‘Getting more from every mouthful’

As dairy farm profit margins tighten, it is critical to evaluate on-farm nutrition strategies to determine if any potential changes can improve the dairy’s cash flow. Over the past several years, we have surveyed numerous dairies across the Midwest of all sizes to help determine which factors drive income over feed cost. Energy-corrected milk and feed efficiency repeatably surface to the top as the metrics most positively correlated with IOFC. Feed efficiency is an important economic measure used to evaluate the amount of milk produced per unit of feed. Utilizing ECM gives credit to the milk component contribution.

Dr. Trevor DeVries, a professor in the department of animal biosciences at the University of Guelph, has focused his research on dairy cattle nutrition, management and behavior. I recently participated in a series of meetings with DeVries as he highlighted several practical opportunities to improve feed efficiency with an emphasis on getting more from every mouthful.

Efficiency through consistency

Cows are creatures of habit and perform best when daily routines are monotonous. From a feeding standpoint, cows (and their rumen microbes) want to receive the exact same ration at the same time every day.

DeVries shared data from both traditional Canadian dairies and larger California dairies showing a range in ingredient loading deviation, along with economic and performance implications. The coefficient of variation is the ratio of the standard deviation to the mean. The higher the CV, the greater the level of dispersion around the mean.

DeVries showed that every half-point increase in the CV of net energy for lactation equaled 2.2 pounds per day less dry matter intake 7.1 pounds per day less milk, and 4.3% less feed efficiency. Proper mixing protocols and training need to be followed to reduce these CV values, along with utilizing total mixed ration management programs when available to monitor accuracy.

Encourage smaller, more frequent meals

DeVries asked, “When do cows eat?”

One simple answer is when they are hungry. This is why it’s important to have fresh feed available to cows as close to 24 hours a day as possible. Cows also go to the feedbunk after certain management events. Most notable are fresh feed delivery and a return from the parlor. Feed push-ups can also drive cows to the feedbunk to a lesser extent.

This led to a discussion about the value of dropping fresh feed more than once per day. While it is not practical for every farm to feed multiple times per day, farms might consider when to drop the fresh feed. DeVries shared results from a study that compared cows being fed at milking time to cows being fed between milkings. The net results of feeding between milkings were greater DMI and more consistent intakes throughout the day, with an added benefit of improved rumen health.

How a cow consumes her feed can impact how she digests it. DeVries presented research showing that the most-efficient cows consume smaller meals and eat more slowly. He shared results from a 2018 study showing cows, on average, had 0.44 pounds greater DMI for every 10 additional minutes spent at the feedbunk. Longer feeding times and slower feeding rates result in a more stable rumen environment with less fluctuation in rumen pH and decreased risk for subacute ruminal acidosis. DeVries showed an interesting video of how rumen bacteria motility is negatively impacted by low rumen pH.

Other management factors impacting feed efficiency

Harvesting forages at the correct moisture and maturity is a critical component for making high-quality feeds. High-quality forage allows the cow to maximize forage fiber digestibility, resulting in reduced grain fed, improved rumen health and reduced purchased feed costs. The result is greater feed efficiency driven by higher DMI and improved milk production.

Cow comfort and heat abatement for both milk cows and dry cows will result in greater productivity and feed efficiency. Aggressive and effective reproduction strategies will result in more cows at peak lactation (a timepoint of improved efficiency). A strong heifer-rearing program to freshen first-lactation cows at 85% of mature bodyweight will also help maximize feed efficiency. Evaluate culling strategies to remove low-end producers with the poorest feed efficiency.

When working to maximize cow health, efficiency and productivity, how the cow eats is just as important as the nutritional composition of the feed. Diets should be formulated and presented to encourage consumption of small, frequent meals, be difficult to sort, and stimulate rumination. Increasing DMI by 1 pound can lead to a 2-pound increase in milk production, and thus improve feed efficiency. Work with your nutrition consultant to review feed efficiency in your herd.

Barry Visser is a nutritionist for Vita Plus.