High yielding dry cow diet?????

Spear

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
North Devon
When you say DA’s are you talking L or R. Big difference.

We’ve had major problems in the past with both at different times.

Head vets and nutritionists couldn’t find out what was causing them.

Do the same thing the following year everything was fine.

Really annoying thing is do to lack of space because of Tb, this year the dry cows haven’t had a “proper” dry cow diet and fingers crossed this has been one of the best years for calving we’ve had in ages. Milking well, not over bagging before calving, easy calving, no retained cleansings or DA’s. Had one case of MF and that was before she calved.

So god knows what the answer is ?
 

Milkcow365

Member
Location
Sw Scotland
When you say DA’s are you talking L or R. Big difference.

We’ve had major problems in the past with both at different times.

Head vets and nutritionists couldn’t find out what was causing them.

Do the same thing the following year everything was fine.

Really annoying thing is do to lack of space because of Tb, this year the dry cows haven’t had a “proper” dry cow diet and fingers crossed this has been one of the best years for calving we’ve had in ages. Milking well, not over bagging before calving, easy calving, no retained cleansings or DA’s. Had one case of MF and that was before she calved.

So god knows what the answer is ?
My biggest issues are over bagging and then metritis annoying as all cows cleanse at point of calving but to many still come back dirty
 

In the pit

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Pembrokeshire
What I've been told about dry cows is they need feed in front of them 24/7 and should never run out ,yet there's people on here letting them run out off feed for a few hours before being fed again
 
Location
East Mids
For people with no grass silage in n the DC ration but grass silage in the miling ration, is there bit a concern of the rumen bugs not being used to the grass silage as they come into milk?
We used to transition them with some silage with that in mind, but now don't bother, they go from ad lib hay dry ration to ad lib silage milking ration within 24 hours. Blame Gordie Jones, but we've had no problems, but ours are 8,500l not 10,000l.
 

Blue.

Member
Livestock Farmer
Thanks for the replies and pms,was going to reply individually but way to many.?

Well...

I need to run two groups far off and near.

I need a dry cow silage or my other option would possibly be buy in some maize silage but then will I have problems as the milk diet won’t have maize?

I’ve a very high stocking rate so growing my own dry cow silage isn’t going to happen,as suggested I could rent some sheep ground just for the silage,might be an option.

Da in a fleck heifer mid summer so I’m not convinced it’s breed type,also have another heifer suspect but she had twins last week.

Interesting about adding water to the diet,I think I’m possibly getting variables as my chopped straw is outside so regular gets wet,I’m now chopping twice a week due to finding it going mouldy if left for a week.
 

pine_guy

Member
Location
North Cumbria
We used to transition them with some silage with that in mind, but now don't bother, they go from ad lib hay dry ration to ad lib silage milking ration within 24 hours. Blame Gordie Jones, but we've had no problems, but ours are 8,500l not 10,000l.
Hay to silage is not going to be as big an alteration in rumen bugs as straw to silage surely?
 

dinderleat

Member
Location
Wells
Thanks for the replies and pms,was going to reply individually but way to many.[emoji846]

Well...

I need to run two groups far off and near.

I need a dry cow silage or my other option would possibly be buy in some maize silage but then will I have problems as the milk diet won’t have maize?

I’ve a very high stocking rate so growing my own dry cow silage isn’t going to happen,as suggested I could rent some sheep ground just for the silage,might be an option.

Da in a fleck heifer mid summer so I’m not convinced it’s breed type,also have another heifer suspect but she had twins last week.

Interesting about adding water to the diet,I think I’m possibly getting variables as my chopped straw is outside so regular gets wet,I’m now chopping twice a week due to finding it going mouldy if left for a week.

I think that’s probably your main issue mouldy straw will reduce intakes when its at a crucial time for cows pre calving.
 

pappuller

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
M6 Hard shoulder
Thanks for the replies and pms,was going to reply individually but way to many.[emoji846]

Well...

I need to run two groups far off and near.

I need a dry cow silage or my other option would possibly be buy in some maize silage but then will I have problems as the milk diet won’t have maize?

I’ve a very high stocking rate so growing my own dry cow silage isn’t going to happen,as suggested I could rent some sheep ground just for the silage,might be an option.

Da in a fleck heifer mid summer so I’m not convinced it’s breed type,also have another heifer suspect but she had twins last week.

Interesting about adding water to the diet,I think I’m possibly getting variables as my chopped straw is outside so regular gets wet,I’m now chopping twice a week due to finding it going mouldy if left for a week.
We stored some ground straw outside once, we didn't do it a second time
 

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Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

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As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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