Calculating dry matter consumption of dairy herds in Australia: the need to fully account for energy requirements and issues with estimating energy supply

2011 ◽  
Vol 51 (7) ◽  
pp. 605 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. W. Heard ◽  
P. T. Doyle ◽  
S. A. Francis ◽  
M. v. H. Staines ◽  
W. J. Wales
Keyword(s):  
Energy Supply ◽  
Systems Approach ◽  
Energy Requirements ◽  
Dairy Herds ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Farm Productivity ◽  
Key Variables ◽  
Metabolisable Energy ◽  
Feed Costs ◽  
Feeding Systems

Feed costs are the major component of the variable costs and a significant component of the total costs of milk production on Australian dairy farms. To improve farm productivity, farmers need to understand how much feed is being consumed and the nutritive characteristics of the diet. This paper reviews an existing simple approach, the ‘Target 10’ approach, which is commonly used by the dairy industry in Victoria to estimate annual forage consumption. An alternative approach – the ‘Feeding Systems’ approach – is then introduced. The ‘Feeding Systems’ approach is compared with estimated forage consumption measured under experimental conditions. An analysis of the sensitivity of both approaches to incremental changes in key variables is presented. The ‘Feeding Standards’ approach was concordant with estimated forage consumption measured under experimental conditions. Sensitivity analysis has highlighted key variables which may have considerable influence over simulated forage consumption using this approach. Given that none of the key variables tested in this analysis can be varied in the ‘Target 10’ approach, we feel confident that the ‘Feeding Standards’ approach provides an improved method of back-calculating annual on-farm forage consumption. Using a robust approach to calculate forage consumption which fully accounts for metabolisable energy requirements is important where farmers are using home-grown forage consumption as an indicator of farm feeding system performance. It is also important to understand the assumptions involved in estimating metabolisable energy supply from either supplements or forage.

The use of regression techniques on calorimetric data to estimate the metabolisable energy requirements of lactating dairy cows

1997 ◽  
Vol 1997 ◽  
pp. 4-4
Author(s):  
T. Yan ◽  
F. J. Gordon ◽  
R. E. Agnew ◽  
M. G. Porter ◽  
D. C. Patterson
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Open Circuit ◽  
Energy Requirements ◽  
Gaseous Exchange ◽  
Calorimetric Data ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Lactating Dairy Cows ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
Regression Techniques ◽  
Metabolisable Energy

The metabolisable energy (ME) requirement for maintenance (MEm) can be determined by measuring the fasting metabolism of the non-lactating cow, but this approach cannot encompass any differences in maintenance metabolic rate between lactating and non-lactating animals. The MEm and efficiency of ME use for lactation (k1) can also be estimated by regression of energy outputs against ME intake (MEI). During 1992 to 1995, a total of 221 Holstein/Friesian lactating dairy cows, which were offered grass silage-based diets, were subjected to gaseous exchange measurements in indirect open-circuit respiration calorimeters. The objective of the present study was to use these data to predict the MEm and k1 by a range of regression techniques for lactating dairy cows offered grass silage-based diets.

A Comparison of Supplementary Feeding Systems for Twin Rearing Mule Ewes during Late Pregnancy and Early Lactation

1995 ◽  
Vol 1995 ◽  
pp. 77-77
Author(s):  
B G Merrell ◽  
S P Marsh ◽  
B A Hedley
Keyword(s):  
Previous Experiment ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
Supplementary Feeding ◽  
Early Lactation ◽  
Animal Performance ◽  
Current Experiment ◽  
Cane Molasses ◽  
Feed Costs ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Feeding Systems

The results of a previous experiment showed that when the amount of compound feed fed to crossbred ewes during late pregnancy and early lactation was reduced, being replaced by feed-blocks, animal performance was maintained and that the cost of supplementary feeding was similar. In the same experiment, when compound was replaced totally by feed-blocks plus Scotmol® (a blend of molasses and pot ale syrup), feed costs were considerably reduced, but animal performance was not acceptable (Merrell and Marsh, 1994). In the current experiment done at ADAS Redesdale in 1994 the proportion of compound feed replaced by feed-blocks was increased compared with the previous experiment, in an attempt to reduce feed costs, and the feasibility of replacing part or all of the copmound with cane molasses and fishmeal was tested.

