Nutrient requirements and consumption levels vary significantly during the cow's lactation phase. Daily dry matter consumption and milk production requirements are not always balanced from the perspective of nutritional demands, so the lactation period should be divided into four phases.
The first phase
Usually, cows are at the peak of milk production between the 30th and 40th days after calving, while the daily dry matter intake peaks between 60-80 days. From the time of calving until reaching the peak milk production, a high-productivity cow is in its most difficult period to meet nutritional needs, especially energy and protein. The lack or delay in dry matter consumption compared to milk production results in a lack of energy and can cause body weight loss during the first phase of lactation. Often, after 90 days, dry matter consumption is sufficient to meet energy demands, except for those animals with high milk production and those that have lost significant body condition.
Food portions rich in cellulose help prevent metabolic disorders, such as rumen acidosis. Food rations should not contain less than 16% of the dry fiber content in the food rations. During the first period, cows with high milk production should be fed a large volume of good quality feed with a high energy value, along with a quantity of concentrate that slowly breaks down into the rumin. A portion with such high energy will help reduce body weight loss. Starch can have a positive effect on milk production and protein percentage, but it can also help reduce milk fat. Starch from potatoes and grains (which is easily degraded) is known for lowering milk fat and for the fact that large amounts of these foods in a ration can cause rumen acidosis. This usually happens more often in cows in early lactation when changes are made to rations containing higher amounts of grains than feed during the drying period. The main problem of this can be the displacement of the abomazuz.
Daily mixing of all ingredients to obtain a homogeneous portion has the advantage of consuming larger amounts of individual components. It is recommended to supplement rations with sufficient amounts of minerals and vitamins to eliminate deficiencies during this phase.
The second phase
In the middle of days 90 - 200, the intake of dry matter is sufficient for the energy needs for milk production and growth. The dairy cow regains the lost body weight during the first phase. Energy-rich portions have a smaller effect on milk production than in the first period. Care must be taken when giving energy-rich foods (corn), because there is a risk of cows gaining too much weight at the end of lactation.
The third phase
From day 200 and above, milk production decreases even further, and the daily consumption of dry matter remains high, resulting in excessive energy intake beyond the requirements. During this period, cows in dairy production should be fed with a lower energy ration to prevent cow overgrowth syndrome. Then it is advisable to completely eliminate high-energy foods, such as corn, corn silage, etc. It is recommended that cows be fed rations with large amounts of bulky feed and with foods low in easily degraded carbohydrates.
Phase four
The fourth period consists of the drying period; at this stage, cows should be fed rations that are low in energy but contain sufficient minerals and vitamins, which reduces the risk of overweight. Such portions prevent difficulties in calving and metabolic disorders such as milk paresis, ketosis, and fattening cow syndrome. During the first month of the dry period, cows should be fed according to standards for maintenance and milk production of 2-4 kg. During the second month of the drying period, cows should be given rations to meet the milk production requirements of 5-7 kg. These requirements can be adapted based on the cow's body condition. Bulky feeds are essential for the proper functioning of the rumen. It is recommended that cows be fed fibrous and low-energy feed. A good ration consists of 4 kg of daily dry matter from good quality hay silage along with 6 kg of straw during the first month and 6.5 kg of daily hay silage and straw as desired in the second month of the dry period. Shortly before calving (10 days), cows should prepare for milk production by increasing the feed level. Bulky feed in the ration should not be replaced with other bulky feed after calving. Gradually, the amount of concentrates is increased by 2 kg per day. After calving, the amount of concentrate should be gradually increased in accordance with milk production expectations.
Division of cows into groups according to productivity
From a farm management perspective, it is recommended that dairy cow herds be divided into groups based on milk production. This system allows us to feed cows with high-quality bulky feed according to productivity. In modern farms, cows are fed concentrate on an individual basis, where each cow automatically receives the amount of concentrate in special boxes for concentrated feed. This is regulated by a computer where each cow has its own chip and is recorded on the computer for the requirements of concentrated feed. This system allows the collection of concentrates according to milk production within 24 hours.
The cattle farmer must know the basic principles of feeding dairy cows in order to increase productivity on his farm and maintain the health of the cows. Therefore, it is essential that cow rations contain the right amount of concentrates. Furthermore, concentrates must have the right composition of all nutrients to meet the nutritional requirements of dairy cows.
General guidelines for formulating portions are:
- Analyzing foods based on their nutrient composition
- The use of quality foods and the avoidance of spoiled or moldy foods in all cases
- Weighing or calculating the amount of each food per serving
- Maintaining regular portions, especially during the first part of lactation
- Control of bulky foods/concentrates with special emphasis on the amount of fibrous/cellulose foods to bypass digestive disorders
- Adding concentrate mixtures with the right amount of minerals and vitamins;
- Offering portions that are tasty and appealing to the cow;
- The use of foods that do not affect the aroma of the milk and are beneficial for health;
- The availability and price of food per kg of dry matter must always be taken into account
- Economic optimization of rations to increase profitability in dairy farms
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