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3. Cost effective feeding systems

3. Cost effective feeding systems. ANIM 3028 Tom Cowan Tropical Dairy Research Centre, UQ, Gatton. Feeding systems. Nutrition is a tool in feeding systems Resource base Milk ration formulation cow nutrition. Feed needs to be used efficiently. Feed costs are 35 to 50% gross income

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3. Cost effective feeding systems

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  1. 3. Cost effective feeding systems ANIM 3028 Tom Cowan Tropical Dairy Research Centre, UQ, Gatton

  2. Feeding systems • Nutrition is a tool in feeding systems Resource base Milk ration formulation cow nutrition

  3. Feed needs to be used efficiently • Feed costs are 35 to 50% gross income • cows often milking at 25 to 40% genetic capacity • 10% more efficient use of feed = $6300 savings • 4500 to 6000 (30 to 50% of genetic potential) = $32000 margin over feed costs

  4. Forage base • Forage base set the limits of production • Quality of forage base limits intake and digestibility • Forage intake limit limits concentrate feeding • e.g. efficient levels of production • tropical grass-5500L/cow/year • irrigated pasture- 7000 • irrigated lucerne-9000

  5. Efficiency of the cow • A high producing cow is efficient • lower proportion of feed to maintenance • extra food mostly used for production • e.g. 15L milk/day - $2.25 margin OFC • 25L milk/day - $4.50 • Limit occurs when unit feed costs rise

  6. Off farm feeds • Feeds from off the farm are now 30 to 70% of total feed intake • grains, byproducts • Optimum level depends on • cost per unit of feed • complementary effects with home grown feeds • desired farm turnover ($)

  7. The main drivers in feed systems • Cost price squeeze - milk price/milk cost from 2.6 to 1.3 1970 to 2000 • Therefore need much more milk per farm • 75% of variation in farm milk output explained by • concentrates fed • nitrogen fertiliser used • irrigation area • hay/silage fed • farm size (ha)

  8. Targets for grazing systems • Pasture or crop grazing • more irrigation (pasture farms) • more fodder conservation (cropping farms) • more fertiliser (both) • more grain feeding (both) • more cows (both) • ~ treble milk output/farm

  9. Feedlots • One way to grow in size • many farm now use “feed pads” for feeding out once or twice a day • amounts given on feed pads is increasing • feedlots predicted for the Darling Downs • at ~900 cows economics look better than grazing

  10. A typical feed year plan

  11. Trends in feed inputs and milk output

  12. Heat stress • High ambient temperature +walking+production = high heat loads • walking uses energy • 2 to 5 MJ/km, and increased if heat stressed • best pasture at night = more milk • cows don’t graze at T above 32C

  13. Daily maximum temperature and grazing by HF cows

  14. Feeding the heifers • 1 milking age cow = 0.5 heifers • average age is about 15 months (330 kg) • High milk yield = high quality feed for heifers • 45% cost of feeding a cow

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