FEED & NUTRITION

It may still be cold outside, and for much of Canada there is certainly still some snow on the ground – but amazingly, in just a month we will be geared up and getting ready to plant our 2013 crops.

Imagine receiving income from various sources without recording where it came from or how much came from each source, and then paying it out and likewise not recording how it was spent.

Presenting a nutritionally correct diet is important when caring for a dairy cow, but to assume that it is all that is required in terms of the animal’s nutritional well-being is incorrect.

The effects of variation in TMR quality on feeding behaviour

Why this matters …
A total mixed ration (TMR) should provide a nutritionally balanced diet with all nutrients cattle need to grow and function well.

Over the last 50 years, milk production of dairy cows has essentially doubled in Canada. Even if cows consume an increased amount of dry matter, meeting the early-lactation nutrient needs of high-producing dairy cows is a big challenge. The transition period is more than ever a critical period.

If you’re considering canola, there’s a new tool that can help you calculate if it’s the right option for your dairy.

Dr. Essi Evans with Technical Advisory Services Inc. says the canola meal calculator is a web-based tool designed to compare the feeding value of canola and other protein ingredients relative to your choice of an available protein source.