Post on 17-Aug-2020
transcript
Feeding Management Practices
on California Dairies
N. Silva-del-Río, DVM, PhD –UC Cooperative Extension Tulare Co. J. M. Heguy, MS – UC Cooperative Extension Stanislaus & San Joaquin Co.
Alfonso Lago, DVM, DAVP-Dairy, PhD – APC Inc.
1. Describe current feeding management practices on California’s Central Valley dairies.
2. Identify opportunities to optimize feeding management.
Objectives
Methodology
In summer 2009, a feeding
management survey was
mailed to dairy producers in
Tulare, Stanislaus, and San
Joaquin; the first, third and
seventh largest dairy
counties in California.
Methodology
Producers received an envelope containing:
1) an invitation letter to participate in the study,
2) a double sided one-page survey, and
3) a pre-paid return envelope.
Participant Dairies
Response rate was 16.9% (120/710).
Herd size range: 160 to 6,600 lactating cows (median=950).
Results Outline
Feeds used in Central Valley’s dairies
TMR Preparation and Mixing Equipment
Feed Bunk Management Practices in High Producing Pens
Software and Monitoring Tools
Feeds
ForagesWhat forages do you feed?
Alfalfa
hay
Corn S
illage
Oat ha
y
Cereal
silag
es
Whe
at str
aw
Alfalfa
Sila
ge
Sudan
gras
s
Rice S
traw
Alfalfa
fresh
chop
Corn E
arlag
e
Dai
ries
(n)
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Alfalfa hay and corn silage are the two most common forages fed to dairy cows in California dairies. Cereal hay and silage are also frequently fed.
Byproducts and Grains
Very diverse byproducts are incorporated into dairy rations. This is a result of a vibrant local agriculture industry. Almond hulls and cottonseed (whole lint and pima) are the two most common byproducts.
What byproducts and grains do you fed?
Almon
d Hull
s
Canola
pelle
ts
Corn gr
ain, fl
aked
Cotton
seed
who
le lin
t
Soybe
an, m
eal
Corn gl
uten m
eal
Cotton
seed
, pim
a
Distille
r's gr
ains
Molass
esW
hey
Fat (in
ert, a
nimal,
liquid
)
Whe
atmidd
s/millr
umUrea
Soy hu
lls
Citrus p
ulp
Beet p
ulp
Cotton
seed
, mea
l
Rice br
an
Barley
Roll
ed
Brewer'
s grai
ns
Corn gr
ain, g
round
Linds
eed,
meal
Hominy
Soyplu
s/Soy
best
Corn, g
erm
Carrot
pulp
Linds
eed,
pelle
ts
Brandy
Pomac
e
Dai
ries
(n)
0
20
40
60
80
100
What byproducts and grains do you feed?
Other IngredientsFeed Additives
Rumensin, anionic salts, sodium bicarbonate and yeast supplements are common additives used in dairy rations.
Rumen
sin
Anionic
Salt
s
Sodium
bica
rbona
teYea
st
Niacin
Methion
ine
Dai
ries
(n)
0
20
40
60
What additives do you feed?
TMR Preparation and Mixing Equipment
Truck M
ounte
d
Trailer
Mou
nted
Station
ary
Horizo
ntal
Vertica
l
Dai
ries
(n)
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
What type of mixer wagon do you have? Primary Mixer Wagon
Primary mixer wagons are either truck mounted or trailer mounted. Vertical mixers are more popular than horizontal mixers.
Type of Mixer Wagon
(n=112/120)
Truck M
ounte
d
Trailer
Mou
nted
Station
ary
Horizo
ntal
Vertica
l
Dai
ries
(n)
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
TMR 2:TypeWhat type of mixer wagon do you have? Secondary Mixer Wagon
No one type of mixer wagon is more popular than another.
Type of Mixer Wagon
In which order are feeds added to the mixer?
HayVertical Mixer Wagon Horizontal Mixer Wagon
1 2 3 4 5
Dai
ries
(n)
0
20
40
60
80
100
1 2 3 4 51
1 2 3 4 5
Dai
ries
(n)
0
20
40
60
1 2 3 4 5Order of Ingredients
1 2 3 4 5
Dai
ries
(n)
0
20
40
60
80
100
HaySilage
1 2 3 4 5
Dai
ries
(n)
0
20
40
60
Vertical Mixer Wagon Horizontal Mixer Wagon
1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5Order of Ingredients
In which order are feeds added to the mixer?
1 2 3 4 5
Dai
ries
(n)
0
20
40
60
80
100
HaySilageGrains
1 2 3 4 5
Dai
ries
(n)
0
20
40
60
Vertical Mixer Wagon Horizontal Mixer Wagon
1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5Order of Ingredients
In which order are feeds added to the mixer?
1 2 3 4 5
Dai
ries
(n)
0
20
40
60
80
100
HaySilageGrainsMin Vit
1 2 3 4 5
Dai
ries
(n)
0
20
40
60
Vertical Mixer Wagon Horizontal Mixer Wagon
1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5Order of Ingredients
In which order are feeds added to the mixer?
