The University of Georgia College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences
Cooperative Extension Service

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Managing the High Producing Dairy Cow

Lane 0. Ely and Larry D. Guthrie, Extension Dairy Scientists

Contents

40,000 Pounds of Milk
Lactation/Gestation Cycle
Feeding
Maintaining Intake
Milking
Heat Stress
Management
Suggested Readings

All dairy farmers would like to increase milk production from their cows. If we examine the DHIA records, milk production has been increasing steadily over the years. Still there is a long way to go for the average herd to become a top herd. What is a high producing dairy cow? Many herds today have rolling herd averages of over 20,000 pounds of milk and many cows are producing over 30,000 pounds of milk. The Georgia DHIA rolling herd average, however, is 13,500 pounds of milk. To see what changes we can make, let's examine the individual record holder.

40,000 Pounds of Milk

Beecher Arlinda Ellen set the production record in 1975 by producing 55,661 pounds of milk in 365 days (Table 1). Her top production day was 195 pounds and she averaged 152.5 pounds of milk per day. She milked 112 pounds on her last test day. During the peak of lactation she ate over 65 pounds of 16 percent commercial grain, 70 pounds of alfalfa hay, and she drank 50 to 60 gallons of water per day. Ellen was an exceptional cow in both milk production and her ability to eat. She consumed over 7 percent of body weight as dry matter the average cow eats 3 to 5 percent of her body weight. Ellen was fed frequently and always had fresh feed available. Her owners commented on her agressive eating habits and easy disposition. She liked interaction with people and other animals.

We can see many of Ellen's characteristics in the 20,000 pound herds. We want to be able to take advantage of them so our cows can express their genetic potential and efficiency. Even though costs will increase with higher production; returns will increase more.

Lactation/Gestation Cycle

All cows go through a lactation/gestation cycle which can be divided into five groupings. The first period of the lactational cycle is peak milk production. During this period the high producing cow must draw upon body reserves to meet her nutritional requirements. Usually the high producing cow will lose body weight during this period.

The second period is when maximum dry matter intake occurs. This level of intake will determine the shape of the milk production curve as the cow starts to decline in milk production. Body weight will stabilize and may show a slight increase. Cows should be bred by the early part of this period in order to maintain a reasonable calving interval.

The third period of the lactational cycle is a period of excess nutrient intake and gain of body stores for the next lactation. Body weight increases so that the cow reaches the desired calving weight by the end of this period. This phase may not occur in high producing herds because of the high level of milk production. With high milk production, cows may never reach a period of excess nutrient intake. The quality of the ration will be all the more critical because the cow will not have a large body reserve to draw on in the subsequent lactation.

The fourth period is the typical dry cow period where the goal is to restore the rumen to a healthy fermentation vat. This is accomplished by feeding a ration composed of long hay. Body weight changes should be positive but not large.

The last period in the lactational cycle is the close-up dry period. This is a transitional phase that allows the cow to adjust to the milking herd ration and to being moved into the milking herd.

Feeding

Feeding the high producing dairy cow is a continual challenge, especially in early lactation, when dry matter intake may be limited. As can be seen in Table 2, not only does the requirement for nutrients increase with higher milk production, but also the nutrient density because of the limited intake.

The first approach to meeting her needs is having the best quality forage available. To keep the rumen functioning optimally, forage or roughage must make up 40 percent of the cow's intake. Only high quality forages (see suggested readings for references) will allow rations to be as balanced as those in Table 3.

The grain portion of the ration is often limited in energy. High energy feeds such as added fat or whole seeds (such as cottonseed or soybean seed) are well utilized by the cow, but because of their laxative effects, they should be used in limited amounts.

Maintaining Intake

The key to getting high milk production is keeping the cow on feed. Every time the cow goes off feed she will decrease her milk production. Not only is milk production lost, but because some secretary tissue is lost, she never quite recovers her production potential. If she can be kept on feed and healthy then she has a chance to produce at her maximum.

You can do several things to help the dairy cow to remain on feed. If ration ingredients must be changed, especially forage, change them gradually over a two week period so both the cow and the rumen microbes can adjust. Keeping fresh feed in front of the cow also helps stimulate intake, while frequent feedings encourage the cow to return to the feed bunk. Total mixed rations or at least frequent feedings of grain will help maintain the rumen in balance and allow optimal fermentation.

Milking

Milking three times a day has been shown to increase milk production by 20 to 25 percent. This may be helpful to high producing cows because milking relieves pressure build up in the mammary gland and allows the gland to continue to produce milk. However, if the feeding program is not adapted to the higher level of milk production, the cow will lose body weight quicker, and the long-term effect will be little or no increase in milk.

Heat Stress

Summer heat can cause a 10 to 20 percent drop in milk production. This loss in milk production is directly related to a decrease in intake and lower nutrient supply for milk production. This is especially harmful to the high producer because her body's nutrient stores are limited. You can do several things to keep intake up. One approach is to increase the nutrient density of the ration so the cow does not have to eat as much to meet her needs. Do this by increasing the crude protein and energy content (Table 4). This method is difficult because we must leave a minimal amount of fiber in the ration to maintain fat production. Another approach is to provide shade, water misters and fans around the feed area to encourage cows to eat and stay at the feed area. Frequent feedings, especially during the cooler time periods, and increased mineral feeding of electrolytes (NA, K and MG) have been shown to help maintain intake and milk production, also. The best approach to heat stress management is to use all of these approaches. Each approach can contribute to maintaining dry matter intake and milk production; however, the single most important item may be a ready and plentiful supply of clean, fresh, cool water.

Management

Managing the high producing dairy cow requires that we make everything work all of the time. By observing the cows that produced over 40,000 pounds, we have our guidelines for managing the high producing herd. The key to getting our herd to producing a high level of milk will be obtaining the highest level of management.

Suggested Readings

Bath, D.L., F.N. Dickinson, H.A. Tucker and R.D. Appleman. 1985. "Dairy Cattle: Principles, Practices, Problems, Profits." 3rd Edition. Lea & Febger.

Guthrie, L.D. 1979. "Balancing Rations for Dairy Cattle." Bulletin 814, UGA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE.

Guthrie, L.D. 1980. "Feeding the Dairy Herd." Bulletin 816, UGA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE.

Guthrie, L.D. 1981. "Silage for Dairy Cattle." Bulletin 616, UGA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE.

Johnson, J.T. 1984. "Alfalfa Production in Georgia." Bulletin 898, UGA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE.

Maddux, J.N. and W.G. Gilson. 1982. "Optimum Reproductive Efficiency in Dairy Herds." Bulletin 734, UGA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE.

Smith, James W. 1986. "Dairy Herd Improvement Records, Their Need and Use." Bulletin 897, UGA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE.

Wilcox,C.J., H.H.VanHorn, B.Harris,Jr., H.H. Head, S.P. Marshall, W.W. Thatcher, D.W. Webb, and J.M. Wing. 1978. "Large Dairy Herd Management." University of Florida Book.

Circular 788/April, 1986

The University of Georgia and Ft. Valley State College, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and counties of the state cooperating. The Cooperative Extension Service offers educational programs, assistance and materials to all people without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex or disability.

An Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Organization Committed to a Diverse Work Force

Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 18 and June 30, 1914, The University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and the U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperating.

Gale A. Buchanan, Dean and Director