Module 11 | Advanced dairy nutrition
WEDNESDAY 16 JUNE
Ration composition and nutrient contents have a great impact on the production performance of dairy cows. Variation in roughage and concentrate quality can have a large impact on animal performance and can be used to manipulate production and milk composition. Better knowledge of the effect of nutrition on ruminant digestion and metabolism gives you the tools to improve animal performance. On the other hand, actual animal performance can be used as a tool to evaluate the nutritional status of the animals and provide information to understand deviations in animal performance. It also supports you to make better decisions in formulating concentrate feeds and complete rations for farmers.
Learning objectives
- To obtain further knowledge on the fermentation, digestion and metabolism in ruminants and how this information can be used to model dairy cow nutrition.
- To understand the impact of nutrients on milk production and composition, so that feeding strategies can be applied to improve production or composition.
- To learn to use feed evaluation software to optimize rations for dairy cows and implement scientific nutritional knowledge into practical ration solutions.
Remarks
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- The SFR-RUMINIX software will be used to provide examples of ration calculation. During the course this software will also be available for the participants and can be used to practice own ration formulations.
- For more knowledge on nutritional strategies it is recommended to (also) attend module 12 Applied dairy.
Ruminant digestion and metabolism using the E-Dairy model
In this topic the principles of nutrient oriented feed evaluation are presented. From the composition and fermentation/digestion of nutrients in the rumen, small intestine and hindgut the aminogenic, glucogenic and lipogenic nutrients are derived. From these nutrients a new Net Energy system (the E-dairy system) has been developed. This model is compared to other international feed evaluation systems.
Bypass protein and fat sources in ruminant nutrition
High yielding animals require high energy diets containing bypass protein and fat. Many different sources of bypass protein and fat are available and differ in technological treatment. In this presentation several examples on the impact of specific treatments on rumen fermentation and intestinal digestion and the effect on nutritive value of these specific feedstuffs using the E-dairy model is presented.
Manipulation of milk production and composition
The principles of the effect of nutrients in the diet on feed intake and milk production is presented. Focus will be on milk lactose, protein, fat, fatty acid composition, free fatty acids and milk urea. The direct and indirect effects of nutrients on milk production performance will be described and discussed.
Ration optimization
The knowledge obtained in this Module is used in examples of practical rations optimization. We are using the SFR-RUMINIX software. The participants will receive a licence to use this program during the Feeds and Nutrition Course and your own rations can also be used for further optimization.
Meet the trainers
