Optimizing Feed Efficiency: Feed and Non-feed Factors

Feed prices for the last 5 years have been at historic highs. Coupled with periods of low milk prices, this has resulted in extremely tight (sometimes negative) margins for dairy producers. The ability of ruminants to convert lower digestibility feedstuffs (forages and other high fiberfeeds) into useable products has always been a positive attribute and one that has historically allowed the use of lower cost feedstuffs, often by-products which would be wasted otherwise. However, higherfeed prices have affected even these lower cost feeds. Thus, the need to evaluate and try to manipulate the conversion of feed to products has been a focus, even in the dairy industry, where it has not been a traditional area of concentration.

Other production livestock species (poultry, swine, beef) have focused heavily on feed efficiency (feed conversion), the efficiency at which feed is converted to saleable products (i.e., eggs, chicken, pork, beef), as it is one of the main factors, affecting profitability. The dairy industry has been slowerto focus on feed efficiency and has primarily been driven to do so with higherfeed prices. But now feed efficiency or maybe better a betterterm, feed conversion (feed converted to milk components), has become a focus in the dairy industry. Traditionally, feed related factors have been the focus when evaluating feed efficiency. We Forage digestibility, feed particle size, protein levels, fat levels, starch levels and certain feed additives can affect feed efficiency. Feed related factors have been the focus because that’s what nutritionists know best, and feel they can control the most. Certain cow and environmental factors (i.e., days in milk, lactation number, heat stress, exercise and acidosis) can affect feed efficiency. However, these can be more difficult 
to control and manage.

One additional area that has not been a focus when it comes to feed efficiency is cow comfort. Cow comfort issues can affect milk production and components,reproduction and general health, but these effects in relation to feed efficiency have not traditionally been an area of focus. Many times, these factors can have greaterimpact on feed efficiency than feed related factors.

The focus of this presentation will be exploration of both feed and non-feed related factors that can have an effect on feed efficiency with a focus on cow comfort issues. Opportunities to improve feed efficiency, productive efficiency and profitability through improvements in management will be discussed.

This paper was presented at the 2012 Four- State Dairy Nutrition and Management Conference, June 13 & 14, 2012, Dubuque, Iowa