Feeding Strategy to Maximize Milk Solids &  Reduce  Fat % in Cow & Buffalo Milk 

Proper feeding management of the dairy herd can improve the economy of production and provide for a healthier cow. Feeding to increase production of milk with maximum levels of milk fat and protein is essential for achieving these benefits.

Milk solid components include fat, protein, lactose and minerals. Normal values for milk fat range from 3.7 percent (Holstein) to 4.9 percent (Jersey); milk protein ranges from 3.1 percent (Holstein) to 3.8 percent (Jersey). Lactose is usually 4.6 to 4.8 percent for all breeds and minerals (ash) average 0.74 percent. Dairy producers focus on maximizing milk fat and protein content. Current milk pricing formulas emphasize milk fat, giving maintenance of normal milk fat test an economic advantage. Normal milk fat percentages also reflect good rumen and cow health. Generally, diets that cause low milk fat test also cause sore feet (laminitis), acidosis and feed intake problems. Milk protein has economic value because higher protein leads to higher cheese yields. Increasingly, milk protein content is being emphasized as milk fat price differentials decline due to the public’s demand for low-fat dairy foods.

How can milk solids be altered?

Factors that affect milk composition include genetics, stage of lactation, level of milk production, age of cow, environment, disease (for example, mastitis), and nutrition. Fifty-five percent of the variation in milk composition is due to heredity, while 45 percent is due to environmental factors such as feeding management. Generally, if the milk protein to milk fat ratio is less than 0.80 for Holsteins, milk protein depression is a problem. When this ratio is greater than 1.0, the herd suffers from milk fat depression (low milk fat test). Milk protein percent follows changes in milk fat test except during milk fat depression and when high levels of fat are fed. The following feeding guidelines should help the dairy producer increase production of solids-corrected milk.

Feeding strategies to maximize milk solids

The following guidelines are critical to maximizing solids-corrected milk production:

• Proper ration formulation;
• Maximum feed intake;
• Monitoring diet composition (use routine forage, feed analyses);
• Harvesting and/or buying high quality forage and proper forage allocation; and
• Properly feeding protein, energy, fiber, minerals and vitamins.

Nutritional changes can occur rapidly and are the best way to respond to changing market demands. The following sections describe important aspects of feeding management to produce high levels of milk solids.

Maximize feed intake

The importance of maximizing feed intake is related to minimizing negative energy balance during early lactation. As cows move into positive energy balance, body weight is regained, losses of body condition score are minimized, and cows produce milk of normal fat and protein composition. Increased feed intake can improve milk protein by 0.2 to 0.3 units. This increased milk protein percent may be due to overall increases in balanced energy intake as total feed intake increases. High-producing dairy cows should eat 3.6 to 4.0 percent of their body weight daily as dry matter.

Example
1,350-pound cow x 0.04 (4 percent) = 54 pounds of dry matter intake. If the diet is 50 percent dry matter, the cow should eat 108 pounds as fed (54 ÷ 0.50 = 108).

If a herd is consuming less dry matter than 3.5 to 4.0 percent of bodyweight, production of solids-corrected milk may be limited. Major feeding factors that affect feed intake include:

• Feedbunk management (keeping them clean, shaded during hot weather, and having adequate space per cow);
• Feeding frequency and sequence;
• Ration moisture (50 percent moisture or less);
• Social interactions (boss cow problems when heifers and mature cows are mixed together in one group);
• Sudden ration changes; and
• Proper flooring and ventilation.

Increased feeding frequency increases fat test, especially with low fiber, high grain diets. The greatest response is seen for diets with less than 45 percent forage and when grain is fed separately as in parlor feeding. When diets are fed as total mixed rations, feeding frequency is not as important as long as feed remains palatable and is fed at least once daily.

Properly feed concentrates

Properly feeding concentrates primarily involves maintaining proper forage to concentrate ratios and non-fiber carbohydrate (NFC) levels. Non-fiber carbohydrates include starch, sugars and pectin. The level is calculated as: NFC = 100 – (crude protein + neutral detergent fiber + fat + minerals).

Non-fiber carbohydrates should range between 20 and 45 percent. A level of 40 to 45 percent is typical of diets with forage to concentrate ratios of 40 to 60 or less forage. Diets with large amounts of high quality forage and minimal grain may be deficient in non-fiber carbohydrates. Feeding proper non-fiber carbohydrate levels can improve both milk fat and protein test, while overfeeding leads to milk fat depression of one unit or more and often increases milk protein percent by 0.2 to 0.3 unit.

The amount of grain per feeding should be limited to 7 pounds to avoid rumen acidosis, off-feed problems, and reduced fat content of milk. Grain feeding guidelines to maximize milk fat and protein production follow:

Holstein and Brown Swiss

Breeds with high milk solids

Grain should be limited to a maximum of 30 to 35 pounds per cow daily. Manure that contains much undigested corn or with pH less than 6.0 indicates that too much grain, or non-fiber carbohydrates, is being fed improperly.

