Dairy Cattle Feeding And Nutrition Management
Dairy Cattle Feeding andNutrition managementTraining Package for Dairy Extension WorkersAugust, 2017Developed withDairy Training Centre
Dairy Cattle Feeding andNutrition managementPart I Training manualPart II Training Guideline2
PrefaceSNV Ethiopia, through EDGET project (Enhancing Dairy Sector Growth in Ethiopia, 20132018), engages in the capacity building, extension services and innovative support to theEthiopian dairy sector particularly working with smallholder dairy farmers. The aim of theproject is to increase milk production and productivity in order to double the income of thesmallholder dairy farmers. EDGET is operational in the regions Oromia, Amhara and SNNP,and working with 65,000 dairy farming households.The project works closely together with livestock regional bureaus and their respectivezonal, woreda and kebele staff in delivering extension and other supports. One area ofcollaboration is the development of practical training and coaching tools and materials forextension workers based on a need assessment.SNV has engaged the Netherlands based Dairy Training Centre (DTC) for the developmentof the Training package for extension workers. The documents were more elaborated andvalidated with the utmost contribution of high level experts from regional Livestock andFisheries resources Development Bureaus/Agencies and Research Centers from the threeoperational regions of EDGET.Overall nine training packages were developed on Breed Improvement and FertilityManagement; Dairy Cattle Feeding and Nutrition Management; Dairy Cattle HealthManagement; Dairy Farm Management; Dairy Housing and Manure Management; FarmEconomics; Forage Production and Management; Hygienic and Quality Milk Production;Young Stock Management.This training package is on Dairy Cattle Feeding and Nutrition Management.SNV, also on behalf of the experts that contributed and DTC, would hope to see the materialswidely used outside the project areas by all interested dairy development practitioners.The materials will be available in hard copies and soft copies including on SNV websitewww.snvworld.org and other relevant websites.I
Table of ContentsPreface . IList of tables . IVList of Figures . VAbbreviations . VII. Dairy Cattle Feeding and Nutrition Management Training manual . 11. Introduction . 12. Dairy Cow Behavior and Impact on Dairy Cattle Nutrition Management . 12.1 Dairy Cow Behavior . 12.2 Impact of behavior on Feeding Management . 23.The digestive system of ruminants . 33.1 The foregut of the ruminant . 33.2 Digestion of carbohydrates, protein and fat in the fore stomachs . 54.The composition of feedstuffs . 84.1 Water and dry matter . 84.2 Carbohydrates . 84.3 Fats . 94.4 Crude protein . 94.5 Inorganic matter or “ash” . 94.6 Summary of the composition of feedstuffs . 105.Determination of the feeding value of feedstuffs . 105.1 Methods used to analyze the feeding value of feedstuffs . 105.2 The utilization of energy by a ruminant animal . 115.3 Energy evaluation systems . 125.4 Protein evaluation systems . 126. Feed resources in Ethiopia and their characteristics . 136.1 Roughages . 136.2 Concentrates . 156.3 Comparing the quality of roughages and concentrates on dry matter basis . 167. Feed requirements for various categories of dairy animals .177.1 Energy and protein requirement for maintenance and lactation . 177.2 Feeding of dry and pregnant animals . 187.3 Feeding of milking cows in different stages of lactation . 207.3.1 Feeding of a cow during early lactation . 207.3.2 Feeding of a cow during mid and late lactation . 217.4 Mineral and vitamin requirements . 227.4.1 Which minerals are needed? . 227.4.2 Mineral requirements of dairy cattle . 237.4.3 General remarks regarding mineral supplementation . 247.4.4 Vitamins . 247.5 Water requirements . 247.6. Feeding guidelines for dairy crossbred cows . 25II
8. Feed Improvement and feed storage . 288.1 Urea-molasses straw treatment . 288.2 Multi-nutrient block preparation . 288.3 Feed storage . 308.3.1 Causes of feed spoilage and losses . 308.3.2 Proper feed handling and storage . 329. Ration calculation . 329.1 Dry matter intake . 329.2 Steps to be taken in calculating and balancing a ration . 349.3 Supplementation and substitution . 359.4 Formulation of concentrate mixtures on the farm . 3610. Planning for dry season feeding . 3911. Monitoring Dairy Cattle Nutrition Management . 39References . 41Annex 1: List of common feedstuffs in the (sub) tropics and their nutritive value forcattle . 42II. Dairy Cattle Feeding and Nutrition management Training Guideline . 47A. Module Book .48B. Lesson matrix . 53C. Checklist for monitoring feeding management . 61D. Judgement results last milk production registration . 63E. Analysis of possible metabolic disorders . 64III
List of tablesTable 1:Maintenance requirements of adult cows per day . 17Table 2: Production requirements per kg of milk . 18Table 3: Maintenance and pregnancy requirements per day . 20Table 4: Function and deficiency signs of macro and micro elements . 22Table 5: Mineral requirements of dairy cattle . 24Table 6: Requirements for preparing urea treatment of straw . 28Table 7: Materials required for multi-nutrient block preparation . 29Table 8: Criteria dairy cattle nutrition management . 39IV
