Enhancing Profitability through Setting Strategic Feed Efficiency Targets

摘要

With current milk prices, one way to maintain profitability without sacrificing milk production or herd health is by enhancing feed efficiency. Table 1 is an example of how improving feed efficiency impacts the bottom line. Herd A produced 36 kg (80 pounds) of milk consuming 26 kg (57 Ib) of DMl for a feed efficiency of 1.40. Herd B produced the same amount of milk, but the cows consume only 36 kg (50 Ib) of dry matter, for a feed efficiency of 1.60. Assuming feed costs of 0.15 dollar per kg (0.07 dollar per Ib) of dry matter, Herd B has a lower feed cost of 0.49 dollar per cow per day compared to Herd A. Higher income over feed costs could be the difference between staying profitable or losing money. In addition, Herd B with the lower feed intake and higher feed efficiency will have lower nutrient excretion as manure. This will be important as manure regulations for whole-farm nutrient management are enforced by local. state, and national groups.