Whole Herd Dry Matter Intake Should Be Monitored

This method should work well, but let me put a short comment on it: The method should work well, IF the structure of TMR is absolutely homogenious. While the cows have a chance to separate the diferent fractions (components) of the TMR a part of cows will eat more concentrate, and more fiber (roughages) will remain for the rest of the herd. This process should cause primer rumen acidózis, and reduced dry matter intake, consequently. Finally, the totale TMR consumption of the herd will be lower than the calculated DM intake, because some cows will suffer in primer rumen acidózis as the consequence of too many concentrate, and the others secunder or metabolic acidósis, eatig less energy than required. I think, the control of the DM intake of a totale herd is not so simple than it is shown in this article, that is more complicated, taken into account the changes of the individual daily milk production, the changes of the BCS, the actual health status of the individuals, etc. Regards, Tamas Csaki DVM HUNGARY, ET specialist.

Absolutely. I agree with your comments. In fact, the article suggests that the peaking cows (90 lbs) have higher DMI than low producing ones. Are we forgeting the sub clinical ketosis, SARA and other metabolic disorders of fresh cows?