Feeding and Nutrition

The feed and nutrition of dairy herds have important ramifications on their health and milk production. DPI provides information on how to grow and manage pastures, hay and silage and forage cereals, as well as specific tools and information on how to manage the diet and nutritional needs of dairy cattle.

Nutrition

Diet Check is a tool that helps you ensure that your dairy cows are consuming enough nutrients.

If supplementation is necessary, the Dairy Supplement List breaks down the nutritional characteristics of supplementary feeds.

You can also compare the cost of supplements on the basis of their nutritional value.

Read about the effect of nutrition on milk composition.

The Pasture Consumption Calculator will help you estimate your herd’s pasture consumption and the feed conversion efficiency.

Heifer nutrition from weaning to first calving.

Feeding systems

The Feedout Checkout Tool is a program that helps you decide the economic viability of different supplementary feeding systems for your dairy herd.

To ensure adequate pasture at all times, feeding and calving pads are an option.

Dietary illnesses

Keep your herd healthy by being aware of the risks of chemical residues in crop waste fed to cattle.

Causes and treatments of scours in milk-fed calves.

How to adhere to the Ruminant Feed Ban

Services

Feeding Pastures for Profit helps farmers increase profitability and manage seasonal variation by improving grazing and feed management.

The Adapting Forage Planning project provides information to help dairy farmers make feeding decisions.