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AGRI-NUTRITION
CONSULTING, INC.
4095 Gray Road, DeForest, Wisconsin 53532 608-846-2727 800-747-7447 FAX 608-846-3014 |
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by Becky Melssen
Ration Analyst
In today's changing dairy industry, producers are always looking for ways to be more productive and profitable. In this pursuit however, the aspect of feed bunk management is often overlooked by dairymen. Feed bunk management should not be taken lightly because it can have a significant impact on a cow's dry matter intake, which in turn affects their milk production, and your dairy's profitability.
Bunk SpaceThe first thing to look at is the amount of available bunk space. There should be about twenty four to thirty inches of space per cow and enough room for all the cows to come and eat at the same time. There are two main reasons for this. The most obvious reason is that cows generally like to eat all at the same time. The second reason is that most first calf heifers have different feeding habits than mature cows. First calf heifers will tend to eat less at a feeding, but visit the bunk for more frequent meals. So if bunk space is limited, then the first calf heifers will be the ones who lose out.
Bunk Height should be about four to six inches higher than the alley. This provides the cows with the natural grazing position, which promotes more saliva production so that more buffer is reaching the rumen. Cows eating in the grazing position tend to waste less feed too.
Comfort at the feed bunk is another very important aspect of feed bunk management because comfortable cows will go to the feed bunk more often. All feed bunks should be shaded, this will keep cows protected from the sun, rain, or snow as well as increase the bunk life of your feeds. During hot weather, when dry matter intakes often decrease, fans or sprinklers near feed bunks will reduce heat stress and help maintain your cows' intake. One last thing that can be done to improve cow comfort at the feed bunk, is to place a rubber belt or mat in the standing area by the feed bunk. This will provide cushion for their feet and legs and allow them to stand comfortably for longer periods of time.
Water is an essential part of your feed bunk management and is necessary in order to get optimum dry matter intake. Always provide fresh clean water for your cows. They need approximately two feet of tank perimeter for each fifteen to twenty cows and the water should be six to eight inches deep to keep the water fresh and make the tank easier to clean. Cows tend to prefer warmer water over cold water and many dairies use the water from the plate coolers because this water is warmer than water straight fromthe well. Cows also tend to drink most of their daily water closer to milking time, often when leaving the parlor, so it would be beneficial to have water available in the feeding area as well as the return lane from the parlor.
Cleaning your feed bunk once a day is a good management practice because cows will consume more at a meal after a manger has been cleaned. Tile feed bunks or feed bunk liners are a good idea as well. They have been shown to improve dry matter intake by one to two pounds per day and are easier to clean. They also reduce build up, mold growth, and odor
Feeding at the BunkWhen feeding at the bunk you need to make feed available to your cows at all times and feed as many times a day as possible. If you are feeding a TMR it can be fed once or twice a day, but pushing it up in front of the cows several more times a day will stimulate them to eat larger amounts and more often. Another way to increase dry matter intake at the bunk is to feed higher quality forages that have been treated with an inoculant. This will also reduce waste and sorting of the TMR. Proper Amounts
To be certain you are feeding the proper amount at the bunk be sure that there is always some of the feed left in the bunk after each feeding period. Usually some forage material is less palatable, spoiled or of a poorer quality than the rest and this is what the cows will sort out and leave behind. This feed is of lower digestability and will reduce the cow's feed intake and ultimately lead to less milk production. If at any time the cows are being forced to clean up this feed left in the bunk, they are being underfed. The best way to take a look at this is to go and check the feed bunks one hour before the next feeding is scheduled. There should be a thin layer of feed remaining(5-10%) and it should look similar to the TMR or feed being fed, not just long stems or cobs because this would be another indication that your cows would eat more if it were available. Also, if two to three inches or more remain in the bunk then you are overfeeding and should reduce the amount being fed.
In Review, feed bunk management consists of several important aspects including: adequate bunk space, proper bunk height, a clean bunk, a comfortable environment, plenty of water, and feeding the proper amounts at the bunk. If you combine these feed bunk standards with good nutrition provided to you by ANC, you can achieve higher dry matter intakes, more milk production and a more productive and profitable dairy!
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