. Stewart - MN DHIA 10/96 – 10/01) 0% 2% 4% 6% 8% 10% 12% % Cows Leaving That Left in the 21 Day Period 624,614 Cows Leaving 5,749Herds Data Source: Steve Stewart, U. of Minnesota 0.00% 0.04% 0.08% 0.12% 0.16% 0.20% 0.24% Average Risk/Day of`Leaving In a Period DIM Interval Source: Kent Weigel

Far-off Dry Period Close-up Dry Period Or Prefresh Transition Period Post- Fresh Transition Period Dry-offCalving Energy Density of Diet “Low”“High”

Rationale for Close-Up Diet Rumen microbial adaptation to starch Maximize dry matter intake Decrease fat mobilization Reduce metabolic disorders Increase subsequent milk yield

High vs. Low NFC Close-Up Dry Cow Diets Trial High, Low Diet NFC High – Low NFC Prepartum DMI lb/d 144%, 35%+6* 238%, 35%0 328%, 13%+4* 430%, 25%+8* 530%, 24% , 38%+4* 740, 34%- 0.2

High vs. Low NFC Close-Up Dry Cow Diets Trial High, Low Diet NFC High – Low NFC Postpartum DMI lb/d 144%, 35%-- 238%, 35%-- 328%, 13%0 430%, 25% %, 24%+2 645, 38%+1 740, 34%- 1

High vs. Low NFC Close-Up Dry Cow Diets Trial High, Low Diet NFC High – Low NFC Milk Yield lb/d 144%, 35%-- 238%, 35%0 328%, 13%+1 430%, 25% %, 24%+7 645, 38% , 34%- 3

High vs. Low NFC Close-Up Dry Cow Diets Trial High, Low Diet NFC High – Low NFC Liver TG units vary 144%, 35%-- 238%, 35% %, 13%-- 430%, 25%-- 530%, 24%- 3* 645, 38% , 34%--

Dry Period Single Diet Re: Energy/Protein Possibly 2nd Close-Up Diet Re: DCAD, Vits., Adds. Post- Fresh Transition Period Dry-offCalving Energy Density of Diet “Low/Moderate”“Moderate/High”

Focus on the management by nutrition interactions!

Some Transition Cow Management by Nutrition Interactions q BCS at dry-off q Dry period length q Days on pre- & post-fresh diets q Stall & bunk stocking densities q Abrupt cow movement (facilities or pens) q Feed mixing & delivery q Feed quality q etc., etc.

Body Condition at Calving  Target = 3.5  4+ cows q > Intake depression prior to calving q Poor appetites in early lactation q More metabolic & digestive disorders  Poor fertility

Average = 3.0 Stdev = 0.96

Average = 3.0 Stdev = 0.28

Pack Stocking Density Milking Cows 80 – 100 sq. ft. per cow Transition Cows 120 – 150 sq. ft. per cow

Stall Stocking Density Milking Cows 100% – 120% Transition Cows 80% - 100%

How much bunk space? Milking Cows 18 – 24 linear inches per cow Transition Cows 30 linear inches per cow

The Three Rations Wrong Feed, Mixing too long, Wrong lbsof feed Sort Feed, Weather, Feed Bunk Issues (c) 2010 Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System, doing business as the Division of Cooperative Extension of the University of Wisconsin-Extension. Feed Dry Matter Changes, Moldy Feed, Nutrients Change

TMR Management Programs q EZfeed q DHI-Provo q FeedWatch q Valley Ag Software q Feed Supervisor q K.S. Dairy Consulting q TMR Tracker q Digi-Star

% Error Transition Pens: 9% Lactating Pens:.6% 10% 5% 1% Deviations Operator Performance Source: Keith Sather, Feed Supervisor

Facing Bunkers

A Few Random Thoughts on Nutrition Management/Consulting View the glass as both half full & half empty See the forest for the trees, but the devil is in the details Embrace the KISS principle Pick the low hanging fruit first Be a customizer rather than a homogenizer Be patient, but also persistent Find the hot button to press Trust but verify Navigate through varying shades of gray The cows never lie

Immune Function Vitamin A, Beta Carotene Vitamin D Vitamin E Se, Zn, Cu, Mn Chromium?

Feed Additives Rumensin Buffers RP-Choline RP-Amino Acids Biotin DCAD Products Fatty Acid Products EPA & DHA C18:2, C18:3 Yeast Products

Visit UW Extension Dairy Cattle Nutrition Website