Diet

Diet is very important for the cows. The energy they get from food the cow uses to grow themselves, grow a calf inside of them and produce milk. Feeding is also important to make the cow feel happy. When she is unhappy she won’t show that she is in heat or she doesn’t go in heat al all.  It is necessary to have the right vitamins and minerals to improve the fertility of the cow. Only feeding is not enough, it has to be a good quality with enough nutrients. And there must be food available for every cow. During the project we have seen many farms all with different ways to feed the cows. All these different ways have their advantages and disadvantages.

First we looked at the problems that occur:

• Low energy balance or ketosis. This occurs especially after calving until 100 days after calving. At this time the cow gives a lot of milk but does not take in enough food. Because of this the cow also is less fertile. The farmers we interviewed did not have a real problem with this.
• Low structure. Sometimes with only grass and maize there is too less structure in the rantion. This way the food is passing too fast through the cow and she is not able to get enough nutrients from the food.
• Minerals. The cows need minerals to be fertile and to show it.
• Low food quality. Many farmers have problems with mould in the feed. This is a problem because of toxics moulds produce. The taste is getting different and the cows don’t like to eat it. There are also low nutrients in mouldy food so the cows can not produce optimal milk. 

Solutions

• Better food quality. To achieve good quality food, make sure mould gets no chance.
• New feeding system; for one example a total mixed ration. We also have seen a different feeding fence like weelink.
• Feeding additives. We have seen more farmers who feed propyleenglycol to all the cows the first 100 days. Most farmers also mix minerals in the feeding wagon to improve fertility and health.

Page updated 21.11.2005