Does extra feeding of cows during winter and early spring pay?

Abstract

The effect of winter and spring feeding on milk production was investigated on a Mid-Canterbury dairy farm. High feeding of Friesian/Jersey cows to gain 64kg of liveweight during winter resulted in an extra 20kg of milkfat and 15 kg of milk protein production compared with feeding to maintain empty body liveweight. Extra feeding of cows during the first 8 weeks of lactation produced 7 kg of milkfat and 6 kg of milk protein over that period. The carry-over effect from this for the next 22 weeks of lactation of normal feeding was an extra 11 kg of milkfat and 5 kg of milk protein per cow. Simple financial analysis showed that off-farm wintering of cows to either maintain or gain liveweight and consequent high spring feeding were profitable options returning $40-42 per cow after extra grazing and topping costs. Keywords: winter, spring, feeding, milkfat,milk. protein, production