Grain processing also can influence milk composition. Flaked corn can increase milk protein percent. Oats have decreased milk protein percent by 0.2 unit compared with barley. Generally, rolled or ground barley or flaked corn causes a rapid and severe decrease in milk fat when overfed. Fibrous byproducts such as soybean hulls can replace starchy grains and reduce the severity of milk fat depression. University of Nebraska research indicates that soybean hulls can replace 50-75 percent of the corn in a concentrate mix to maintain normal milk fat test.

Meet fiber requirements

The dairy cow’s fiber requirement consists of fiber level and fiber particle size. Both level and particle size contribute to the effectiveness of a fiber source for stimulating rumination (cud chewing), salivation, and maintaining normal milk fat and protein composition. Minimum acid detergent fiber (ADF) levels required in the ration dry matter are 19-21 percent. Neutral detergent fiber (NDF) should not fall below 26-28 percent. Below these levels, cows risk a low milk fat test, acidosis, lameness, chronic feed intake fluctuations, and poor body condition, especially in early lactation. To assure adequate particle length, forage should not be chopped to less than 3/8 inch theoretical length of cut (TLC). Chopping finer than this may dramatically decrease fat percent and increase milk protein percent by 0.2 to 0.3 units. As with overfeeding non-fiber carbohydrates (starchy concentrates), even though milk protein content increases, the cow and her rumen are not healthy. Feeding inadequate fiber is not recommended for increasing milk protein content. Seventy-five percent of the neutral detergent fiber in a diet should come from long or coarsely chopped forage to fully satisfy the cow’s fiber requirement.

Rations too high in fiber (too low in energy) limit milk protein production because not enough energy is consumed. Generally, 40-50 percent forage dry matter in a ration is the minimum amount to avoid low milk fat test. When feeding 65 percent or more forage, it must be of high quality to avoid energy deficiencies that lower milk protein. For different corn silage and alfalfa haylage mixtures (dry basis), recommended minimum forage dry matter levels are as follows:

Feed adequate protein

Meeting the dairy cow’s requirement for both crude and escape protein is essential to maintaining normal milk protein test. For a 1,300-pound cow producing 4 percent butterfat, crude protein requirements range from 15 percent for 50 pounds of milk to 18 percent for cows producing 110 pounds of milk. For cows in early lactation (90 to 120 days in milk), the level of escape protein should range from 33 to 40 percent. Currently, a precise requirement has not been defined, but having at least 33 percent escape protein (as a percent of crude protein) appears necessary to maintain normal milk protein levels.

Generally, dietary crude protein level affects milk yield but not milk protein percent, unless the diet is deficient in crude protein. For example, a producer may feed his herd a 14.5 percent crude protein ration when the requirement is 16.5 percent. This herd will probably have a low milk protein test. This situation often occurs when poor quality forage is fed and the producer has not tested the forage to properly formulate a grain mix. Also, feeding excessive degradable crude protein, such as urea, can reduce milk protein. Generally, limit urea feeding to cows past 120 days in milk. Urea should make up only 1 to 2 percent of the concentrate mix to maintain palatability, and it works best when mixed well into the diet as with a total mixed ration.

Added fat and milk protein

Supplemental fat feeding has become increasingly common for today’s dairy herds as production levels per cow climb toward 20,000 pounds yearly and higher. It is necessary to follow certain guidelines when feeding fat to avoid a drop in milk protein level of 0.1 to 0.2 unit. If fed properly, added fat usually results in maintained or slightly increased milk fat percent, relatively little change in milk protein test and increased milk production. The net result is that total production of milk protein and solids-not-fat increase.

Generally recommended guidelines for fat feeding are:

Niacin, fed at 6 to 12 grams per day, may correct the milk protein depression seen with high levels of fat feeding. Be certain to limit fat feeding to the first 120 days in milk, balance the ration for non-fiber carbohydrates and crude protein, follow recommended limits for fat sources, feed proper forage levels, and increase calcium concentrations to 0.95 percent of ration dry matter and magnesium concentrations to 0.35 percent of ration dry matter. Higher levels of these two minerals counteract their loss as calcium and magnesium soaps when higher levels of fats are fed.

Summary

Feeding practices proven to maximize solids-corrected milk production include:

• Maintaining a proper fiber level of 26 to 32 percent neutral detergent fiber of adequate particle length;
• Maintaining a proper starch level with 40 to 45 percent NFC maximum;
• Keeping forage to concentrate ratio in line with forage sources;
• Maintaining a proper crude protein of 17 to 18 percent;
• Maintaining a proper escape protein of 33 to 40 percent of crude protein;
• Staying within recommended guidelines for fat feeding; and
• Maximizing intake of a balanced diet.

