Feeding likely to remain routine

Feeding likely to remain routine
Dr. David Lawrence
Head of Nutrition, Agritech

It has been a relentless summer for many, but feeding is likely to remain a routine for the coming autumn. Fodder budgeting for those in the drought-stricken regions must take precedence. We may well have tremendous grass growth during October and November, however eating into forage reserves will likley continue.

Managing grass protein and rumen health

Grass can peak in crude protein content during the late August and September period (particularly after a long dry spell), which may result in high milk urea on dairy farms across the country. This reading can be worrisome (above 40 mg/dl), as cows plaster the yard in potent green manure. Silage is helpful in this scenario and can often contribute to improved milk production by slowing down the passage rate of feed, helping the animal capture more of the protein and energy in grass. Rumen buffers such as Rumicare Elite help to manage the acid load on the cow’s rumen in this scenario.

Extending the grazing rotation

The grazing rotation will need to be extended by feeding silage to create a bank of grass that will be fed into the early winter contributing to forage availability and milk production potential. Cow condition has suffered on many farms due to feed availability and stressful environmental conditions for livestock. This should be addressed throughout the autumn with concentrate allocation, or high starch forage crops. Many farmers are disappointed with pregnancy results as there is an increase in late calvers and empty rate due to environmental conditions. Longer dry cow periods often end up with over conditioned cows that struggle to conceive in the subsequent lactation. Manage this by continuing to feed cows during the autumn to maximise milk volume and extend their lactation as much as possible.

Weanling stock

Weanling stock should be on target weight (approximately 30% of mature weight for spring-born calves). Weighing stock early rather than waiting until they are housed offers an opportunity to group animals on weight and gives the option to house early or take advantage of late season grass depending on forage availability.

Maize silage

Maize silage is ripening more quickly than many have anticipated. Cobs have ripened as a response to the drought conditions experienced in the southeast. Ensile-Bio is a widely used silage inoculant for forage maize which will aid preservation and keep your feed face cooler for longer.