Ration Changes to Increase the Milk Check Also Benefited Herd Health

Thursday, May 8, 2008 10:43 AM CDT

Mike Buechel, New Holstein

When Mike Buechel’s nutritionist suggested modifying his herd’s ration to bolster his milk check, Buechel of Buechel Dairy Farms, Inc., New Holstein, decided to take a closer look.

The projections looked good, and Buechel signed on. As a result, he is realizing the higher gross income as expected, and more. While working day in and day out with his 170 Holsteins, Buechel is noticing physical changes, changes he likes.

In the summer of 2007, Buechel’s herd was producing about 65 pounds of milk per cow per day with about 2.89 to 2.90 percent protein and 3.4 to 3.5 percent butterfat. When Matt Gable with ADM Alliance Nutrition suggested balancing the amino acid levels in the fresh-cow and mature-cow rations, he listened.

Gabler keeps tabs on advances in dairy nutrition. “That’s what Matt specializes in,” says Buechel. “So if something new comes up and he suggests it, then the farmer needs to decide if he wants to try it.”

“I’m not afraid to try something new,” Buechel says. “If it doesn’t work, well then, we take it back out of the ration.”

Balancing amino acids

What Gabler and industry experts explained is that balancing the amino acids in the ration assures that the cow will have the right combination of amino acids for optimum use and performance. The 20 amino acids are the building blocks of protein. Of these, lysine and methionine are the first two limiting amino acids. They cannot be produced by the cow and typically are not available in high enough levels in most rations without supplementation.

A shortage of lysine and methionine, or having them available in the wrong proportion, can limit the cow’s ability to produce proteins from the amino acids in her ration. A shortage of lysine and methionine can affect the production of milk and milk proteins.

Buechel understood the concept and liked the production numbers projected by the ADM Alliance Nutrition Dalex Raton Balancing program. He could continue feeding his homegrown feedstuffs. “The forage levels fed changed a little,” Buechel says, “and so did the grain and protein. Since everything goes in the blend, though, it doesn’t really affect me too much in day to day feeding.”

The protein levels in the ration are now at about 17.2 percent with the ratio of protein to fermentable carbohydrate in the rumen close to optimal for the synthesis of microbial protein, according to Gabler. “Protein and amino acids also are available in the small intestine for absorption and use. And the protein mix’s feeding rate changed only slightly from 8.5 to 9.0 pounds per cow per day to 8.3 pounds per cow per day.”

High-quality forages are fed in a ration of 60 percent forage to 40 percent concentrate with the effective neutral detergent fibers (NDF) consistently running 26 percent. The forages include a combination of 2 pounds per head per day of fine ground dry corn and 9 pounds per head per day of high moisture corn.

The trial

During a pre-trial period, starting Nov. 2, Buechel and Gabler gathered base-level data by monitoring milk production, cow numbers, and milk components for all lactating cows. With few changes occurring at the dairy, it was a good time to determine a base for comparison sake.

“Mike didn’t have a lot of cows freshening,” says Gabler. “And things were about as static as they can be in a herd. The corn silage was fully fermented. There just wasn’t fluctuation in management or forages.”

On Dec. 1, the modified ration was introduced to all lactating cows. “We brought in a revised protein blend with MetaSmart, a rumen-protected methionine,” says Gabler. “So, the herd began receiving adequate levels of the amino acid methionine, and in the right proportion to lysine.”

ROI

What happened? Production levels changed. Milk yield moved to 74 to 76 pounds per cow per day and has stayed there. Likewise, milk protein moved to about 3.00 percent; butterfat now ranges between 3.77 and 3.83 percent.

“It seems like milk production in the cows in later lactation hangs on a little more now, rather than taking a nose dive as they’re getting dried out,” Buechel says. “It’s like they’re trying to hold their ground more.”

Longer-term benefits

Buechel and Gabler figure the return on investment at about 7.8 to 1.0, based on changes in the milk check. The herd may be realizing some longer-term benefits, too. Buechel says that he is noticing some physical changes as he works with his cows. He says that the cows maintain their body condition better; have nice shiny coats; and experience fewer transition-related problems.

They also seem to cycle better. “They’re running through their cycles all the time,” he says, “and I’m starting to see better heat than I normally did.”

In addition, the cows’ energy level has changed. “The cows start running easily now. It doesn’t take much. So you know they’re feeling good,” he says.

Going through the process of balancing for amino acids has proved to be a good management decision. It has supported production, as expected, and seems to have benefited herd health, too.

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