Evaluating feeding strategies for dairy cows: a modelling approach

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Abstract
Using a model to simulate food intake and the partition of food between milk production and live-weight gain, an attempt has been made to explore the financial implications of different levels and patterns of concentrate feeding, where silage is fed ad libitum. In the case of high-yielding cows it appeared that, although feeding more concentrates increased overall lactation yield, profits per cow and per hectare declined with increasing concentrate usage. This raises doubts concerning the traditional view that higher profits result from increasing yields per cow. Comparing different patterns of feeding it also appeared that there was no significant economic loss from flat-rate compared to stepped feeding of concentrates, where cows had ad libitum access to silage.