List of FiguresFigure 1: Enough feed and feeding space ensures a high feed intake . 3Figure 2: Schematic representation of ruminant’s digestive system . 3Figure 3: Rumen Papillae . 4Figure 4: Schematic representation of the fore stomachs . 4Figure 5: Damaged rumen papillae due to rumen acidosis . 6Figure 6: Composition of feedstuff . 10Figure 7: Naivasha Star grass pasture . 14Figure 8: Maize silage . 14Figure 9: Young, dark green (well fertilized) leafy Napier . 15Figure 10: Examples of multi-nutrient blocks . 30Figure 11: Three bags of napier (60 kg) is enough to feed 1 crossbread cow for 1 day . 33Figure 12: Concentrate supplementation during milking, maximum 2-3 kg . 35V
AbbreviationsADFAcid Detergent FiberBCSBody Condition ScoringCFCrude FiberCPCrude ProteinDCPDigestible Crude ProteinDMDry MatterEEEther ExtractIOMInorganic MatterNDFNeutral Detergent FiberNFCNon Fiber CarbohydratesNFENitrogen Free ExtractNPNNon-Protein NitrogenNRCNational Research CouncilOMOrganic MatterTDNTotal Digestible NutrientsVI
I. Dairy Cattle Feeding and Nutrition Management Training manual1. IntroductionOver the last decades an enormous amount of research has been done into the waysin which livestock use feed to maintain life, to grow, to reproduce and to produce all ofthe animal products which man uses, especially milk.In Ethiopia animal production is often a secondary activity within the subsistencefarming system. However, commercial dairy farming in Ethiopia is expanding due toincome increase, rapid urbanization and changing dietary habits.Dairy cows (and all other ruminants) have the capacity to convert roughages andother by- products from the human food industry, otherwise useless waste products,into valuable products like milk and meat. In this capacity as “waste product utilizers”ruminants contribute to the environment. However also negative impact from managinglivestock is there. In Ethiopia overgrazing has caused land erosion and in 2007 the FAOcalculated that the livestock sector contributes 18 % of all greenhouse gas emissionswhich lead to climate change.Another aspect is the cost of feeding. In virtually all commercial livestock farmingsystems the purchase of feed and/or the cost of growing fodder is the most expensiveitem of the production costs. Because of these high costs it is therefore very importantthat feedstuffs are utilized in the most optimal way. To do so it is very important thatone has excellent knowledge and skills with regard to feeding management.In some cases, due to the “green revolution”, farmers are able to produce more andbetter quality feed and fodder. However, due to the absence of proper skills in feedingmanagement, the extra feed and fodder resources are not utilized in the best way.Farmers always have to work against limitations which are usually not of their ownmaking or choosing. For example shortages of land, shortages of high quality feedstuffsto offset an abundance of poor quality roughages, climate change, etc. Each of thesesituations brings different, farmer specific, practical problems, but the nutritionalchallenge and dairy cattle nutrition management objective remains the same: Anattempt to produce a properly balanced diet at the least cost to the farmer withoutaffecting the environment giving the farmer the optimum income from his/her dairyenterprise.Although this manual will not provide the answer for each and every “specific situation”it does provide the (theoretical) knowledge and guiding principles to help farmers intheir feeding management.2. Dairy Cow Behavior and Impact on Dairy Cattle NutritionManagement2.1 Dairy Cow BehaviorDairy cows have evolved from originally ruminating prey animals. Rumination and thefermentation which takes place in the rumen allows dairy cows/ruminants to turn lowquality forages and human food by-products into high quality food: milk and meat.Ruminating prey animals forage in open plains with plenty of grazing grass and quickly1
return to hiding places in the bush/forest where they lie down at a comfortable and dryplace and ruminate protected from predators.They are social animals and always will graze, lie down and ruminate together. Thisbehavior is still present in the dairy cows today. Dairy cows also use eating and drinkingto confirm relationships and dominance in the herd. Dominant cows make it clear thatthey are the boss and cows lower in the hierarchy indicate that they know their placeat eating and drinking places. It is essential behavior which will be expressed.Prey animals always keep an eye on each other and their surroundings and reactimmediately to any threats, other animal’s reaction and unfamiliar situations. Anervous cow eats more quickly resulting in a lower feed intake. Cows will also standmore in such a situation instead of lying down. Nervousness can be caused by manythings such as conflicts with other cows, fear of people, not enough space to lie downor cubicles which are not comfortable (wet/dirty, incorrect dimensions, hard surface,etc.), not enough eating or drinking space causing dominant cows to chase away lowerranking animals, different feeding times (cows need “routine” !), etc.2.2 Impact of behavior on Feeding ManagementThe above explained natural behavior has the following implications on FeedingManagement: The feeding manger should be large enough to allow all cows to eat at the sametime! The feeding manger should have feed, preferably of the same