Feeding of High

Yielding Dairy Cattle

[Link], Professor and Head
Department of Animal Nutrition
College of Veterinary Science and A.H., Anjora, Durg
• Cows yielding more than 20 kg/day and buffaloes yielding more than 15 kg per day
are high yielding animals.
• Nutrient requirements vary with the stage of lactation and gestation. Five distinct
feeding phases can be defined to attain optimum production, reproduction and
health of dairy cows:
• Phase 1 : Early lactation—1 to 70 days (peak milk production) after calving
(postpartum).
• Phase 2 : Peak DM intake—70 to 140 days (declining milk production) postpartum.
• Phase 3 : Mid- and late lactation—140 to 305 days (declining milk production)
postpartum.
• Phase 4 : Dry period—60 to 14 days before the next lactation.
• Phase 5 : Transition or close-up period—14 days before to parturition.
 PHASE 1: EARLY LACTATION - 0 TO 70 DAYS
POSTPARTUM

• The important features of this phase are,

• Milk production increases rapidly during this period and the peak milk
production occurs at 6 to 8 weeks after calving.
• Feed intake is not adequate because the appetite of the animal during the
early lactation (up to 8 weeks) is reduced by 2 to 3 kg. So there will be
shortfall in the intake of energy and protein needed for high levels of milk
production.
• The protein will also be diverted for mammogenesis, body growth in case of
heifers and young animals, protein may also be diverted for synthesis of
lactose (milk sugar) .The animal loses body weight since it mobilizes body
tissues for sustaining milk production.
• During this period, the cow could lose as much as 0.7 kg/day. Because of
reduced dry matter or feed intake, dietary energy is the most limiting factor
in milk production.
• Feeding during this phase: The ration should contain :
• Feed intake is the key factor in maintaining high milk production. Cows
should be encouraged to maximize their intake during early lactation. Each
additional kg of dry mater consumed can support 2-2.4 kg more milk. The
roughages should be of high quality with not more than 40-45 % NDF
• Protein: A protein level of 13-14 % CP can support 20 kg milk in cows and
15 kg in buffaloes. For those cows or buffaloes yielding more milk, the ideal
protein content of the ration should be 19 % with 30-35 % RDP.
• NDF in the ration) is necessary because excessive levels of concentrates
(over 60 percent of the total DM) fed during early lactation can cause
acidosis and low milk fat percentage. To avoid any digestive problems (e.g.
acidosis, depressed intake), concentrates should be added gradually at a rate
of about 0.5 to 0.7 kg/day for the first two weeks. Do not feed more than
2.5-3.5 kg of concentrates per feeding.
• The roughage should not be ground or pelleted but should be chopped to a
length of 2 inches or longer.
• The energy content of the ration is increased by feeding of full-fat oilseeds
like cottonseed, sunflower seed and soybean . They are also rich in TDN;
thus their supplementation in the diet is useful for meeting energy
requirements of high yielding animals. Cottonseed is the most popular
amongst farmer and it also helps in increasing milk fat.
• The energy content of the ration can also be increased by using fats or oil at
4% in the concentrate mixture or 0.5 kg / day
 Challenge Feeding

• Feeding of concentrates should be started 2 weeks before calving, if no concentrate

is fed during the dry period. This helps in adaptation of the rumen microbes with
the grain/concentrate during the ensuing lactation period when nutrient
requirement cannot be met, especially in high-yielding (more than 20 kg milk) cows
without grain or concentrates.
• Generally, the animals are started with 1.5 to 2.0 kg concentrate mixture (@0.3 to
0.5 % of body weight) on the date 2 weeks before calving, followed by an increment
of 0.3 to 0.5 kg daily, so that they will be receiving about 1 kg concentrate mixture
per 100 kg body weight at calving. This is also called challenge or lead feeding, as it
is the practice of feeding higher levels of concentrate to challenge the cow to reach
her maximum milk production potential. .
 Other Feeding Strategies for High Producing dairy
cattle during early lactation

• Cows usually eat after milking. So fresh feed should always be available since high
producing animals may eat up to 12 times in a day
• If concentrates are being fed separately from forages, they should be fed several
times a day.
• Feeding frequency: Increased feeding frequency reduces daily variations in rumen pH
and thus helps stabilizing the rumen environment. The proper range and
consistency of ruminal pH is critical in fiber digestion.
• Feeding sequence: If forage and concentrates are being fed separately, forages should
be fed first in the morning followed by a portion of the concentrates.
 PHASE 2. PEAK DM INTAKE -
SECOND 10 WEEKS POSTPARTUM

• During this phase the feed intake is near maximum and can supply nutrient needs.
• Cows should not be losing body weight, and are either maintaining weight or slightly
gaining weight
• Animals are expected to take dry matter at 4 % of body weight . Concentrate intake
should not exceed 2.5 percent of the cow's body weight and intake of good quality
forage should be minimum 1.5 percent of the cow's body weight (DM basis) to
maintain rumen function and normal levels of milk fat.
• Protein requirements during mid lactation are lower than in early lactation.
Therefore rations for dairy cows in mid-lactation should contain 15-17% crude
protein
• To maximize nutrient intake:
• Feed forages and grain several times a day.
• If urea is included in the rations, limit urea to 100 g per cow per day.
 PHASE 3. MID - TO LATE LACTATION -
140 TO 305 DAYS POSTPARTUM

