Diet Check - Decision Support Program for Dairy Farmers

Background Based on the Australian Feeding Standards, Diet Check is a simple decision support tool designed to assist Victorian dairy farmers in ensuring grazing dairy cows are consuming sufficient metabolisable energy, crude protein and neutral detergent fibre for a target level of milk production. This is especially important when both pastures and supplements are fed to lactating dairy cows. The program also gives an indication of the likely production and economic benefits from feeding supplements. Intended Audience The program has been developed for use by Victorian dairy farmers, their service providers and researchers. Capabilities of the Program The program has been designed to assist Victorian dairy farmers in estimating whether their grazing dairy cows are consuming enough metabolisable energy, crude protein and neutral detergent fibre for a given level of milk production. Diet Check has a unique method of estimating pasture intake and nutrient intake from pasture, as well as substitution of supplements for pasture. Additionally, the program provides both production and economic estimates of the cost or benefit of feeding supplementary feeds.

Limitations to the Program

The program was produced using the best research information available at the time of its development. However, research information that has contributed to the program has been generated within certain boundaries. These boundaries or ‘limits’ are explained in the Diet Check Operating Manual. Inputs that fall outside these boundaries will give results that are not verified by research.

Support

Diet Check Operating Manual
The following attachments (in PDF format) provide step by step instructions to using the Diet Check program. To view these PDFs you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader. A free copy can be downloaded from Adobe Acrobat (external link).

(PDF 1469kb)

(PDF 1.5M)

Further support can be obtained by contacting your local DPI Dairy Extension Officer - call 136186.

Access to the Program

Accept conditions of use and download the program.