Valuable autumn milk from well-fed cows
Milk yields have been left drop too far in many herds, due to inadequate supplementation, and it will be difficult to get decent autumn milk yields in these herds.
Some similar farms where 2kg to 3kg of concentrates was fed, with perhaps some good quality baled silage, maintained yields over four gallons. In fact, I am aware of some top-performing spring calving herds that were fed 4kg of concentrates and 5kg (dry matter) of good quality baled silage, with a fairly tight supply of grass, which had herd yields of almost five gallons (22 litre) with butterfat of 4.2% and protein of 3.6% in mid-September, and continued with more than four gallons into October. These are herds with well bred Holstein x British or New Zealand Friesian.
The average calving pattern in spring calving herds is so late that it is essential to have high autumn yields to attain a satisfactory lactation yield of at least 1,300 gallons.
If milk quota allows, spring calving dairy herds should receive 2 to 4 kg concentrates for the remainder of the autumn. If grass is scarce, it is important to feed some good quality silage, rather than go too high with concentrates, except for autumn calvers. High autumn milk yields are very desirable, because the solids are high, and it shortens the winter dry feeding period. A lot of farmers are put off feeding adequate concentrates in autumn by misleading advice.
There is a great response to autumn supplementation with concentrates, especially if grass quality or grazing conditions are less than the optimum. On average, 3.5kg of concentrates, costing 80 cent, should give up to one gallon of milk worth about €1.70. The response will be greatest in herds bred for high production. Moorepark trials indicate the response to concentrates is almost twice as high for cows with a high EBI for production, compared to cows with a low EBI. As autumn progresses, the response to concentrates will increase. If milk yields have been allowed to drop too low, the response to concentrates will be lower.
At this stage of the autumn, rotations should be about 35 days, and you should be on the final rotation. There is no point saving up too much grass on wet farms. As silage reduces the milk protein percentage, it should not be introduced to the diet until grass gets scarce, and if more than 4kg of concentrates is required.
nBody Condition:In addition to extra milk and protein, late lactation concentrates are used efficiently by most cows for maintaining body condition. Very high-yielding but thin cows with high EBI for production, especially heifers, may have to be dried off before putting on condition.
Concentrates for autumn feed should be high in digestible fibre and contain adequate minerals, especially magnesium, because grass tetany poses a serious threat. Cereals with autumn grass are not very efficient for milk production, and should be limited to 50%, but are excellent in dairy rations for feeding with silage. Because cereals are relatively expensive this year, autumn rations have got very expensive, but are good value where necessary. If cows are in poor condition, higher levels of cereals should be used, to promote condition rather than milk.
Appropriate body condition at drying off is vital. All farmers should body condition their cows a few times in the autumn. Ideally, all cows should have a score of 3 to 3.25 from drying off until calving. To achieve this score, young animals and some high yielders may need extra concentrates, or earlier drying off. First lactation and thin cows should be dried off first and allowed to put on condition before the winter.
