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Improved feed efficiency and feeding systems

Project description:

The relatively simple systems of supplementing the pasture-based system with grain in the bail, have been supplemented with systems that are more flexible due to the variability in climate and water availability. The dairy industry has identified 5 main types of feeding systems.

  1. Pasture + other forages + less than 1 tonne/yr grain feeding in bail
  2. Pasture + other forages + more than 1 tonne/yr grain feeding in bail
  3. Pasture + PMR +/- grain feeding in bail
  4. Hybrid system (pasture grazed for less than 9 months per year)
  5. TMR system (zero grazing).


To increase productivity in a feeding system, it is imperative that feed use efficiency is improved. Improvements in feed efficiency can be achieved by increasing the amount of DM consumed by each cow and/or increasing the digestibility of DM (and therefore energy supply) which then leads to increased milk production.

Project objective:

Improve the feed conversion efficiency (FCE) of dairy cows that are managed under each of the five feeding systems. The strategies will vary depending upon the type of feeding system used by individual farmers.

Project scope:

The project includes the following activities:

  • Quantify the importance of the form in which nutrients are presented to the cow
  • Quantify the importance of balancing a PMR to meet the cow’s nutritional requirements by taking into account the nutrients received from pasture
  • Develop dairying systems based on PMR that cost-effectively integrate high levels of supplementary nutrients into the diets of grazing dairy cows
  • Elucidate the mechanisms that control sub-acute rumenal acidosis
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of various practical nutrition decision support models
  • Review the financial and physical performance of the different feeding systems on dairy farms
  • Investigate the digestibility and utilisation of feed ingredients that available to the dairy industry

Outcomes/benefits:

Improved FCE of cows managed under the various feeding systems in Australia. If the implementation of the results of this project were able to achieve an increase in dry matter intake of lactating cows by 2kg/day, an extra 2.4 litres of milk would be expected. The net benefit would be equivalent to about $0.14/cow/day which is up to $70 million pa. benefit to dairy farmers.

More information:

For more information, contact Dave Henry, Dairy Australia Feedbase Program Manager.

 

 

 


 

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