Balancing a maize heavy ration

[Headless chicken]

We’re having some issues currently with cow performance being pretty poor and not consistent. Had a meeting with nutritionist and we’ve played around with some things and hopefully things will improve.
Discussed with vets who also have a nutritionist and run the same program as far as I’m aware as mine.

the suggested ration from vets is vastly different to what we currently feed and from what I’ve always understood about balancing maize. so curious to see how/what others are doing in terms of protein in a maize heavy ration.

to give some context. Current ration would call for 10kg of 18% blend + 120g of optigen. 50/50 mix of maize and silage

Vet suggested is to drop 2-3kg of blend, remove optigen add straw and a I think 45/55 maize to silage. They believe acidosis is the issue.

if anything with dung consistency currently it’s too stiff.

 

[Milkcow365]

We’re having some issues currently with cow performance being pretty poor and not consistent. Had a meeting with nutritionist and we’ve played around with some things and hopefully things will improve.
Discussed with vets who also have a nutritionist and run the same program as far as I’m aware as mine.

the suggested ration from vets is vastly different to what we currently feed and from what I’ve always understood about balancing maize. so curious to see how/what others are doing in terms of protein in a maize heavy ration.

to give some context. Current ration would call for 10kg of 18% blend + 120g of optigen. 50/50 mix of maize and silage

Vet suggested is to drop 2-3kg of blend, remove optigen add straw and a I think 45/55 maize to silage. They believe acidosis is the issue.

if anything with dung consistency currently it’s too stiff.

What yield you aiming for. 10kg plus 120g of optigen is like 12kg concentrates.

 

[Jdunn55]

We’re having some issues currently with cow performance being pretty poor and not consistent. Had a meeting with nutritionist and we’ve played around with some things and hopefully things will improve.
Discussed with vets who also have a nutritionist and run the same program as far as I’m aware as mine.

the suggested ration from vets is vastly different to what we currently feed and from what I’ve always understood about balancing maize. so curious to see how/what others are doing in terms of protein in a maize heavy ration.

to give some context. Current ration would call for 10kg of 18% blend + 120g of optigen. 50/50 mix of maize and silage

Vet suggested is to drop 2-3kg of blend, remove optigen add straw and a I think 45/55 maize to silage. They believe acidosis is the issue.

if anything with dung consistency currently it’s too stiff.

Are they having anything else regarding concentrates?

Vets are suggesting to remove 40me worth of blend and add back in 5-6me of straw. I can't see how that's going to increase yields...

I'm currently feeding 10kg of 24% CP 14.5me blend and 4kg rolled wheat and no signs of acidosis.

My dung is solid enough to build a feckin house with and when it doesn't rain I'm stacking it because it's too solid. I really would like them a bit looser tbh

 

[Milkcow365]

Are they having anything else regarding concentrates?

Vets are suggesting to remove 40me worth of blend and add back in 5-6me of straw. I can't see how that's going to increase yields...

I'm currently feeding 10kg of 24% CP 14.5me blend and 4kg rolled wheat and no signs of acidosis.

My dung is solid enough to build a feckin house with and when it doesn't rain I'm stacking it because it's too solid. I really would like them a bit looser tbh

Jeeze Louise.

 

[Headless chicken]

What yield you aiming for. 10kg plus 120g of optigen is like 12kg concentrates.

35l @ 3.6 and 4.6

but not getting near that I should add!

 

[Headless chicken]

Are they having anything else regarding concentrates?

Vets are suggesting to remove 40me worth of blend and add back in 5-6me of straw. I can't see how that's going to increase yields...

I'm currently feeding 10kg of 24% CP 14.5me blend and 4kg rolled wheat and no signs of acidosis.

My dung is solid enough to build a feckin house with and when it doesn't rain I'm stacking it because it's too solid. I really would like them a bit looser tbh

No that would be total.

 

[livestock 1]

Maize might have lost its bypass starch

 

[Martyn]

Are they having anything else regarding concentrates?

Vets are suggesting to remove 40me worth of blend and add back in 5-6me of straw. I can't see how that's going to increase yields...

I'm currently feeding 10kg of 24% CP 14.5me blend and 4kg rolled wheat and no signs of acidosis.

My dung is solid enough to build a feckin house with and when it doesn't rain I'm stacking it because it's too solid. I really would like them a bit looser tbh

Your feeding that the frisians? The whole point of the breed is to be breed quality calf’s, give a respectable yield and last forever, ours would go bang on that diet or be big bag of fat🫣

 

[daveydiesel1]

Why not add in some soya or rape to increase protien

 

[TomB]

i wouldn’t say 50/50 maize grass is maize heavy? Not sure what optigen is? Presumably expensive. What is the overall diet protein? Thinking the blend needs to be more than 18%

 

[In the pit]

What’s your ureas

 

[Werzle]

We’re having some issues currently with cow performance being pretty poor and not consistent. Had a meeting with nutritionist and we’ve played around with some things and hopefully things will improve.
Discussed with vets who also have a nutritionist and run the same program as far as I’m aware as mine.

the suggested ration from vets is vastly different to what we currently feed and from what I’ve always understood about balancing maize. so curious to see how/what others are doing in terms of protein in a maize heavy ration.

to give some context. Current ration would call for 10kg of 18% blend + 120g of optigen. 50/50 mix of maize and silage

Vet suggested is to drop 2-3kg of blend, remove optigen add straw and a I think 45/55 maize to silage. They believe acidosis is the issue.

if anything with dung consistency currently it’s too stiff.