1 2 3 4 5
Dai
ries
(n)
0
20
40
60
1 2 3 4 5
Dai
ries
(n)
0
20
40
60
80
100
HaySilageGrainsMin VitProtein Mix
Vertical Mixer Wagon Horizontal Mixer Wagon
1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5Order of Ingredients
In which order are feeds added to the mixer?
TMR Mixing Time (min)
How long is the TMR mixing time (addition of first ingredient to the end of mixing before feed delivery)?
The distribution of the targeted TMR mixing time varies widely (range: 3-35 min).
<=5
6-10
11-15
16-20 >2
0
Dai
ries
(%)
0
10
20
30
(n=94/120)
TMR Mixing Time (min)
How long is the TMR mixing time (addition of first ingredient to the end of mixing before feed delivery)?
The distribution of the targeted TMR mixing time varies widely (range: 3-35 min).
<=5
6-10
11-15
16-20 >2
0
Dai
ries
(%)
0
10
20
30
(n=94/120)
What explains this distribution?
Should we be concerned about it?
Do you evaluate particle length of TMR using a Penn State Separator?
Frequency of particle size separator use
Only forty-three percent of producers evaluate TMR particle length at least once a month.
1x d
1x w
k
2x m
on
1x m
on4x
yr
1-2x y
rNev
er
Dai
ries
(%)
0
10
20
30
40
50 (n=112/120)
43%
Do you evaluate particle length of TMR using a Penn State Separator?
Frequency of particle size separator use
Only forty-three percent of producers evaluate TMR particle length at least once a month.
1x d
1x w
k
2x m
on
1x m
on4x
yr
1-2x y
rNev
er
Dai
ries
(%)
0
10
20
30
40
50 (n=112/120)
43%
How often is it necessary to monitor particle length?
Is once a month enough?
How often do you calibrate the mixer wagon scale?
<1x m
on4x
yr2x
yr1x
yrNev
er
Dai
ries
(%)
0
10
20
30
40
50
Frequency of checking mixer scale
Seventy-nine percent of producers checked the mixer scale at least once a year. But, only 19 % checked it at least monthly. The mixer wagon was calibrated by an outside service (60%) or an in house employee (40%)
(n=101/120)
79%
How often do you calibrate the mixer wagon scale?
<1x m
on4x
yr2x
yr1x
yrNev
er
Dai
ries
(%)
0
10
20
30
40
50
Frequency of checking mixer scale
Seventy-nine percent of producers checked the mixer scale at least once a year. But, only 19 % checked it at least monthly. The mixer wagon was calibrated by an outside service (60%) or an in house employee (40%)
(n=101/120)
79%How important is the mixer calibration?
How often should we do it?
Feed Bunk Management Practicesin High Producing Pens
How many times a day is the TMR fed?
Most producers, 64%, fed TMR twice a day (range=1-6).
1 2 > 3
Dai
ries
(%)
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Times a day TMR is fed
(n=111/120)64 %
How many times a day is the TMR fed?
Most producers, 64%, fed TMR twice a day (range=1-6).
1 2 > 3
Dai
ries
(%)
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Times a day TMR is fed
(n=111/120)
Is 1x/d feeding enough, especially in summer?
What are the advantages of 6x/d feeding?
64 %
1-4 5-8 9-12 >13
Dai
ries
(%)
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Times a day the feed is pushed-up
How many times a day is the feed pushed-up?
Half of the producers pushed-up the fed 1 to 4 times a day. Only 10% of the dairies pushed the feed 9 or more times (range:1-20).
(n=111/120)47 %
1-4 5-8 9-12 >13
Dai
ries
(%)
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Times a day the feed is pushed-up
How many times a day is the feed pushed-up?
Half of the producers pushed-up the fed 1 to 4 times a day. Only 10% of the dairies pushed the feed 9 or more times (range:1-20).
(n=111/120)
Does pushing the feed 1-4 times guarantee that cows always have feed available?
47 %
Do you feed for refusals? What percentage?
44.4% YES(n=115)
< = 3 > 3 to 5 > 5
Dai
ries
(%)
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Refusals (%)
Do you feed for refusals? What percentage?
44.4% YES(n=115)
Fifty-four percent of producers feeding for refusals are targeting 3% or less (range: 1- 10%)
54%
< = 3 > 3 to 5 > 5
Dai
ries
(%)
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Refusals (%)
Do you feed for refusals? What percentage?
44.4% YES(n=115)
Fifty-four percent of producers feeding for refusals are targeting 3% or less (range: 1- 10%)
What are the practical implications of feeding for 1 vs10% of refusals?
54%
Discard
ed
Lacta
ting c
ows
Dry co
ws
Heifers
Combin
ation
Dai
ries
(%)
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
What do you do with the refusals?
Refusals are commonly feed to heifers.
Destination of Refusals
How many times a week are feed bunks cleaned?
