1. Lesson 2 Dairy Value Chain
Feeding Dairy Cows
Lesson 2
Dairy Value Chain

2. Play the Role of a Feed Detective!
Using your sense of smell, taste and touch
DESCRIBE
the TMR (Total Mixed Ration).
When finished, make a list of the feed components that have been combined to make this mix.

3. Background Terms Ration TMR Feed Roughages Feed Concentrates
Use any resource in the classroom to define the following terms. Record them in your notebook:
Ration
TMR
Feed Roughages
Feed Concentrates
Daily water required for a dairy cow
Protein additives
Mineral supplements

4. Check your answers. Draw a visual
Check your answers. Draw a visual. Add any new information in colored pencil!
Ration: a fixed allowance of total feed for an animal for one day
TMR: Total Mixed Ration. Practice of weighing and blending all feedstuffs into a complete ration which provides adequate nourishment to meet the needs of dairy cows

5. Check your answers, draw a visual, and add any new information in colored pencil!
Roughages: Plant-based feed sources that add fiber and bulk to the diet, including pasture forages, hays, silages.
Concentrates: grains that are added to the ration. They provide energy.

6. Check your answers, draw a visual, and add any new information in colored pencil!
Proteins help with milk production and milk protein content
Maintains cow’s body condition
May include distillers grains or by-products
Daily water required for a dairy cow: gallons per day!
Dairy cows consume water in order to produce or make milk. Milk is about 85-90% water.

7. Vitamins and Mineral Supplements:
Check your answers. Draw a visual. Add any new information in colored pencil.
Vitamins and Mineral Supplements:
Mainly concerned with supplementing
Phosphorus
Calcium
Trace salts