Dairy Nutrition Papers

Abstract:
Maintaining healthy calves is a result of good nutritional and housing management, along with planned disease prevention and control measures.  Target growth rates will not be achieved without an effective health management programme. Scours and respiratory problems tend to be the two main causes of illness.

Tim Harrington, Ruminant Technical Manager, Ridley AgriProducts

Abstract:
Calf rearing is a very important job on the dairy farm. Calves are the future of the dairy herd, representing the best genetics on the farm.

 Heifer rearing

Andre Nel,         Dairy Services Manager, Ridley Agri Products

Abstract: A well-managed heifer rearing system will maximise your investment in feeding and genetic improvement by producing efficient cows that are capable of achieving their genetic potential.

 An effective transition feeding programme aims to maximise feed intake, health and appetite during early lactation. Benefits include higher and earlier peak production, resulting in increased milk production over the whole lactation; reduced weight loss and associated health problems; fewer metabolic disorders and associated veterinary expenses; improved body condition and conception rates; improved pasture utilisation and reduced feed costs; and less stress for managers during calving and early lactation.

Good nutritional management before calving and during early lactation helps to maximise feed intake through improved health and appetite, leading to stronger, healthier and more productive cows throughout the lactation.

Barastoc pellets - Optimising cow performance and pasture utilisation

Pasture remains the most cost effective feed on most Australian farms. By providing a balanced diet to your cows, pellets can be used to increase pasture utilisation by stimulating the cow’s appetite and thus increasing pasture intake.

Cost-effective feeding decisions

The provision of a balanced ration encourages higher dry matter intake, maximises milk production per kilogram of feed consumed and makes the most cost- effective use of available feed ingredients.

Deficiencies of essential minerals, trace elements and vitamins can have a considerable impact on cow health and performance. The provision of a balanced ration relies on an understanding of the factors that affect the availability of these nutrients. 

Young, highly fertilised pasture contains a high percentage of unsaturated fats and oils which can significantly interfere with the cow’s ability to synthesise milk fat in the udder. Many common solutions, such as providing more fibre or restricting pasture intake, have only a limited effect on correcting this problem.

Optimising cow performance and feed utilisation

An appropriate nutritional programme based on a balanced ration, the use of supplementary feeds and a sound calf and heifer rearing program can significantly increase the profitability of your enterprise through improved milk production, cow fertility and pasture utilisation.

Feeding for fertility

There is increased awareness of the impact of management on herd fertility. A range of factors can affect herd fertility, including the individual characteristics of the cow, environmental conditions, management and not the least, nutrition.

Nutritional influences on reproductive performance

Caroline Brown, Dairy Services Officer, Ridley AgriProducts

There is a direct relationship between nutritional status and reproductive performance. It is important that the cow receives the correct balance of nutrients to optimise reproductive and thus her productive lifetime in the milking herd.