FIRST 100 DAYS RESOURCES
The Dairy Feedbase research project, First 100 days, has identified better ways of feeding cows during the first 100 days of lactation through supplementation. The first 100 days after calving is an important time for the dairy cow. During this period the cow is required to produce a lot of milk, to achieve this, cows need to increase their feed intake very quickly after calving to avoid health problems. The significant challenge is how to do this profitably. By optimising nutrition soon after calving with strategic and targeted supplement feeding, cows can have more successful and productive lactation.
SMART FEEDING RESOURCES
The Dairy Feedbase research project, Smart feeding, has uncovered new approaches to pasture management with strategies to help optimise nutrient intake in pasture-based dairy farm systems and to increase average herd milk production. These strategies aim to increase milk production from the same amount of available feed. Dairy cows managed in pasture-based systems can spend several hours away from pasture each day walking to and from the dairy and waiting at the dairy to be milked. This can result in a significant disparity in pasture intake of cows within a herd leading to differences in milk production. The goal is to support dairy farmers with new strategies to help balance the nutrient intake of the herd irrespective of milking order- all without increasing total feed requirements. These strategies will result in more accurate allocation of pasture and supplementary feed leading to efficient distribution of on-farm feed resources.
FEEDING COOL COWS RESOURCES
The Dairy Feedbase research project, 'Feeding Cool Cows', has researched ways the Australian dairy industry can tackle hot weather challenges, focusing on improving animal nutrition. The main goal was to develop practical and cost-effective summer feeding strategies that minimize the negative impacts of heat stress on dairy farm productivity. Improving their nutrition can help cows stay cooler, more comfortable and productive even during hot weather.