Pre calving dry cow diet

[farmer JD]

Why this route of feeding dcab ( or partial ) plus feeding a Calcium binder ?
The Calcium binder is a modern day twist on the older methods of restricting calcium in the diet, in the pre calving period.
Dcab is a way of allowing the cow to have calcium in her diet pre calving, but adapting her metabolism to cope when she calves.
If you feed dcab without sufficient calcium you will get problems associated with milk fever / sub clinical milk fever. Up to, and including milk fever like you wouldn't believe.

My guess would be your issues up to now have been you are using two opposing systems in the same ration.
Take out one or the other. Good luck.

Ok clay and married 2 the mob tell me straight what you two would feed along side the haylage ad lib , the haylage is nice quality and dry like hay the cows like it , I have 3 tonne dry cow rolls in yard to use up, I have about 60 to calve in next 30 days , tell me straight ? I'm going to get the haylage, mineral tested, at moment as of Saturday I have been feeding 2.5 kg dry cow nut from forfarmers with calcium binder in ,I think it's zeolite , and 1 kg of Milker's blend which has no minerals in ,and mag chloride in water , and some use blouses at drying off , what's your opinion , I have done nothing yet just giving the diet time , I'm open to more suggestions

 

[Married 2 The Mob]

I feed haylage, ad-lib. A taster of clamp silage, couple of kilos of energy blend the milkers have plus 150g of a proprietary ( low calcium) dry cow mineral. Provimi currently.
Of what you suggest I would drop the Mag chloride. ( whether or not to feed the extra blend would be a cow condition question)
What does your Forfarmers rep say?

 

[farmer JD]

Ok I have not consulted him yet as thought I would try a simple system as tmr was not working, doyou not Bolus at drying off ?

 

[pappuller]

Ok I have not consulted him yet as thought I would try a simple system as tmr was not working, doyou not Bolus at drying off ?

I think you are over complicating how you are feeding your dry cows we are on 11k litres on robots and keep dry cow rations simple but all through the tub mixer, 4 kg of wheat or oat straw 10 kg of v dry haylage, 1 kg of milkers blend 150 grms mag chloride, 150 grms of a fimlac dry cow min. Pre calve rolls fed at a week before calving in the calving pen at 2kg. A mix usually lasts 3-4 days depending on how many cows. V little trouble and tidy condition on cows. Never have understood dcab and dont particularly want to.dry cows at grass till 4 weeks before calving.no bolus either.

 

[farmer JD]

What boluses is everyone using on dry cows at drying off and why? Any preference ?

 

[Dairyhack]

This article appeared in a recent issue of progressive dairyman about my dry cow program

http://www.progressivedairy.com/blo...ampaign=May2016_eNews_050517&utm_medium=email

 

[Ed15677]

Pap

I think you are over complicating how you are feeding your dry cows we are on 11k litres on robots and keep dry cow rations simple but all through the tub mixer, 4 kg of wheat or oat straw 10 kg of v dry haylage, 1 kg of milkers blend 150 grms mag chloride, 150 grms of a fimlac dry cow min. Pre calve rolls fed at a week before calving in the calving pen at 2kg. A mix usually lasts 3-4 days depending on how many cows. V little trouble and tidy condition on cows. Never have understood dcab and dont particularly want to.dry cows at grass till 4 weeks before calving.no bolus either

I think you are over complicating how you are feeding your dry cows we are on 11k litres on robots and keep dry cow rations simple but all through the tub mixer, 4 kg of wheat or oat straw 10 kg of v dry haylage, 1 kg of milkers blend 150 grms mag chloride, 150 grms of a fimlac dry cow min. Pre calve rolls fed at a week before calving in the calving pen at 2kg. A mix usually lasts 3-4 days depending on how many cows. V little trouble and tidy condition on cows. Never have understood dcab and dont particularly want to.dry cows at grass till 4 weeks before calving.no bolus either.

 

[Ed15677]

Pap

Pappuller good name when have robots

 

[Chippy]

I use tracesure cui's at dry off and then 100kg dry cow mineral lick in field

 

[pappuller]

Pappuller good name when have robots

It is my ebay name from years ago, its the only one I can remember the password to, its only on here any one has a clue what it means

 

[meekers]

I am having my fair share of post calving problems the now as well, had a few lda's which are bad news. My dry cow ration is tmr and have 3 experts look at it who all say it is fine. It is 6kg straw (been through rotagrind), 9kg silage, 5kg of a dry cow premix and 12kg of water. I also feed minerals, mag chloride, ammonium chloride and limestone flour. It all seems complicated which would be fine if I had no post calving problems!
When does everyone introduce the milking ration to the freshly calves cows? I have been giving them a tub of the milking tmr as soon as they calve. My thinking was that it is a lot more palatable to them and they eat a lot more of it post calving. After this I keep them on the milking cow Tmr. (I also give them maxcare reviva). I am wondering if this is causing problems? Been reading tonight about bugs in the rumen and how they have to adjust but what does everyone on here think. How do you go about introducing the milking ration. I am getting annoyed with the whole lda situation. Feel like I am doing everything right but I'm not getting results.