quality, 24hours per day to avoid dominant cows to eat the best. Preferably feed mangersshould be 5-10 cm higher than the standing place of the cow (a position similarto the situation of grazing animals). In this position cows will produce more salivaduring feeding which improves rumen function. Make sure that the feed fence iscomfortable for cows to access, see also the Dairy housing and manure managementmanual. Feed cows always at the same time. Make sure that feed is easily accessible. Cowsneed/want routine. Feed enough so that the feeding manger will never be emptyand accept feed leftovers. Clean the feeding manger at least once a day (feedingmangers with a smooth easy to clean surface also leads to reduced heating up offeed). In this situation cows will eat in small portions throughout the day ensuringthat the rumen is always full and functioning well, see also chapter 3. Make sure that cows have access to clean and fresh water 24 hours per day. Cowsdrink 6 to 14 times per day. Usually after milking and after every meal. Preferredtemperature should be between 17 – 27 oC. Cows prefer to drink together from anopen low trough (50 cm). Make sure that at least 10 % of cows can drink at thesame time. Make sure that there are enough comfortable cubicles/lying down areas for thecows (cows should lie down at least 12 hours per day). They will spend 8 to 10hours ruminating. Treat cows gently (no shouting, no beating, etc.). Avoid stressful situations.2
Figure 1: Enough feed and feeding space ensures a high feed intake3. The digestive system of ruminants.3.1 The foregut of the nt components ofa feedstuff in such a waythat they can be taken upby the blood stream andtransported to the placesin the body where they areneeded. The process ofdigestion in non-ruminantsas well as in ruminants takesplace under the influenceof enzymes. Enzymes aresubstances which stimulateor facilitate certain chemicalprocesses.Figure 2: Schematic representation of ruminant’s digestivesystem3
The abomasum is comparable to the stomach of non-ruminants; the other stomachs(the so called fore-stomachs) are specific for the ruminant.Due to the relative large volume and specific action of the fore stomachs, the cow isable to take in quite a lot of bulky vegetable feed. Through breeding the exotic breeds(Holstein Frisian and the Jersey for example) have evolved into cattle breeds havingrelatively big digestive systems.A common descriptive term for the rumen is the fermentation vat, as it serves as areservoir of feed and supports an active microbial fermentation.Figure 3: Rumen PapillaeThe inside of the rumen wall is lined with papillae,small finger-like projections, which increase therumen’s absorptive area (see figure 3). Volatile fattyacids, ammonia and water move through the rumenwall directly to the blood stream. Increasing therumen available energy content of the diet (starch)will stimulate papillae growth. This in turn improvesrumen absorption of volatile fatty acids into the bloodstream. The number and size of rumen papillae ofcows not receiving concentrates (like dry cows) aretherefore less. Just after birth the fore stomachs ofthe calf are still not developed. The milk which thecalf drinks goes directly to the abomasum throughthe esophageal groove. However, the fore stomachsdevelop quite rapidly and at the age of 6 weeksthe volume of the fore stomachs is about the samesize of that of the abomasum. This development is(and should be) stimulated through the feeding ofroughage and especially concentrate.In adult Holstein Frisian cows the volume of the fore stomachs is about 15 times ofthat of the abomasum. The rumen has then a volume of 100 – 150 liters.The rumen content is made up of three layers. At the bottom is the liquid layer. On thislayer floats a solid mass of roughage particles and in the space above this layer gasseswill be present.Figure 4: Schematic representation of the fore stomachs.4
The rumen will have over two contractions per minute. This mixes the rumen contents,brings bacteria and feed into contact, moves material out of the rumen if it is denseand short, and brings long particles to the top surface for rumination to occur.The cow spends 8 -10 hours per day ruminating (chewing her cud). The rumination cycleconsists of four functions. Regurgitation occurs when an area around the esophagusis stimulated with coarse material (scratch effect of fibrous roughages). A handful ofcoarse material is regurgitated to the mouth by a reverse peristalsis movement.Once the coarse feed is in the mouth, the second phase (re-chewing) occurs, grindingthe feed to a smaller particle size which will allow it to pass out of the rumen.The third phase is re-sa
the animal products which man uses, especially milk. In Ethiopia animal production is often a secondary activity within the subsistence farming system. However, commercial dairy farming in Ethiopia is expanding due to income increase, rapid urbanization and changing dietary habits.
1 Five Rivers Cattle Feeding, LLC 11 Cattle Empire, LLC 2 Cactus Feeders 12 Tejas Feeding Group 3 Friona Industries, LP 13 Pinal Feeding Co. 4 Irsik & Doll Feed Services, Inc. 14 Harris Feeding Co. 5 Green Plains Cattle Company, LLC 15 Adams Land & Cattle, LLC 6 Foote Cattle Co. 16 Dinklage Feed Yard, Inc. 7 JR Simplot Co. 17 Bar-G Feedyard
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