Changing Feeds | DairyNZ

Floods and heavy snow will mean that cows will have limited or no access to pasture. They will be hungry and will try to eat as much as possible of whatever you give to them.

Beware of introducing a different feed type too quickly. Changing from mainly pasture to high carbohydrate supplements like tapioca, vegetables, cereals or kiwifruit, can cause rapid changes in rumen fermentation and there is a risk of developing acidosis, sometimes called "grain overload", which can kill cows.

Slowly introduce similar feeds first

If your herd was on pasture, introduce pasture-based supplements first - hay, grass silage.

Gradually add others

Start with 2-3kg of grain or other supplement per day and very gradually increase the amount as necessary over at least two weeks. Alternatively, start the herd on 4-5kg of brassica crop per day given in small breaks so that they eat little and often. It may be possible to graze deteriorating (but not rotting) pastures after flood waters or snow disappear, and this will allow quicker regrowth while providing some dilution of high carbohydrate supplements.

Low risk feeds include:

High risk feeds include:

Kiwi Fruit
Molasses
Vegetable starches (tapioca, potatoes, carrots)
Wheat
Barley
Oats
Maize
Sorghum
Silages (some fibre present)
Broll

Maintain Ca & Mg intakes

Keep up calcium and magnesium supplements. Magnesium is especially important early in lactation when cows are vulnerable to ketosis, particularly if they are underfed.