 

[More to life]

I am having my fair share of post calving problems the now as well, had a few lda's which are bad news. My dry cow ration is tmr and have 3 experts look at it who all say it is fine. It is 6kg straw (been through rotagrind), 9kg silage, 5kg of a dry cow premix and 12kg of water. I also feed minerals, mag chloride, ammonium chloride and limestone flour. It all seems complicated which would be fine if I had no post calving problems!
When does everyone introduce the milking ration to the freshly calves cows? I have been giving them a tub of the milking tmr as soon as they calve. My thinking was that it is a lot more palatable to them and they eat a lot more of it post calving. After this I keep them on the milking cow Tmr. (I also give them maxcare reviva). I am wondering if this is causing problems? Been reading tonight about bugs in the rumen and how they have to adjust but what does everyone on here think. How do you go about introducing the milking ration. I am getting annoyed with the whole lda situation. Feel like I am doing everything right but I'm not getting results.

That's very similar to mine but I just add my milkers ration at 12kg to the straw it works very well for me with some partial decab mins. Mines fed in the open air ,my intakes drop if it gets wet, not immediately maybe 6 hours later just wondering if the added water was having the same effect for you do they eat a full cow ration.

 

[meekers]

That's very similar to mine but I just add my milkers ration at 12kg to the straw it works very well for me with some partial decab mins. Mines fed in the open air ,my intakes drop if it gets wet, not immediately maybe 6 hours later just wondering if the added water was having the same effect for you do they eat a full cow ration.

The are not eating a full ration, which is concerning. I was putting this down to the fact that there is always about 20% maiden heifers in the shed which I assume will not eat as much. The silage is good quality but is 45% DM. This is why the water is added, to help bind it together to stop sorting but also to try and help intake. I have take out every day though in the bunker. The bunker is also at ground level but it has always been like that, but I am going to raise the level of it up in the next few weeks. I was wondering if this may help. My facilities are what I consider to be good though.

 

[meekers]

This is my calving shed, they are I here 2 weeks before calving. This is how much I have to shovel out this morning. Quite a lot for 5 cows and a heifer.

 

[meekers]

Bunker

 

[buffalo_soldier]

Is it fed daily or do you feed a couple of days worth?

Just thinking it may be heating quickly.

 

[coomoo]

Could you change onto a different silage first seeing as it's the main part of diet and take water out?

 

[Princess Pooper]

I am having my fair share of post calving problems the now as well, had a few lda's which are bad news. My dry cow ration is tmr and have 3 experts look at it who all say it is fine. It is 6kg straw (been through rotagrind), 9kg silage, 5kg of a dry cow premix and 12kg of water. I also feed minerals, mag chloride, ammonium chloride and limestone flour. It all seems complicated which would be fine if I had no post calving problems!
When does everyone introduce the milking ration to the freshly calves cows? I have been giving them a tub of the milking tmr as soon as they calve. My thinking was that it is a lot more palatable to them and they eat a lot more of it post calving. After this I keep them on the milking cow Tmr. (I also give them maxcare reviva). I am wondering if this is causing problems? Been reading tonight about bugs in the rumen and how they have to adjust but what does everyone on here think. How do you go about introducing the milking ration. I am getting annoyed with the whole lda situation. Feel like I am doing everything right but I'm not getting results.

There are occasions when having a small herd does make life easier...

Far off dry cows in summer on grazing standing hay and that's it.
In winter, outside with hay feeders as long as weather permits.

2-3 weeks before calving they come in and are on ad lib hay with lifeline pre-calver buckets, plus about some of the milking ration, 2kg of parlour cake, 5kg silage, 1 kg wheat, 0.5 kg soya and a kg or so of fodder beet once available.
No DAs, one retained cleanse, only a handful of older cows given anything a bottle of calcium for milk fever (and that was really 'just in case' rather than treating in response to clinical signs)

 

[Ducati899]

There are occasions when having a small herd does make life easier...

Far off dry cows in summer on grazing standing hay and that's it.
In winter, outside with hay feeders as long as weather permits.

2-3 weeks before calving they come in and are on ad lib hay with lifeline pre-calver buckets, plus about some of the milking ration, 2kg of parlour cake, 5kg silage, 1 kg wheat, 0.5 kg soya and a kg or so of fodder beet once available.
No DAs, one retained cleanse, only a handful of older cows given anything a bottle of calcium for milk fever (and that was really 'just in case' rather than treating in response to clinical signs)

not sure if its even having a small herd,i just feel things have been over complicated somewhat...just depends if you want to be sucked in by salesman spill

 

[meekers]

I feed them every day, I only have one clamp of silage open the now, which is a pit of this years first cut. It is too dry I know, I got a bit carried away with the Tedder. Thankfully it is not all like that. It doesnt really seem to be heating, It does seem a very complicated ration- we are a high yielding Holstein herd (10000+). I am grazing through the day the now and I am starting to wonder if they aren't getting the energy requirements at grass which could be causing problems. They are fed in the parlour though and in at night with full tmr mix. I have ordered a meter to measure blood ketone levels to see if low energy is the problem. It really is driving me mad.