Feeding for peak milk and stronger persistence

Peak milk and lactation persistence are shaped well before calving. By this point in the season, average pasture cover and herd body condition score targets should already be in place. The priority now is to manage available feed in a way that supports cow performance and pasture quality.

The DairyNZ Spring Rotation Planner is one of the most useful tools for this period. Setting area allocations before balance date helps maximise pasture growth and reduce feed pressure. Once calving is underway, feed wedge-based grazing plans and three-leaf-stage grazing indicators can support rotation decisions, with the planner adjusted as August and September growth rates become clearer.

As calving progresses, later-calving cows at BCS 5.0-5.5 can be held on maintenance diets to reduce metabolic risk and support animal health and reproduction.

In the lead-up to mating, the focus moves to maximising high-energy dry matter intake. Energy is often the first limiting nutrient in early lactation, making pasture quantity and quality important drivers of production. Extra energy supplied from pasture can reduce reliance on more expensive supplements.

Accurate feed allocation helps maximise intake, minimise waste, identify surplus pasture for harvest, and maintain pasture quality.

Where supplements are used, they should have a clear role. Meeting energy requirements comes first, followed by checking whether protein, fibre or carbohydrate is needed using tools such as FeedChecker. DairyBase data shows every $1 spent on supplementary feed can add $1.50-$2.00 in total cost, so targeted use matters.

Strong lactation persistence depends on limiting body condition loss from calving to mating, maintaining target residuals, and adjusting rotation length as leaf emergence rates change.

Spring pasture remains the lowest-cost feed source. Managing it well supports milk production, pasture quality, and profitability. 

Find DairyNZ feed tools and resources at dairynz.co.nz/feed-strategies