1 x wk 2 x wk 3-6 x wk 7 x wk
Dai
ries
(%)
0
10
20
30
40
50
Frequency of feed bunk cleaning
1x wk 3-6x wk2x wk 7x wk
Forty percent of the dairies clean feed bunks daily. However, 23% of dairies clean feed bunks only once a week.
(n=101/120)43 %
How often was the ration for high producing cows reformulated in 2008?
1 2 3 4 5
Dai
ries
(%)
0
20
40
60800800 - 1600>1600
1 2-4 5-7 8-10 >10
Forty-two percent of small herds reported that rations were reformulated between 2 to 4 times a year.
Frequency of ration reformulation in 2008
≤800>800 - <1600≥1600
(n=105/120)
42 %
How often was the ration for high producing cows reformulated in 2008?
1 2 3 4 5
Dai
ries
(%)
0
20
40
60800800 - 1600>1600
1 2-4 5-7 8-10 >10
Forty-one percent of medium size herds reported that rations were reformulated between 5 to 7 times a during 2008.
Frequency of ration reformulation in 2008
≤800>800 - <1600≥1600
(n=105/120)
41 %
How often was the ration for high producing cows reformulated in 2008?
1 2 3 4 5
Dai
ries
(%)
0
20
40
60800800 - 1600>1600
1 2-4 5-7 8-10 >10
Thirty-seven percent of large dairies reported that rations were reformulated more than 10 times during 2008 (range: 1-24).
Frequency of ration reformulation in 2008
≤800>800 - <1600≥1600
(n=105/120)
37 %
< 1wk1x w
k2x m
on1x m
on6x y
r2x y
r1x y
r
Dai
ries
(%)
0
10
20
30
40
How often do you evaluate corn silage dry matter?
Corn silage dry matter was evaluated at least once a month in 52.3% of dairies. Only 8.3% of dairies determined DM weekly, or more often. Most dairies delegated DM determination to an outside nutrition consultant (86.6%).
Frequency of dry matter determination
(n=101/120)52 %
< 1wk1x w
k2x m
on1x m
on6x y
r2x y
r1x y
r
Dai
ries
(%)
0
10
20
30
40
How often do you evaluate corn silage dry matter?
Corn silage dry matter was evaluated at least once a month in 52.3% of dairies. Only 8.3% of dairies determined DM weekly, or more often. Most dairies delegated DM determination to an outside nutrition consultant (86.6%).
Frequency of dry matter determination
(n=101/120)
How often should forage dry matter be determined?
52 %
Software and Monitoring Tools
Dairy Comp 305 DHIA-Plus
Do you have herd management software?
None
Dairy C
omp 3
05
DHI-Plus
Others
Dai
ries
(%)
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Dairy Comp 305 and DHI-Plus are the most commonly used herd management software.
(n=112/120)
Herd Management Software
Do you have feed management software?
Forty four percent of dairies utilize feed management software. EZ-feed and Feed Watch are the most popular software programs.
None
Feed W
atch
EZ-Feed
Others
Dai
ries
(%)
0
10
20
30
40
50
60(n=112/120)
Feed management software
What do you monitor with your feed management software program?
Feed management software programs are commonly used to monitor intakes (91%) and less used to check inventory (50%).
Intak
es
Errors
by fe
eders
Cost o
f feed
TMR ingre
dient
order
Feed d
elive
ry tim
e
Inven
tory
Dai
ries
(%)
0
20
40
60
80
100 (n=46/46)
Feed software uses
Do you monitor feed efficiency and milk urea nitrogen?
Sixty-two percent of the dairies monitor feed efficiency. Thirty-four percent of the dairies monitor milk urea nitrogen.
Feed Efficiency MUN1 2
Dai
ries
(%)
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70 YESNO
Feed Efficiency MUN
Do you monitor feed efficiency and milk urea nitrogen?
(n=90/120)(n=86/120)
Only 17% of the dairies returned the survey. It is unknown if the results from this survey represent Central Valley dairies (selection bias).
Dairy owner and manager responses are subjective and their responses may not represent actual feeding management practices at the dairy (information bias).
Results from this survey suggest that feeding management practices vary greatly across dairies. And, we still need to know ….
Results Interpretation
We Still Need to Know …
If producers are doing what they are reporting.
If feeding management practices vary across dairies in response to individual needs.
If current feeding management practices are leading to desirable outcomes (particle length of the ration, feed availability in the feed bunk, weight accuracy of ingredients, etc).
If the ration fed differs from the ration formulated and how feeding management practices impact that (calibration of the wagon scale, forages dry matter, feeders errors, etc).
If undesirable outcomes and errors impact health and production.
What bottlenecks that prevent the implementation of “best” feeding management practices can be overcome (managerial, resources, educational, etc).
California Dairy Producers
Tulare DHIA
Dr Steve Stewart
Manuel Soares
Acknowledgements
http://cestanislaus.ucdavis.edu/Agriculture/Dairy_Science.htm
http://cetulare.ucdavis.edu/Dairy/
THANKS