Same cow, different year: Why early feeding still matters even when times are tight

It is never the cow’s fault if we get bad weather at the wrong time. She has no influence on input costs, nor does she set the milk price, warns independent ruminant nutritionist Brian Reidy

You should endeavour to feed your herd to its genetic potential, and this must be done with as much accuracy as possible, advises independent ruminant nutritionist Brian Reidy.

I wrote recently about getting dairy cows off to the best possible start to their lactation. This should be a given in any year, no matter what the milk price is or how much inputs are costing. 

We must all watch costs in any livestock production system and, even in an excellent milk price year, unnecessary spending should be avoided. Moreover, when milk price is less than ideal, it is even more important to get cows milking well once calved and still indoors.