Effect of Different Cereal:Forage Ratio and Protein Degradability on The Performance and Blood Metabolites of Iranian Sangsarri Lambs

1998 ◽  
Vol 1998 ◽  
pp. 85-85
Author(s):  
M. Danesh Mesgaran ◽  
G.H. Ieeragian
Keyword(s):  
Energy Supply ◽  
Basal Diet ◽  
Animal Production ◽  
Blood Metabolites ◽  
Metabolisable Energy ◽  
Ruminal Protein Degradability ◽  
Degradable Protein ◽  
Protein Degradability

The effects of carbohydrate-rich supplements on animal production are dependent on the type and proportion of supplement to basal diet (Obara et al., 1991). This supplementation should optimise the effective rumen degradable protein and fermentable metabolisable energy supply to the rumen and provide sufficient metabolisable protein to balance animal requirement (AFRC, 1992). The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of the feeding increased amount of ruminal available carbohydrate (RAC) in different ruminal protein degradability (PD) on Iranian Sangsarri lamb performance and blood metabolites.

Growth of lambs given different allowances of digestible crude protein and metabolisable energy

1992 ◽  
Vol 1992 ◽  
pp. 174-174
Author(s):  
M.R. Cropper ◽  
D.P. Poppi ◽  
A.M. Nicol
Keyword(s):  
Body Composition ◽  
Proximate Composition ◽  
Energy Supply ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Body Protein ◽  
Digestible Crude Protein ◽  
Metabolisable Energy ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Ram Lambs ◽  
Composition Changes

In a market where high levels of fat on lamb carcases are not favoured, the supposition that a lamb, given adequate feeding, will grow protein preferentially to gaining lipid, holds interest. However, this idea runs counter to the evidence that body composition is not manipulable in sheep. Therefore, an experiment was undertaken to implement extreme treatments of protein and energy supply to determine to what extent the contrasting views on body composition changes in growing lambs are justified.Seventy-two Coopworth ram lambs (mean liveweight, (LW) 30.4, s.d. 1.1 kg) were given one of the three feeds of different digestible crude protein (DCP) content at one of three allowances (ad libitum (AL), 1.2 (H) or 0.8 (L) kg/day). The feeds (H, M and L) were formulated as shown in Table 1. Feed M was a mixture of 0.55 Feed H and 0.45 Feed M. The proximate composition, measured DCP and estimated metabolisable energy (ME) content of the feeds is given in Table 1. ALH and ALM lambs were also choice-fed with ad libitum access to feed L. 8 lambs at the start of the experiment and 4 lambs per treatment at 6 and 12 weeks were slaughtered for analysis of body protein (PR), lipid (LP) and wool protein (WP).

scholarly journals Effect on Milk Production and Income Over Feed Cost from Following Less than Optimum Management Strategies Related to Dairy Cow Replacement

1973 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 139-145
Author(s):  
Richard W. Rundell
Keyword(s):  
Milk Production ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Dairy Herds ◽  
Dairy Farmers ◽  
Feed Cost ◽  
High Production ◽  
Costs Of Production ◽  
Feed Costs ◽  
Optimum Management

Dairy farmers, as profit maximizers, are constantly striving to expand the income producing ability of their dairy herds. As managers of their business, their direct concern is to attain high production per cow and enhance the average quality of their herd by removal of the unprofitable producers. They are also striving to earn a large income above feed costs, since feed costs comprise 50 percent or more of the costs of production. This value must be high enough to pay for the other costs of production, including a return to capital and operators labor, to return a profit. Proper culling or the identification and subsequent removal of the lower producing cows from a herd is important because of the increased average milk production and the resulting increased income above feed costs.