Table 1 summarizes the feeding practices that influence milk solids. Correctly feeding dairy cows, despite the complexity, is the only way to produce milk with maximum levels of milk fat and protein.

Table 1
Summary of feeding management changes that alter milk solids production

¹NFC = nonfiber carbohydrates.
²Low dietary fiber, high non-fiber carbohydrates, small forage panicle length and low forage levels all may increase milk protein percent and greatly reduce milk fat test. These are not desirable ways to improve milk solids-not-fat. These feeding practices cause acidosis, lameness and feed intake fluctuations. The cow is not healthy.
³Less than 15 percent of particles greater than 2 inches indicates inadequate particle length.

Feeding strategies for profitable dairying

Optimizing milk production and reproduction are imperative for sustainable dairy farming. This can be achieved through the adoption of scientific feeding practices. Interventions pertaining to ‘Feed and Fodder’ can play a pivotal role in making dairying more remunerative to the milk producers in both, the short term as well as the long-term situations.
These interventions need to be targeted towards the achievement of the following: maximizing milk output at every stage of lactation, optimizing feeding cost, achieving the desired ‘age at sexual maturity’, maintaining reproductive efficiency throughout the productive life of the animal and maintenance of health and immunity in the face of metabolic stress and challenges by pathogens.

1.0: Feeding strategies for maximizing milk output during the lactation period
In the production cycle of a dairy animal, a 100 day period of critical importance exists. This period begins 30 days prior to calving and continues up to 70 days post-calving. During this period, it is vital to ensure the birth of a healthy calf, maintain the health of the dam without any incidence of metabolic disorders during the transition period, achieve peak milk production in line with the genetic potential, prevent excessive loss of ‘Body Condition’ as well as achieve high fertility at first breeding.
1.1: Feeding of specially formulated ‘pregnancy feed’ to the dams
During the final weeks of gestation, the nutrient requirement of the dam increases and this is accompanied by a simultaneous decline in appetite as well as rumen capacity, leading to low feed intake. It is therefore important to supplement specifically formulated nutrient-rich feed to the animal, to fulfill its energy demand and prevent metabolic disorders such as ketosis and milk fever and at the same time minimize the incidence of retained foetal membranes, metritis and mastitis post-calving.
NDDB has formulated a specific ‘pregnancy feed’ to fulfill these requirements. This feed is being manufactured and supplied to the dairy farmers by the milk federations/unions in Punjab, Gujarat, and Karnataka with the active support and guidance of NDDB. In dams receiving pregnancy feed, the birth weight of the calf born was 24% higher and the calf mortality rate was 50% lower in comparison to the control group animals.
1.2: Feeding of specially formulated ‘early lactation feed’ up to 70-90 days post-calving
The amount of milk produced during the total lactation depends primarily on the milk yield during the early lactation as also the attainment of the peak yield commensurate to the animal’s genetic potential.
During this early lactation phase, the milk yield increases more rapidly than the feed intake and the animal starts mobilizing body reserves to meet the energy requirements. Mobilization of body reserves, though normal, should be gradual and not more than 0.5 kg/day. Higher loss of body weight may lead to metabolic disorders resulting in long-term impact on production and reproduction.
In addition to the supplementation of specifically formulated ‘early lactation feed’ to the animals the maintenance of the concentrate to roughage ratio at 50:50 and the adoption of ‘challenge feeding’ are other recommended practices during the early lactation phase.
2.0: Adoption of ‘Strategic Animal Nutrition Plan’ for optimizing the cost of feeding
The strategic use of green fodder – comprising the right mix of legume and cereal fodders – in combination with locally available concentrate materials/ cattle feed along with the usage of the right feed supplements can maximize productivity from animals while optimizing production costs.

