DAIRY CATTLE HERD HEALTH Lesson 2 Preventing Treating

DAIRY CATTLE HERD HEALTH Lesson 2: Preventing, Treating, and Feeding

What is Nutrition? Nutrition is obtaining food or nutrients for proper growth and development.

Classes of Nutrients fats/oils oxygen Carbohydrates Water Protein Vitamins Minerals

Examples of Nutrients in a diet Protein soybean meal Fats/lipids tallow/lard Carbohydrates corn Vitamins A, D, E, K Minerals iron, selenium, cobalt, Manganese

Balanced Diet You can only be as productive as your most limiting nutrients. Critical for: � � � maximum dry matter intake good health increased reproductive efficiency optimum milk production Body condition score

Nutrient Requirements during in life stage Calves need high energy and high protein diets to help with growth Heifers need just enough to help them grow skeletally but not enough to start putting on fat. They need to maintain a good body condition score for when it is time to be bred. Lactating cows need more energy in the beginning to be able to produce at efficient levels, after 6 -8 week this can be reduced. Later lactation does not need as much energy because milking amount has started to decrease. You still want to feed enough to keep them health for re breeding.

Total Mixed Rations (TMR) A TMR provides greater accuracy in formulation and feeding if managed properly. Greater variety of byproduct feeds more cost efficient increase in feed utilization Dairy cattle can be very picky, this type of feeding will prevent them from sorting their feed because of how well it is mixed. Feed will be more palatable

Importance of Forage in the Diet Ruminate animals need forages for their stomach compartment to properly function, buffers to reduce the effects of the acid produced in the rumen. Enhances gut action Cheaper than concentrate's in diets

Digestion understanding the flow of feeds

Balanced Diets Matter If feed is not meeting the requirements this can lead to many metabolic disorders in cattle. Causing them to be sick, or not eat like they should be.