Practical nutrition Flashcards
List the ‘four diets’ of a cow that should all be the same
Diet cows require
Diet formulated by nutritionist
Diet mixed by farmer
Diet received / eaten by the cows
Describe a traditional feeding system for lactating cows
Silage at barrier & cake in parlour
Grazing in summer & cake in parlour
Describe a total mixed ration feeding system for lactating cows
All food at barrier – 24 hours/day – ad lib
“complete diet”
Describe a hybrid feeding system for lactating cows
Partial mixed ration at barrier & cake in parlour
Out of parlour feeders
Which diet feeding system for lactating cows encourages maximal DMI?
Total mixed ratio ad-lib
Which diet feeding system for lactating cows may lead to peaks of acidity after meals?
Traditional feeding
What are the advantages of a hybrid feeding system for lactating cows?
- Accurate rationing
- Resources focused on peak yielding cows
- Can feed enough energy to very high yielders
- Doesn’t overfeed low yielders
What are the disadvantages of a hybrid feeding system for lactating cows?
- if fed in the parlour they may eat less at the barrier = substitution
- if they eat less at the barrier they get less long fibre
- leads to less rumination and buffering of rumen
- SARA
How can nutritional status be monitored?
BCS and observation
Milk quality
Biochemistry profiles
List come correction factors for DMI
- Complete diet (TMR)
- Out of parlour feeder
- Mixed forages
- Breed
- Heifers with cows
- Self-feed silage
- Poorly preserved silage
- Week of lactation
Describe factors to consider when assessing feed access
- Minimise stress / competition for feed and water
- Feed barrier or trough space vital
- 24 hour access