Winter nutrition strategies for dairy performance and herd health

Advice for dairy farmers

With most grass silages this year being 10% to 13% protein, the concentrate required to complement this grass silage for heifers
should be  19-20% protein if fed at the typical 1.5 to 2 kilos per head per day.

We had excellent grazing conditions this autumn; unfortunately, the winter has come in very quickly, with ground conditions making it very difficult to extend the grazing season much longer for the vast majority of the country.

It is always worth remembering at this time of year, as dairy herds go indoors, there are four main nutrition building blocks.