Feed costs account for more than 45% of production costs and approach nearly 60% with high feed costs. Obviously, dairy income is directly proportional to milk volume, composition and quality produced on the farm.

Harvest timing, length of cut and correct packing are all key to high-quality forage production in 2024. It all begins with a quality first cutting.

Until recently, there was no great way to put a numeric value to the amino acid profile of feed. With the release of the 2021 dairy NASEM, we now have a method to determine the relative value of the amino acid profile of a given feedstuff.

There are three areas where consistency is necessary to optimize feed management: inventory, mixing of the total mixed ration (TMR) and the feedbunk.

Focusing on fine-tuning for feed efficiency and partnering with an expert who can help analyze your herd’s needs will be an important strategy as cost pressures continue to rise. With some simple adjustments, you can protect your operation’s bottom line.

In the ever-evolving world of agriculture, robotic technology has found its way into various aspects of farming, including dairy production. Automated feed pushing systems have emerged as a revolutionary solution for improving feed management in dairy farms.

Looking at return over feed numbers is an excellent way to get a quick snapshot of how a dairy farm is performing from a production and cost standpoint, however it doesn’t account for and is not impacted by duration of cows in the herd.

By optimizing nutrition, maintaining optimal rumen health, utilizing genetics and breeding strategies, and focusing on good cow comfort and management practices, producers can significantly improve milkfat production.