With harvest season complete, it’s the perfect time to assess feed inventory and fine-tune your feeding program.
A study by Alex Bach in Spain found that over 50% of performance differences among 47 herds fed identical total mixed ration (TMR) were unrelated to diet composition, underscoring the critical role of on-farm management and cow observation.
Here are practical, cost-effective strategies to optimize dairy cow rations.
Routine forage moisture testing
Forage moisture content directly impacts ration consistency and nutrient balance. Regular testing helps farmers adjust feed quantities and maintain optimal rations.
Frequent testing is especially critical for silage stored in varying conditions, such as hay silage from multiple fields and stored in bags. Aim to test hay silage moisture weekly and corn silage monthly. Adjust rations when moisture levels deviate by more than 4% from expected values.
You can use a microwave, Koster tester or food dehydrator to measure forage moisture levels.
TMR particle size and eating behavior
Observing the bunk after feeding provides valuable insights into feed mixing and cow behavior. Check for consistency along the bunk. Uneven distribution of ingredients or clumps of poorly processed hay indicates mixing issues.
Watch cows as they eat. Sorting behavior—where cows sift through feed to consume grain while leaving forage—can lead to imbalanced nutrition.
To evaluate sorting, use a Penn State shaker box to measure TMR particle size. Sample the feed at delivery, a few hours after feeding, and again before the next feeding. A difference of more than 10% in particle size distribution over time suggests significant sorting.
To minimize sorting
- Process hay so particles are 1-2 inches long.
- Ensure the TMR contains enough moisture to bind ingredients.
- Add liquid feed binders, push up feed more frequently, or offer multiple daily feedings.
A simple trick to assess additive distribution is to mix colorful candies like jellybeans with feed additives or minerals. If the candies aren’t evenly distributed, adjustments in mixing are needed.
Manure scoring and analysis
Manure provides clues about rumen health, feed digestibility and nutrient absorption. Pay attention to its color, consistency and content.
Color
Dark brown is typical for cows on TMR diets. Unusual colors may indicate health issues. For instance, red or dark black manure may suggest the presence of blood, while mucus can indicate intestinal inflammation or acidosis.
Consistency
Manure consistency reflects fiber intake and digestion. Score manure on a scale of 1 to 5.
- A score of 3 (porridge-like consistency, stacking 1-2 inches) is ideal for lactating cows.
- A watery consistency (1-2) may suggest low fiber intake, toxins or rapid feed passage.
- Firm manure (4-5) could indicate low water intake or excessive sorting.
Foamy manure
Foam with gas bubbles signals excessive intestinal fermentation, often caused by acidosis, low fiber intake or poor grain digestion.
Manure washing
Manure washing helps identify feed digestion inefficiencies.
- Place a cup of fresh manure in a screen or colander (6-8 mesh size).
- Wash the manure under running water, removing digested material until the water runs clear.
- Examine the residue for undigested feed particles:
- Whole grains or seeds suggest inadequate feed processing or poor digestion.
- Large forage particles (bigger than ½ inch) indicate insufficient effective fiber intake or rapid rumen feed passage.
- Look for mucin casts, which are tissue fragments from the large intestine. These suggest inflammation or chronic acidosis.
Monitor cud chewing
Healthy cows chew their cud as part of the rumination process that maintains rumen function and fiber digestion. Typically, at least 50 percent of cows lying down in the barn should be actively chewing cud. Lower percentages may indicate suboptimal fiber intake or feeding practices.
Track milk components
Milk composition provides another valuable indicator of ration performance. Many Holstein herds now average around over 4 percent milk fat. A drop in milk fat often signals acidosis or insufficient fiber digestion. Large rapid changes in milk protein can also indicate dietary imbalances that need to be addressed.
Body condition and locomotion scores
Evaluate body condition scores across different lactation stages to ensure cows are maintaining optimal body condition.
Assess locomotion scores to identify early signs of lameness, which can impact feeding behavior and milk production.
Improve both animal welfare and your bottom line
Using these tools and observations regularly can improve your understanding of how well your rations are working. Identify and address problems early by listening to what the cows are “saying” through their behavior, manure and production metrics.
Incorporating small changes—such as routine forage moisture testing, adjusting TMR processing, or using a shaker box—can have a significant impact on herd health and productivity. These minimal-cost practices empower farmers to create more consistent and effective feeding programs, ultimately improving both animal welfare and profitability.