• This phase will be the easiest to manage. Milk production is declining, the cow is
pregnant, and nutrient intake will easily be met or exceed requirements.
• Concentrate feeding should be at a level to meet milk production requirements and
the animals begin to replace body weight lost during early lactation.
• Young cows should receive additional nutrients for growth (20 percent during
1st lactation and 10 % during 2nd lactation of the maintenance requirement
• Consider NPN as a source of supplemental protein.
 PHASE 4. DRY PERIOD - 60 TO 14 DAYS
BEFORE PARTURITION

• The dry period is a critical phase of the lactation cycle to increase milk yield
during the following lactation and minimize metabolic problems at or
immediately following calving.
 The reasons for the dry period

• (a) Involution of the udder

• The principal reason for the dry period is to allow the secretory tissue of the
udder to involute.
• During this period, the secretory cells of udder actually break down and are
resorbed, and a new set of secretory cells is formed. This cell renewal
process takes approximately six weeks and, if a cow is allowed no dry period
at all, will result in a loss of milk of at least 30% in the subsequent lactation.
• (b) Foetal development
• During the last eight weeks before calving the foetus gains almost 60% of its
birth weight, an overall rate of gain for the cow of about 0.75 kg/day.
• At the very least, the cow must be fed for foetal growth.
• (c ) Replenishment of body reserves
• Mineral reserves are an entirely different matter to energy reserves.
• The high-producing cow will have severely depleted her body reserves of minerals,
especially calcium and phosphorus, during her lactation. These reserves can only be
completely replenished when the cow is dry.
• Adequate mineral nutrition during the dry period is very important. If the cow is
very weak or underweight, the dry period helps her to replenish body reserves and
she may be fed to gain about 20-25 kg body weight during the dry period.
• (d) The length of the dry period
• It is wise to aim for a dry period of eight weeks (56 days).
• Rations should be formulated to specifically meet the nutrient requirements
of dry cows: body maintenance, fetal growth, and for replacing any
additional body weight not replaced during phase. Pregnant animals are to be
offered extra nutrients during the last two months of gestation
• The aim is that by the end of gestation period the cows should not only gain
their initial body weight but also put on an extra 25 to 30 kg of body weight.
This is necessary to enable the animal to withstand the stress of parturition
and to maintain the persistency of milk production during the subsequent
lactation period, The provision of extra nutrients should be given in the
form of concentrate mixture and not as forage because roughages are not as
efficient as concentrates in increasing the body weight. The rest of the ration
must contain sufficient green feeds so that the colostrum secreted after
parturition should be rich in vitamin A.
• DM intake will be near 2 percent of the cow's body weight. A minimum of 12 percent
CP in the DM is recommended.
• Meet calcium and phosphorus needs, but avoid large excesses. Calcium intakes of 60 to
80 grams and phosphorus intakes of 30 to 40 grams are sufficient for most cows.
• Avoid excess calcium and phosphorus intakes
• Dry cow rations above 0 .6 percent calcium and 0 .4 percent phosphorus (DM basis)
have substantially increased milk fever problems.
• Provide adequate amounts of vitamin A, D, and E in rations to improve calf
survival and lower retained placenta and milk fever problems. Trace minerals,
including selenium for most producers, should be adequately supplemented
in dry cow diets.
• Change to a transition ration starting 2 weeks before calving . During the last
3 days prior to calving, the amount of concentrate mixture should be
reduced and a little warm bran is fed to keep the animal in laxative condition
before calving.
 PHASE 5. TRANSITION PERIOD - 14 DAYS
BEFORE TO PARTURITION
• The transition or close-up dry cow feeding program is critical to adjusting dry cows
to the lactation ration and preventing metabolic problems. During the last 3 days
prior to calving, the amount of concentrate mixture should be reduced and a little
warm bran is fed to keep the animal in laxative condition before calving.
• After parturition, the cow /buffalo should be given fresh warm water and a mash
consisting of 1 kg wheat bran, 1-1.5 kg ground grain, 0.5 kg jaggery and 25 g each
of common salt and mineral mixture. This mash may be continued for 3 to 4 days
after calving; the regular feed may be gradually introduced to the cow.
• Some concentrate mixture, if not previously fed, should be fed starting two weeks
before freshening.
• Introduction of concentrate mixture is necessary to begin changing the rumen
bacteria population over from an all-forage digestion population to a mixed
population of forage and grain digesters. Also, addition of some ingredients used in
the lactation ration during this period minimizes the stress of ration changes after
calving. Some suggested management strategies during this period include:
• Increase protein in the ration to between 14 and 15 percent of the ration DM.
Feeding some of this additional protein in the form of undegradable protein may
be beneficial in supplying amino acids for fetal growth.
Summary of nutrient requirements of high
yielding dairy cattle during different phases
of lactation
 (a) Water requirements