Strange the dung being stiff on that diet and causing acidosis. A lot feed three times more maize to grass silage. Straw is great for rumen function but only if its chopped to about an inch in length. You sure there getting enough water? Perhaps the diet wants abit of moisture added

 

[Headless chicken]

Why not add in some soya or gluten to increase protien

can’t feed soya due to contract stipulations but this is what the optigen is meant to replace.

i wouldn’t say 50/50 maize grass is maize heavy? Not sure what optigen is? Presumably expensive. What is the overall diet protein? Thinking the blend needs to be more than 18%

Optigen is a fat coated urea, on the maths it comes out as cheaper than feeding more rapemeal. I believe diet is coming out at 17%. Could be wrong. We were on a 21 OOP and 15 in. Changed to an 18 all round can’t remember why but little change

What’s your ureas

25ish. It has been up at 30 but the dung was still like camel turds

Strange the dung being stiff on that diet and causing acidosis. A lot feed three times more maize to grass silage. Straw is great for rumen function but only if it’s chopped to about an inch in length. You sure there getting enough water? Perhaps the diet wants abit of moisture added

We sieved a load a dung with the nutritionist and we saw no sign of acidosis. If anything we’d say there was too much undigested fibre which would suggest lack of protein in the diet.
vets suggesting that’s why they’re not milking because they’re are trying to get rid of spare protein.

loads of water space available for them, all pretty clean, no mad rush for water. Ration is actually pretty wet tbh. Grass silage 24/25%DM


too me everything would suggest a lack of protein. Stiff sh!t, cows a little sluggish but very content. They seem to have lost their inquisitivey though the last month or so. Normally you go in the shed and you can’t move without having a mob of cows on you. Now they all just stay ley down cudding. Good if we’ve just got shed right. Terrible if we were lacking in energy.

 

[DairyNerd]

What's the fibre and energy levels in your grass and maize silage?

 

[Werzle]

can’t feed soya due to contract stipulations but this is what the optigen is meant to replace.

Optigen is a fat coated urea, on the maths it comes out as cheaper than feeding more rapemeal. I believe diet is coming out at 17%. Could be wrong. We were on a 21 OOP and 15 in. Changed to an 18 all round can’t remember why but little change

25ish. It has been up at 30 but the dung was still like camel turds

We sieved a load a dung with the nutritionist and we saw no sign of acidosis. If anything we’d say there was too much undigested fibre which would suggest lack of protein in the diet.
vets suggesting that’s why they’re not milking because they’re are trying to get rid of spare protein.

loads of water space available for them, all pretty clean, no mad rush for water. Ration is actually pretty wet tbh. Grass silage 24/25%DM


too me everything would suggest a lack of protein. Stiff sh!t, cows a little sluggish but very content. They seem to have lost their inquisitivey though the last month or so. Normally you go in the shed and you can’t move without having a mob of cows on you. Now they all just stay ley down cudding. Good if we’ve just got shed right. Terrible if we were lacking in energy.

Go with your gut feeling if i was you, you no your cows.

 

[Wesley]

When you find the answer can you let me know please. We’re similar & lost a lot of milk recently. I’ve got in my head it’s a protein issue (lack of). I think the analyses want throwing in the hedge this year.

 

[daveydiesel1]

When you find the answer can you let me know please. We’re similar & lost a lot of milk recently. I’ve got in my head it’s a protein issue (lack of). I think the analyses want throwing in the hedge this year.

The dung is a good guide for protien

 

[livestock 1]

Bypass starch dropping will increase acidosis reduce protein levels and milk yield

 

[ollie989898]

Really stiff dung and undigested fibre my first thought would be a lack of crude protein but your ureas will be the tell-tale of that.

Are these grass silages the issue- a dodgy season and it would explain a number of herds regionally or even nationally not milking as they should.

Cows losing a lot of weight very quickly and going into symptoms of metabolic health issues would be an indicator you don't have enough energy but this isn't happening here?

 

[Headless chicken]

Bypass starch dropping will increase acidosis reduce protein levels and milk yield

Interesting….,, we had a blip when we got rid of the starlings and the dung became very stiff. I put this down to the starlings pinching all the starch from the mix. Thus getting rid of them meaning more available and stiff dung.