The requirements are calculated for pasture at 11.0 MJ ME/kg DM. For different pasture quality make the following adjustments to calculate the ME requirements.

ME requirements with increasing feed quality: subtract 4% per MJ ME above 11.0 MJ ME/kg DM
ME requirements with decreasing feed quality: add 4% per MJ ME below 11.0 MJ ME/kg DM

Note: The feed requirement figures are 'eaten' feed demand plus 6% to allow for feed wastage observed under good feeding conditions of pasture in farmlet trials. Where feed (pasture or supplement) wastage rates are higher than those stated, requirements for feed offered need to be increased.

Maintenance MJ ME/day (Lwt kg)

300	350	400	450	500	550	600
40	45	50	54	59	63	68

Milksolids MJ ME/kg MS by breed

MJ ME/kg DM	Jersey (kg MS)	J X F (kg MS)	Friesian (kg MS)
10	81	84	86
11	77	80	82
12	74	77	79

Walking MJ ME/km

Flat	Rolling	Hilly/steep
2.0	3.0	6.0

Pregnancy MJ ME/day

	12 wks prior to calving	8 wks prior to calving	4 wks prior to calving	2 wks prior to calving	Annual total
Jersey	11	18	32	42	1,848
Kiwicross	12	21	37	48	2,114
Kiwicross	13	23	41	54	2,338
Fresian	14	24	44	57	2,478

Lactating cow liveweight MJ ME/kg Lwt change

(Diet ME required or saved)

Lwt gain 50
Lwt loss -37

Example: Daily requirements of a 450 kg JXF cow, producing 2.0 kg MS/day and losing 0.5 kg/day Lwt at 12.0 MJ ME/kg DM.

Maintenance = 54
Walking on flat (3 km a 2 MJ ME/km) = 6
Milksolids (2.0 kg MS x 80 MJ) = 160
Lwt loss (0.50 kg Lwt x -37 MJ) = -19
Total MJ ME at 11.0 ME = 201
ME requirements reduced by 4% as 12.0 ME fed = 201 x 96% = 193
Total kg DM Eaten (193 divided by 12.0 ME) = 16.1 kg DM

Note: Diet ME required reduced by 19 MJ ME from loss of Lwt

Total daily dry matter requirements lactating cows (kg DM/cow/day); for daily milksolids production

Daily milking cow requirements: kg DM/cow/day at 10.5 MJ ME/kg DM

Breed	kg Lwt	0.8	1.0	1.2	1.4	1.6
J	350	10.4	11.9	13.4	14.9	16.4
J	400	10.9	12.4	13.9	15.4	16.9
J x F	450	11.6	13.1	14.7	16.3	17.8
Fr	500	12.1	13.7	15.3	17.0	18.6
Fr	550	12.6	14.2	15.8	17.4	19.0

Daily milking cow requirements: kg DM/cow/day at 11.0 MJ ME/kg DM

Breed	kg Lwt	1.0	1.2	1.4	1.6	1.8
J	350	11.1	12.5	13.9	15.3	16.7
J	400	11.5	12.9	14.3	15.7	17.2
J x F	450	12.2	13.7	15.2	16.6	18.1
Fr	500	12.8	14.3	15.8	17.3	18.8
Fr	550	13.3	14.8	16.3	17.8	19.3

Note: No walking or Lwt loss or Lwt gain included

Daily milking cow requirements: kg DM/cow/day at 12.0 MJ ME/kg DM

Breed	kg Lwt	1.4	1.6	1.8	2.0	2.2
J	350	12.2	13.5	14.7	15.9	17.2
J	400	12.6	13.9	15.1	16.3	17.6
J x F	450	13.3	14.6	15.9	17.2	18.5
Fr	500	13.9	15.2	16.5	17.8	19.1
Fr	550	14.3	15.6	16.9	18.2	19.5