How the lactating cows see high-forage
Published on 29/09/2016
Advances in forage genetics, harvesting, ensiling, management practices and forage analysis – in addition to dynamic ration-balancing software – have allowed dairy farms to progressively feed increasing amounts of forage to their lactating cows.
High-forage, lactating cow rations are typically defined as those containing more than 55 percent forage in the total mixed ration (TMR) or more than 25 percent forage neutral detergent fibre on a dry matter (DM) basis.
It is common practice for today’s TMRs to contain two-thirds of their forage DM from corn silage, either BMR, conventional or a combination of the two types of hybrids.