Summer nutrition (1-34)

Last updated: November 2008

Summary: Key points of summer nutrition -

A 10% increase in the digestibility of pasture (equivalent to an increase of about 1.5 MJME/kgDM) will increase milksolids production by 0.3-0.45 kg MS/cow/day
As the dry matter content (DM %) increases in summer pasture (even under irrigation) there is more dry matter available for the cows to eat compared to pasture at the same height in spring
Feeding an energy supplement in summer can be profitable, if it has been sourced and fed at a reasonable cost, pasture is not wasted and that it will keep more cows milking for longer lactations
For most farms, protein will not be limiting production as crude protein content in pastures is rarely less than 16%. Protein may be limiting where a low protein supplement is fed, for example where more than 4 kg of maize silage/cow/day is being fed. Whether a protein supplement will be necessary will be dependent on the average protein content of the cow's diet
When air temperatures exceed 27°C in the day and 15°C at night, even with low humidity, the effective temperature is above the comfort zone for high producing dairy cows (and farmers!).