In line with this approach, NDDB has mooted the ‘Strategic Animal Nutrition Plan’ and the same has been adopted by some milk unions. Elements of this plan comprise the evaluation of nutrient requirements of animals in each physiological stage, assessment of the availability and price of key raw materials, planned green fodder cultivation, fodder conservation in the form of silage/hay and finally optimization of the dairy animals’ rations by using Least Cost Ration Formulation software (which incidentally is available free of cost in the e-Gopala App and can be downloaded from Google Play Store).
This plan is to be revised every quarter by the Animal Nutritionists at the level of the milk union and communicated to the dairy farmers in the form of a ‘ready reckoner’.
In those areas wherein the ‘Strategic Animal Nutrition Plan’ has been implemented, the cost of production was reduced by about 8% with a commensurate increase in milk yield by about 12%. The table below details an example of such a plan implemented in the state of Bihar.
Conservation of green fodder in the form of silage
The non-availability of green fodder, particularly during summer, increases the cost of feeding and also hampers animal productivity. It is therefore important to conserve green fodder during seasons of surplus to ensure regular supply during lean periods.
NDDB has been rendering continual support to dairy farmers and milk unions in all aspects of silage making. Various models of silage making – small scale, medium scale, and large scale with capacities of 5 Metric Tons per day (MTPD), 16 MTPD and 100 MTPD respectively – have been designed for the benefit of farmer entrepreneurs, milk unions, etc.
Strategic use of feed supplements to address physiological and climate-related challenges faced by milch animals
i. Feed supplement for improving Fat and SNF content in milk
Fat and SNF content in milk directly impacts the price realization by the dairy farmers. Fat and SNF content of milk depends on many factors such as species of the animal, breed, lactation stage, season, milking practices, and nutrition. Nutritional factors affecting fat / SNF content in milk are: imbalanced feeding, feeding energy-deficient rations, low Body Condition Score (BCS), improper rumen function, excessive concentrate feeding, improper roughage to concentrate ratio, deficiencies of minerals, etc.
Several feeding strategies can be adopted for improving the fat and SNF content in milk. These include (but are not limited to) the maintenance of an appropriate roughage-concentrate ratio, supplementation of appropriate additives as well as the avoidance of Negative Energy Balance.
NDDB has designed a specific feed supplement for the improvement of fat/SNF in milk. Studies have shown an average 7.2-9.6% increase in fat and a 1.8-2.4% increase in SNF when this supplement was fed to cows. Similarly, an average 2.4-3.7% increase in fat and 1.6-1.8% increase in SNF in buffaloes was observed.
ii. Feed supplement for mitigating ‘heat stress’ in cattle and buffaloes
‘Heat Stress’ is a common occurrence in most parts of India. Dairy cattle start experiencing heat stress at a Temperature Humidity Index (THI) of 72 and above. Beginning in the month of April and extending up to September moderate (72 THI) to severe heat stress (85 THI) has been reported in most states in India.
Heat stress can lead to substantial economic losses for farmers owing to reduced milk production – by up to 20% – in the immediate term and sub-optimal fertility in the medium term.
‘Heat stress’ can be mitigated by nutritional and management strategies. Supplementation of appropriate nutrients/additives can reduce the negative effect of heat stress on animals and stabilize the income of dairy farmers during the summer months.
NDDB has developed a specific feed supplement for mitigating ‘Heat Stress’ which has been widely appreciated. Many milk unions have taken up the production of this supplement with NDDB’s support and are supplying the same to their pourer members during the summer months.
3.0: Feeding management of calves to address the issue of high ‘Age at First Heat’ and ‘Age at First Calving’
One of the important aspects of profitable dairying is the regular ‘replacement’ of low productive/ unproductive animals with high producing animals. It is recommended that dairy farmers raise their own replacement animals rather than procure from outside to enable accurate assessment of milk yielding potential and mitigate the disease burden.
A properly managed program for the rearing of calves on the farm can reduce mortality rates in new born calves, reduce the ‘age at sexual maturity and ensure the desired ‘Age at First Calving (AFC)’.
NDDB’s scientifically designed ‘Calf Rearing Programme’ (CRP) has been operational in three states of India for more than four years and covers both indigenous cow breeds, cross-bred cows, and buffaloes.
Calves reared under this program have recorded higher birth weights and higher daily growth rates than animals in the control group. The ‘age at first calving’ in such calves were 31 months in Kankrej cows, 29 months in Murrah buffaloes and 24 months in Crossbreds.
4.0: Real-time monitoring of critical parameters in animal nutrition for profitable dairying
Real-time monitoring of parameters such as feed intake, fat and protein content in milk, feed residue in a manger, BCS, and dung score enable the dairy farmer to evaluate the rations being fed and take up corrective actions expeditiously to maintain the desired levels of milk production and milk quality.
Farmers could start recording the feed intakes and BCS of animals and juxtapose the same with data pertaining to milk / fat yields, ration composition, etc using simple spreadsheets. Analysis of this data could throw light on the causal factors for many a problem facing the farmers and enable appropriate remedial action.
The 21st-century dairy farmer is faced with both challenges and opportunities. There is ample scope to improve the profitability of dairying if the methods and techniques listed above are adopted by the dairy farmers.

Compiled  & Shared by- This paper is a compilation of groupwork provided by the

Team, LITD (Livestock Institute of Training & Development)

 Image-Courtesy-Google

 Reference-On Request.

PRODUCTION AND MANAGEMENT OF CATTLE

PRODUCTION AND MANAGEMENT OF CATTLE

STRATEGIES TO INCREASE FAT & SNF % OF COW MILK IN INDIA

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