Improving feed and nutrient efficiency to achieve better digestibility
Improving feed, nutrient efficiency and cow performance thanks to using a feed additive to increase digestibility, on a French farm.
Last updated on March 24th, 2023
In collaboration with DSM
Why does it matter?
A cow’s digestive ability depends on their capability to breakdown starch and fibre in the cow’s rumen. The digestion of starch and fibre is affected by several factors, such as, variety of corn, forage quality and sourcing, and storage techniques. Therefore, it is important to add supplements to the cow’s diet using a tailored approach, to help breakdown corn starch without changing the pH level in the rumen.
How did we solve this?
To solve this, we assessed the cow’s current diet formulation. Using this information, we implemented a tailored supplementation plan, where we integrated enzymes in high and medium starch diets for the first 100 days of lactation. We carefully monitored cow performance, dry matter intake and feed efficiency and adapted the diet where needed.
After 7 months, the average milk yield improved from 34,6kg to 37,5kg per day. The solids in milk (fat and protein) also increased, (fat by 84 g per cow per day and protein by 57g per cow per day), improving the overall milk quality, which therefore increased the farmers’ revenue. Animal health also improved, observing better fertility and less weight loss.
Opportunities for other farms?
This approach can be replicated on farms facing nutrient and feed efficiency issues related to issues with starch and fibre digestibility. It can also be applied to improve feed efficiency for high and medium starch diets.
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