Influence of Irradiance on H+ Efflux and Cl- Influx in Chara corallina: An Investigation Aimed at Testing Two Cl- Transport Models

1976 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 443
Author(s):  
W.J Lucas ◽  
F.A Smith
Keyword(s):  
Transport System ◽  
Energy Supply ◽  
Chara Corallina ◽  
Maximum Activity ◽  
Present Form ◽  
Significant Modification ◽  
Transport Models ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Cl Transport ◽  
Lag Period

Parallel studies on the influence of irradiance on net H+ efflux and *36Cl- uptake were conducted on C. corallina. Following the dark-to-light transition, a lag period of 8-15 min was observed before net H+ efflux activity could be discerned experimentally. Decreasing the irradiance did not significantly lengthen this lag period. Studies on *36Cl- uptake revealed that a lag period of 40-60 min was required before the Cl- transport system attained maximum activity, governed by the prevailing experimental conditions. These results are discussed in relation to the Cl- transport hypotheses proposed by Spear et al. and by Smith. It would seem that the hypothesis of Spear et al., in its present form, is invalid for Chara corallina. The results were inconclusive in terms of support (or otherwise) for a Cl-/OH- antiporter. However, the Cl-/OH- antiporter hypothesis originally proposed by Smith will require significant modification, especially in terms of the energy supply.

THE DAIRY HERD MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND FARM PRODUCTIVITY

1980 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 495-502 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. S. T. BOWMAN ◽  
J. E. MOXLEY ◽  
B. W. KENNEDY ◽  
B. R. DOWNEY
Keyword(s):  
Production Efficiency ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Crop Management ◽  
Dairy Herd ◽  
Complete Information ◽  
Annual Data ◽  
Farm Productivity ◽  
Average Production ◽  
Management Factors ◽  
Feed Costs

A study, based on a series of three questionnaires covering calf management, mastitis control and land and crop management, was conducted from 1975 to 1977 on a random sample of 640 dairy farms on the Dairy Herd Analysis Service (DHAS). Information on dairy cow nutrition, farm production efficiency and farm productivity, as measured by herd average production of 4% fat-corrected milk (4% FCM) and income overfeed costs, was obtained from the 1975–76 DHAS annual data files for these farms. Analysis of the complete information on all factors concerned was done on 216 farms. In a multiple regression analysis, 37 farm management factors accounted for 79.9 and 69.5% of the variation in herd average production and income over feed costs, respectively. Levels of meal and succulent (silage) feeding accounted for the largest amount of the variation in production and income. Significant simple correlation coefficients indicated that the land and crop management factors had an important influence on herd nutrition.

scholarly journals Dairy farm profit according to the herd size, milk yield, and number of cows per worker

2016 ◽  
Vol 62 (No. 5) ◽  
pp. 225-234 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Krpalkova ◽  
V.E. Cabrera ◽  
J. Kvapilik ◽  
J. Burdych
Keyword(s):  
Milk Yield ◽  
Dairy Farm ◽  
Herd Size ◽  
Dairy Herds ◽  
Economic Traits ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
Labour Costs ◽  
Farm Profit ◽  
Overall Efficiency ◽  
Feed Costs

The study evaluates the associations of the farm herd size (HERD), the milk yield (MY, kg/cow per year), and cows per worker (CW) with the production, reproduction, and economic traits in 60 commercial dairy herds (34 633 cows) in the Czech Republic. Each parameter was split into 3 groups. The largest herds (≥ 750 cows) had the highest profitability of costs without subsidies (−3.8 ± 4.3%), the lowest cost for roughages (1.2 CZK/L milk), and the lowest cost for breeding operations (0.17 CZK/L milk), but the highest costs for the cereal grains and concentrates (2.4 CZK/L milk). Herds with the lowest MY (≤ 7 499) had the lowest profitability of costs without subsidies (−15.8 ± 3.93%), the highest total costs (9.27 CZK/L milk), the highest labour costs (1.6 CZK/L milk), and the highest cow depreciation costs (0.97 CZK/L milk). Herds with the lowest CW (≤ 39) had the highest mean labour costs (1.51 CZK/L milk) and the highest costs for breeding operations (0.22 CZK/L milk). Herds with the highest CW (≥ 60) and the lowest CW (≤ 39) also differed in the total feed costs (4.1 vs. 3.73 CZK/L milk) and the costs of cereals and concentrates (2.34 vs. 1.96 CZK/L milk). The increasing herd size tended to be accompanied by higher milk yields and the overall efficiency.

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