Cow Nutrition Flashcards
What are 5 factors that contribute to good quality silage?
-moisture content
-chop length
-silo packaging speed & density
-even distribution in the silo
-protection from air in the silo
-good quality forage going into the silo
Live microbial colonies that are added to feed mixes to promote fermentation
inoculants
What increases digestibility and increases milk production 2 lb/day on average?
kernel processing
Shears feed, longer particle lengths
shredlage
What has higher starch content than sweet corn?
dent corn (what’s put into dairy cattle feed; also low in sugar)
What are the 2 most common grouping strategies with regard to feeding?
- level of production (high/low; breed)
-stage of lactation (early/late; open, bred)
How does gestation affect energy requirements in the last 3 months of pregnancy?
It increases them
How does lactation affect requirements?
increases them, depending on level of milk production
Dairy rations are built from
forages
What dictates grain concentrate needs?
forage quality
What is essential for healthy rumen function and prevention of disorders like low milk fat tests, acidosis, and founder?
effective fiber
A term for feed refusals
orts
A nutrient requirement of ruminants that comes from fat, carbohydrates & protein
Net energy of Lactation
The most critical nutrient for milk production
water
Production drops fastest when cows lack
water
Related to the amount of forage that a cow will consume
NDF (non-digestible fiber)
Related to the ability of a cow to digest forage
ADF (acid-digestible fiber)
as NDF increases, dry matter intake (DMI)…
decreases
as ADF increases, digestibility…
decreases
The minimum ADF is…
18-20% of the diet
Starch needs to make up at least _______ of DM
20%
In general, fat should not exceed _______ of diet DM
6-7%
Why must fresh cows (especially heifers) be housed separately even if fed the same ration as the rest of the herd?
They tend to eat less and are more socially vulnerable
Why can having too many groups decrease milk production?
having too many groups can increase stress in the cows as all the groups will establish pecking orders
The nutrient needs of a dairy cow are based on what factors? (7 possible answers)
activity
body weight
milk production
milk fat content
pregnancy
growth
environment
No additional nutrients needed for growth, gain, gestation, or lactation. What mature cows are considered
being at maintenance
What is essential for increasing energy intake while maintaining effective fiber requirements?
quality forages
How can you increase the palatability of feed to increase dry matter intake? (3 ways)
- ensure feed is more palatable by lowering use of cottonseed hulls and straw
-include additives like molasses - ensure that feed is fresh, clean and free of mold
What are some feed management strategies?
-make feed available (push up feed; have adequate bunk space)
-provide fresh feed and water
-minimize feed changes
-know how much cows are eating by using scales or keeping intake records
-formulate balanced rations for groups of cows
Always feed for ______ not for ________
profit; production
Income over feed cost formula
IOFC = Milk Production/Cow x (Milk Price / 100) ̶ Feed Cost/Day
Non-fiber carbohydrates (NFC) should be ______ of dry matter
40%
consists of non-cell wall carbohydrates such as starches, sugars, organic acids, and pectin
used as an energy source by rumen microbes
Non-fiber carbohydrates
Post-ruminal Lys:Met ratio of
3:1
Supplement to increase RUP to _____% (range) of CP in diet DM
40-45%
