Feeding for early peaks hinders basic rumen action

摘要

Conventional practice of feeding cows with as much protein and energy as they will eat post calving to ensure a high six week peak may be a costly mistake. Independent nutritionist Peter Allen tells us why. Once again cows on fresh grass have droppedrnilkfat levels when the "experts" are raving about the way ahead is "graze more grass". It's true the lower butterfat percents may not worry alt milk producers - but they should! The occurence of diarrhoea, that usually goes along with milk fat drop, is a clear sign of things going wrong in the cow's health and efficiency. The "liquid grass" dropping behind the cows is an obvious sign that they are not getting the benefit of the grass they are eating - nor the grass that they are spoiling and wasting!