Peanut cake can replace soybean meal in supplements for lactating cows without affecting production

This study evaluated the total replacement of soybean meal with peanut cake in the concentrate supplement of lactating cows grazing. Eight crossbred 5/8 Holstein × 3/8 Zebu cows between the 45th and 60th day of lactation and 507 ± 35 kg BW were distributed in a 4 × 4 double Latin square design with four levels of peanut cake (0, 110, 220, and 330 g/kg of the dry matter-DM) as a replacement of soybean meal in the concentrate supplement. The intake of pasture, total (pasture + concentrate), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), total digestible nutrients, and digestibility of the DM, CP, ether extract (EE), and NDF was not affected by the replacement of soybean meal with peanut cake. However, the EE (P = 0.83) intake and non-fiber carbohydrate digestibility (P = 0.09) exhibited an increasing linear trend by the peanut cake inclusion. The NDF exhibited a decreasing linear trend (P = 0.07) as the level of peanut cake increased. Production, corrected production, and protein, fat, lactose, total solid, and non-fat solid composition concentrations in the cows' milk were not affected (P > 0.05) by the peanut cake inclusion. The protein/fat ratio exhibited an increasing linear trend (P = 0.082) by the peanut cake inclusion. Peanut cake can completely replace soybean meal in the concentrate mixture because it does not alter dry matter intake, production, and composition of milk, and in addition it can reduce the cost of feeding.

Evaluating the economics of concentrate feeding decisions in grazing dairy cows

Purchased concentrates are a significant variable cost of a dairy business. Farm economic theory states that feeding supplements will enable a dairy farmer to improve profit as long as the marginal revenue received from the milk produced exceeds the marginal cost of the supplement. To do this, the quantities of milk, milk protein and milk fat produced from a unit of concentrate added to the diet are needed. Recent research has compiled results from short-term concentrate feeding experiments conducted in Victoria over a 30-year period. Using these data, relationships for the response of milk production to cereal grain supplements in dairy cows grazing temperate pastures have been developed and shown to be a better predictor than previous relationships. These response functions were used in the present study to investigate the economics of tactical (short-term; weekly, monthly or seasonally) and strategic (medium- to longer-term) supplementary feeding decisions in a pasture-based system, including, specifically, how much concentrate should be fed in a particular farm situation, given a certain feed cost and milk price. In the present paper, the relevant production economics method is explained and applied to determine the amount of supplement to feed that will maximise the margin of total extra milk income minus the total cost of supplement, thereby adding the most to farm profit. Currently, when dairy farmers make decisions about how much more supplement to feed their herd, they are making implicit judgements about the extra milk, and other potential benefits, that they expect to result as well as what the milk will be worth. More finely tuned decisions about feeding supplements based on comparing marginal cost and marginal revenue would add more to farm profit than decisions based on other common criteria, such as feeding supplement for maximum milk production. While some farmers may already be feeding supplements close to the point where marginal cost equals marginal revenue, the formal method of marginal analysis reported here makes explicit what is done implicitly at present and tests farmers’ intuitive decision-making. More detailed information about the responses to supplements and the costs and benefits of feeding supplements under particular circumstances at different times through the lactation has the potential to enable better, more profitable decisions to be made about feeding cows and managing the whole farm.

Individualised feeding of concentrate supplement in pasture-based dairy systems: practices and perceptions of New Zealand dairy farmers and their advisors

Approximately one-third of New Zealand dairy farms have in-shed feeding systems, and quarter of these systems have individual-cow feeding capability. There is little information about the factors motivating farmers to install individualised feeding technology in New Zealand and their management practices. A survey was conducted of 42 farmers using individualised feeding, followed by interviews of 32 farmers and five farm consultants. The aim of the study was to understand why farmers were installing individualised feeding, how they were using it, and what challenges they were facing. Results indicated that these farmers were commonly motivated by improving productivity and most farmers strongly believed that they were gaining value with this approach compared with flat-rate feeding. However, there was also uncertainty about the most profitable feeding strategies. The farmers were most commonly feeding cows in distinct groups rather than as individuals, and were typically adjusting feed allocation at three to four stages of the lactation. Consultants identified a lack of a value proposition for investment, limited justification for feeding-decision rules, and the absence of information to support the perceived productivity (and other) benefits. The perceived productivity benefit of individualised feeding held by farmers in the present study is contrary to recent research that has indicated no marginal milk-production benefit compared with flat-rate feeding. Although, few of these studies relate to individualised feeding in grazing systems where pasture allowance is restricted as is typical of New Zealand farm systems, indicating a need for further experimental and modelling research to quantify the potential value in these systems. Farmers were seeking reliable information on the response rate and cost effectiveness of various feeds and feeding rules, how to distribute a fixed amount of feed to the herd most profitably, and technical expertise, support and back-up for specific feeding systems. Findings from the present study suggest a lack of advisor expertise related to in-shed feeding of concentrate supplement in pasture-grazed systems, signalling opportunities for more training of rural professionals to provide informed advice and improved communication channels with farmers.