• Lactating dairy cows need 60–70 litres of water each day for maintenance,
plus an extra 4–5 litres for each litre of milk produced.
• Water requirements increase by 6 lts/day for every 4 0 C raise in air
temperatures.
• Lactating cows will drink 150 to 200 litres of water per day in the summer
months.
 (b) Crude protein requirements

Stage of lactation % CP in the ration

Early lactation 16 - 18 %
Mid lactation 14 - 16 %
Late lactation 12 - 14 %
Dry period 10 - 12 %
• Undegradable or bypass protein (UIP) should be 35 to 40 percent of the CP in early lactation
and 30 to 35 percent of CP in late lactation.
(C) Energy in the ration
• TDN
• Early lactation – 75 % of dietary DM
• late lactation - 65 % of dietary DM
• dry period - 55 % of dietary DM
(D) Nonfiber carbohydrates: 35 to 40 percent of the dietary DM.
(E) Fat
• Maximum of 7 percent of the total ration DM with no more than 4 percent
from supplemental fat..
• Salt: 0.5 percent of the ration DM or 1 percent of the concentrate mixture.
• (F) Mineral
• Approximately 1 percent of the grain mix should be a calcium-phosphorus
mineral.
• (G) Urea
• 3 % of concentrate mixture or 1 percent of the total dry matter intake.
• (H) Vitamins: Supplemented A, D, and E in rations to meet requirements.
• Ration form: Avoid too fine chopping of forages and concentrates
 MODEL RATIONS FOR COWS AND BUFFALOES WITH
AVAILABLE FODDER AND CONCENTRATES

• Two alternatives could be easily considered depending on the availability of

green fodder.
• If green leguminous fodder like berseem, lucerne or soobabul is available, a
combination of about 6 to 8 kg of leguminous green fodder and 4 to 5 kg of
paddy straw can easily meet the maintenance requirement of animals.
• The other alternative is to feed 1 kg of balanced concentrate mixture.
 Ration for maintenance of a cow

Option Feed Quantity (kg)

1 Green legume 6–8
Cereal straw 4 -5
2 Concentrate mixture 1
Cereal straw 5
 Ration for growing crossbred dairy heifers weighing
200 kg

Option Feed Quantity (kg)

1 Green legume 8 -10
Cereal straw 2 -4
2 Concentrate mixture 2.5
Cereal straw 4 -5
 Ration for cow weighing about 400 kg and producing
5 kg of milk

• Depending on the fodder availability, two options could be followed.

Option Feed Quantity (kg)
1 Green legume 10
Green cereals 20
Cereal straw 4
2 Concentrate mixture 3.5
Cereal straw 7.0
 Ration for cow weighing about 400 kg and producing
10 kg of milk

• During the kharif season, it is possible in most areas, to get green fodder
with crops like maize, cowpea and subabul.
• Azolla can be fed as a source of protein. It contains approximately 25%
crude protein on dry matter basis.
• For cows producing 10 kg of milk, the following rations could be followed.
Ration for cow weighing about 400 kg and
producing 10 kg of milk
option Feed Quantity (kg)
1 Green legume 15
Green cereals 25
Cereal straw 2
Concentrate mixture 1
2 Concentrate mixture (4 +3.5 kg) 7.5
Ration for cows weighing about 350 kg and producing
20 kg of milk with 4.5% fat

• Oat/Maize/Sorghum fodder – 22 kg
• Berseem or Lucerne fodder – 5 kg
• Concentrate mixture – 4.5 kg
Ration for cows weighing about 400 kg and producing
25 kg of milk with 4.5% fat

• Oat/Maize/Sorghum fodder – 25 kg
• Berseem or Lucerne – 6 -8 kg
• Concentrate mixture – 9.0 kg
 Thumb rule for feeding concentrates in cattle
and buffaloes

• In case of cattle, for every 1 kg of milk production, 0.4 kg of concentrates

should be given.
• In case of buffaloes, for every 1 kg of milk production, 0.5 kg of
concentrates should be given.
 LEVEL OF NUTRITION AND
REPRODUCTION IN COWS
• The cow has a dry period of about 2 months but in practice it may be longer.
• During this period, cow should build up the body reserves, lost in early lactation and
will require nutrients to provide for the rapid growth of the foetus which occur
during the later stage of pregnancy and for the regeneration of mammary tissue.
• Low levels of protein and energy in the diets of cows and buffaloes are liable to
affect the reproductive system in a number of ways, such as disturbing the oestrous
cycle, prolonging postpartum anoestrous period and increasing number of services
per conception.
• The mechanism of inhibitory action is on the hypothalamus affecting the release of
Leutinising Hormone (LH) releasing factor from anterior pituitary.
• In case, the energy requirement is met fully from time to time
during lactation, there may be further increase in milk production as well as
better persistency from such cows.
• High protein diets are reported to be beneficial for higher milk production
and superior growth rate.
• It has been estimated that two third of increase in milk yield is due to
adequate protein and one-third is a result of optimum energy in the rations.