Optimising Dry Cow Forage: Striking the Balance!

Managing dry cow nutrition is crucial for ensuring optimal health and performance during the transition period. This phase, particularly the last four weeks before calving, is pivotal for setting the stage for a successful lactation. A well-balanced dry cow diet that considers energy density, palatability, and mineral composition is essential.

In recent years there has been an uptake in the number of farms growing specific dry cow forage, which is highly beneficial to transition cow management. However, it is important to strike the balance between allowing the grass to mature, whilst also maintaining adequate energy content and palatability to drive intakes.

Energy Density and Intake Potential

As cows approach calving, their dry matter intake (DMI) naturally declines due to the growing calf occupying more abdominal space. Therefore, providing a diet with adequate energy density is vital to meet the cow’s nutritional requirements.

A controlled energy high-fibre diet, including forages like straw, can help maintain rumen fill without excessive energy intake. This approach not only prevents over-conditioning but also supports consistent DMI during the critical pre-calving period.

Palatability to Drive Intakes

Ensuring that the forage is palatable is essential for maintaining adequate DMI. Factors such as chop length, moisture content, and the presence of mould can affect palatability. For instance, finely chopped straw mixed with high-quality silage can enhance palatability and encourage intake.

Additionally, providing fresh feed daily and ensuring clean, accessible water can further improve DMI.

Managing Potassium Levels

High potassium levels in forage can disrupt the dietary cation-anion balance (DCAB), leading to an increased risk of milk fever. To mitigate this, it’s advisable to select fields with low potassium indices and avoid applying slurry or potassium-based fertilisers before harvesting. Incorporating forages such as wholecrop or maize silage, which naturally have lower potassium levels, can also help achieve a more favourable DCAB.

Achieving Low DCAB for Milk Fever Prevention

Selecting a forage with a DCAB of less than 150 mEq/kg DM is recommended to reduce the risk of milk fever. This can be achieved by selecting appropriate forages and, if necessary, supplementing with anionic salts.

In conclusion, by selecting mature grass for adequate fibre content, managing potassium levels to achieve a low DCAB, and ensuring the diet is palatable, farmers can support the health and productivity of their cows during the critical transition period. Regular forage analysis and consultation with a nutritionist can further optimise dry cow nutrition strategies.

For any further details around dry cow forage, please give your local Fane Valley Feeds representative a call or contact our Fane Valley Feeds Team on 028 8224 3221.