Cow diet selection – Dryoff to Calving

Most farmers recognise that getting set for next year requires some careful planning from about now, especially after a long dry spell and often farmers seek advice on how best to achieve this.

Essentially from now to calving we must;

1.     Dry off cows properly by restriction of ‘green feeds’ or high protein feeds -

Chicory, fresh pasture, good quality grass silage and high protein meals (Soy meal,

DDG & PKE).

o   Suggested diet: 4 – 5 kgs maize silage, 2 kgs hay/ poor quality silage, 1 kg

pasture from dry down to dry ~ 10d.

2.     Replace condition while maintaining capacity by feeding cows over and above

maintenance which is approx. 7 kgs DM.

Every kg of DM over this will achieve approx. 0.2 kg of liveweight gain.

Maintaining capacity requires > 50% of the diet to be forage based (compared to

concentrate/ meal type feds).

o   Suggested diet: 4 – 5 kgs maize silage, 2 - 3 kgs grass silage or pasture and

2– 3kgs PKE. This will provide cows with 8 – 11 kg DM, sufficient for modest

to significant weight gain.

3.     Transition cows from dry to milking cows while minimising the chance of animal

health issues by meeting energy and mineral demands of the cow 3w prior to calving

through until milking – the ‘Transition Period’.

During this period cows will require anywhere between 100 – 120 MJME depending on

liveweight. Ideally pre calving diet should be similar to post calving diet – for instance, if

starch is going to be fed to milkers, it needs to be introduced to the springers.

Because every farm system and access to feed is unique, if needing advice, farmers are encouraged to discuss feed options with their advisor, nutritionist or vet.