Welcome to Nutrition Fundamentals Online designed to give
you essential knowledge for optimising dairy cow nutrition. This course covers
a range of topics essential for ensuring the health and productivity of dairy
herds.
Throughout this course, you will delve into the basic
principles of dairy cow nutrition, understanding the unique dietary needs of
cows at different life stages—from lactating cows to dry cows and growing
heifers. You will explore the critical role of water in dairy production, the
importance of a balanced diet, and the specifics of nutrient requirements that
support optimal milk production and cow wellbeing.
Key sections include analyses of feed types, the
significance of forage quality, and the use of supplements and additives to
enhance dietary efficiency. Insights into feed budgeting and cost-effective
feeding strategies will enable you to make informed decisions about farm
profitability and sustainability.
Interactive tools and calculative exercises will help
consolidate learning, allowing you to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world
scenarios. By the end of this course, you will not only understand the components of
effective dairy cow diets but also have an introductory ability to know what
needs to be adjusted in these diets to meet the specific needs of a herd.
By the end of this online course, you should be able to:
be knowledgeable on basic concepts in ruminant digestion and rumen health.
analyse the dietary needs of dairy cows at various life stages, emphasising the importance of balanced nutrition for health, reproduction, and milk production.
interpret nutritional content and quality of different types of feed, including forages, concentrates, and supplements, to formulate balanced diets.
calculate the water and nutrient requirements of dairy cows at different stages of lactation.
understand factors affecting feed intake including effects of environmental conditions and feed quality to ensure optimal intake.
develop and adjust feeding strategies to enhance dairy cow health and milk production efficiency, integrating practical knowledge of feed budgeting and cost-effective feeding practices.
assess cow health in the field and relate to rumen health and cow nutrition.
to use worksheets to calculate energy, protein and NDF requirements of dairy cows, interpret feed tests and balance a basic diet for lactating or dry cows.
