Seasonal milksolids responses to supplement

Response g MS/MJ ME	g MS/kg DM at 11 ME	Residuals and average pasture cover (APC)¹	Supplement	Other
<3.0	<30	9.5 clicks or 1800kg DM/ha. At or above APC target	Quality < 10.5 ME; Wastage 30% plus (fed in wet weather; poor stack mgt)	Pasture quality in subsequent rotations poor & less pasture grown
3.5-5.5	40-55	8-9.5 clicks (1600-1800kg DM/ha); stop feeding at target APC.	Average quality 10-10.5 ME; Wastage 25%-30%	Supplement feeding stopped too late creating surplus
5.5-7.5	60-80	6.5-7.5 clicks (1350-1550kg DM/ha if supplement not fed; residuals <8.0 clicks when supplement fed.	Good quality 10.5-11.0ME; Wastage 20% or less	Short term feed deficit (<10days). Supplement feeding stopped before APC cover target achieved
8.0-12.0	90-130	Residual < 6 clicks (1350kg DM/ha) if supplement not fed. When supplement fed residuals 6-7 clicks (1350-1500 kg DM/ha); APC well below target (> 300 kg DM/ha deficit).	Good quality > 10.5 ME Low wastage 15% or less (feeding maize or PKE in bins/on feed pad)	Cows grazing to < 6 clicks for 10 days plus; supplement feeding stopped in anticipation of target cover being met. Responses increase with the period of severe underfeeding (8.0g/ME at least 2 weeks; 10g/ME 4 weeks; 12g/ME 5 weeks)

Response g MS/MJ ME	g MS/kg DM at 11 ME	Residuals and average pasture cover (APC)¹	Supplement	Other
<3.0	<30	Leaving more than 8.0 clicks	Or very poor quality < 10.5 ME and high wastage 30% plus	Supplement fed to culls. Spared pasture lost when rains
3.5-5.5	40-60	7.0 - 8.0 clicks (1500-1650kg DM/ha)	Good quality 10.5 + ME; Wastage 20-25%-30%	Supplement fed to culls; rotation length extended to 25 days+
6.0-7.5	65-80	Less than 7.0 clicks (1500kg DM/ha)) residuals	Good quality 10.5 -11.0 ME; Wastage 20% or less	Culls gone before supplement fed; Rotation length slowed cow condition loss held or small loss
7.5-11.0	90-120	Residuals < 6 clicks (1350kg DM/ha) if no supplement fed.	Good quality 10.5 + ME; Low wastage 15% or less (feeding in bins/on feed pad)	If supplement not fed cows dried off - significant inc. DIM/ha; Cow condition held

Response g MS/MJ ME	g MS/kg DM at 11 ME	Residuals and average pasture cover (APC)¹	Supplement	Other
<3.0	<30	Leaving 9.5 clicks plus (1800kg DM/ha); at or above APC	Quality < 10.5 ME; Wastage 30% plus (fed in wet weather; poor stack mgt)	Lactation not extended i.e. no increase in day in milk (DIM) per ha; loss pasture quality
3.5-4.5	40-55	8.0 - 9.5 clicks (1600-1800kg DM/ha); stop feeding at target APC	Average quality 10.0-10.5 ME; Wastage 25% -30%	DIM/ha unchanged; rotation length not slowed to build cover; residuals too high
5.5-6.5	60-70	7.0 - 7.5 clicks (1500 - 1550kg DM/ha) residuals	Good quality 10.5 -11.0 ME; Wastage 20% or less	Rotation length slowed and increase in DIM/ha; cow condition and APC at calving targets met
7.0-8.0	80-90	Residuals < 6 clicks (1350kg DM/ha) if no supplement fed; Residuals 7 clicks (1500 kg DM/ha); APC well below target	Good quality 10.8 + ME; Low wastage 15% or less (feeding maize or PKE in bins/on feed pad)	If supplement not fed cows dried off - significant increase DIM/ha. Cow condition & cover targets achieved