CAFRE Development Service
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Transcript CAFRE Development Service
Level II Agricultural
Business Operations
Nutrient content of feed
Nutritional requirements
Analyse forage quality
Winter feeding plan
Forage
Grass
Silage
Straw
Concentrate
Barley, Wheat, Soya, Rape
Feed
Dry Matter
Water
Energy
Protein
Fibre
Vitamins
Minerals
Dry matter (DM) is the feed remaining after all the
water has been taken out
DM includes:
◦ Energy (ME)
◦ Protein (CP)
◦ Fibre (NDF)
◦ Fats & Oils
◦ Vitamins & Minerals
DM
ME
CP
Barley
86.0
13.2
11.5
Wheat
86.0
13.6
10.0
Maize
86.0
13.8
10.0
Soyabean
89.0
13.4
50.5
Megalac
95.0
29.0
0.0
DM
ME
CP
Soyabean
86.0
13.2
50.5
Rapeseed
90.0
12.0
40.0
Distillers
Maize
89.0
14.0
31.0
ME
CP
NDF
Grass
11.2
16.0
57.7
Silage
10.6
13.0
46.0
Straw
6.3
3.5
81.0
11.9
11.6
64.0
Soya hulls
1.
Water
2.
Energy
3.
Protein
4.
Fibre
5.
Minerals & Vitamins
50 – 80% cows body is water
Milk contains 87% water
Transport nutrients around body
Facilitates excretion of waste products
Regulates body temperature
A cow needs 60-116 litres water/day
Survive (MAINTENANCE)
Produce milk (PRODUCTION)
Produce offspring (REPRODUCTION)
Gain condition (PRODUCTION)
MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS
Cow details
650kg liveweight
40 litres/day
6 weeks calved
LWT
500
550
600
650
700
750
Maint.
59
64
69
74
79
84
The example cow is 650kg, so she will require
74MJ/day to maintain herself.
NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENT OF
DAIRY COWS (2)
What is the cow’s maintenance
requirement?
How many MJ to make 1 litre of
milk?
REQUIREMENT = MAINTENANCE + PRODUCTION
MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS
Maintenance Value
(1) DAILY MILK YIELD & ENERGY REQUIRED
Maintenance requirement for energy
X
Daily yield
Litres
X
5
MJ
TOTAL ENERGY REQUIRED (X + Y)
Y
74
MJ
MJ
MJ/day
Cow details
650kg liveweight
40 litres/day
6 weeks calved
Milk Production
General rule = 1 litre of milk requires 5MJ of energy
Example cow = 40 x 5 = 200MJ
PRODUCTION REQUIREMENTS
(1) DAILY MILK YIELD & ENERGY REQUIRED
Maintenance requirement for energy
X
Daily yield
40
Litres
X
5
MJ
TOTAL ENERGY
FOR MILK PROD.
MJ
Y 200 MJ
TOTAL ENERGY REQUIRED (X + Y)
DAILY MILK
YIELD
74
274
MJ/day
TOTAL
ENERGY REQUIRED
Build & repair the body’s enzymes,
hormones, tissues (muscle, skin, organs)
Growth
Milk Production
Pregnancy
3. Concentrate Protein Content
Silage CP content
Concentrate Protein %
12 – 14%
18 – 21
8 – 12%
Greater than 21%
Low Protein Silage – Specifically formulated diet
To ensure efficient rumen function:
60:40 Forage:Concentrate (DM)
Length of fibre (25-50 mm)
Straw inclusion
Bone formation – Calcium, Phosphorus
Milk production - Calcium
Reproduction – Vitamin K
Muscle function – Vitamin E, Selenium
Steps in planning a winter feeding plan:
Analyse forage
Balance forage with concentrates
Feed ration to ensure sufficient intake
Monitor cow performance
Silage is usually the main winter forage:
Take samples for analysis
Take care with sampling procedure
Take sufficient samples
Gradually build up level of concentrate (21 day)
Maximum feed level in parlour
◦ 10 kg cows
◦ 8 kg heifers
If higher feed levels are required consider
◦ Mid day feeds
◦ Out of parlour feeders
◦ Complete diet feeding (TMR)
Advantages
Less digestive upsets
Cheaper blend vs nut
Low cost – no
equipment needed
Disadvantages
Feed Space
Labour
Cows bullying
Advantages
Fewer digestive
upsets
Cows fed individually
Cows fed to Yield
Disadvantages
Capital cost
1 station/25 cows
Bullying
Advantages
Uniform diet
Optimum rumen
efficiency
Encourages high
intake
Flexibility – alternative
feeds
Disadvantages
Capital cost
Complicated diets
Over mixing
Under/overfeeding
Suitable housing
Offer adequate fresh forage
Allow 5-10% refusal
Ensure adequate feed space
(450 – 600 mm/cow)
Provide clean and adequate water
Troughs should allow 10% of herd to
drink at any one time or 100 mm/cow
Assessment of cow fat reserves based on
visual assessment and handling.
Gives subjective assessment of thin and fat
cows regardless of frame size or breed.
Based on scale of 1-5 (1=extremely thin,
5=extremely fat) with increments of 0.5.
Two main areas for assessment:
1. Tailhead
2. Loin
Tailhead
Shallow fat-lined
cavity felt at
taihead.
Fatty tissue felt
under the skin.
Pelvis felt easily.
Loin
Ends of transverse
processes feel well
rounded and upper
surfaces padded
with fat.
Depression visible
in loin.
Feed intakes
Milk yields
Milk protein
Condition scores
Careful winter feed planning essential
Balance silage quality with concentrate
Feed sufficient ration
Ensure adequate intake
Monitor performance and body condition