Adult dairy cows need two basic things to thrive: fresh water and good quality forage or ‘roughage’.
Both must be available at all times, day and night.
Regular forage intake is important because it helps your cow’s digestive system work properly.
Cows produce most milk during the first three months or 100 days after calving, so it is crucial that you make sure they are eating well during this time.
As a farmer, you will benefit from spending time planning for your animal’s nutrition needs.
Fodder budgeting
We recommend that you make a ‘fodder budget’, which involves estimating the fodder needed for your animals per month over the coming months or year (see the table below for guidance).
You will need to consider things like the number of animals you have, the life stage/s they are at, calving dates and your ideal yield targets.
With better planning, you will most likely reduce your overall feed costs – especially if you make your own feed such as silage!
Overall, your animals will be better off.
For optimal milk production, adult dairy cows need at least 20 to 30 kilograms of fresh forage or green silage per day.
It’s important to note that milk production varies for different breeds.
For example, a Jersey cow can produce 20- plus litres per day during the first three months.
A local breed animal may only be able to produce a maximum of six litres per day.
Concentrates
On top of their fodder requirements, high-yielding cows such as Jersey cows should be given concentrates or dairy meal comprising 19 per cent crude protein during the wet season and 21 per cent during the dry season for the first 100 days after calving.
The higher percentage in the dry season is due to reduced protein content in the pastures and other forages at that time of year.
We recommend 2kgs of concentrate or dairy meal per animal per day in the first two weeks and 8kgs thereafter – that’s 4kgs in the morning and 4kgs at night.
Concentrate feeding is not as important after 100 days, as the peak yield has ended.
Between 100 days and 200 days, if milk production is still good, feed your animals 4kgs of maize bran per day.
If milk production is not good, continue with the concentrates instead (4kgs per day, 2kgs in the morning and 2kgs at night).
Maize bran has a lower protein content and is cheaper.
For more information on feed planning for optimal milk production, see zambiadairy.com/fact-sheets.