Farmfact 1-75

Feeding Winter Brassica Crops to Dairy Cows

Determine cows' nutritional and feed requirements
Measure crop yields and dry matter content
Allocate sufficient crop and supplement to meet cow’s requirements
Allow for no more than 85% crop utilisation, may need to be less to get BCS gain
Feed allowance is the major factor affecting cow intake - measure the area allocated accurately e.g. use a land wheel or GPS
Mitigate animal health problems
Consider animal welfare issues
Reduce negative environmental impacts.