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The Best Time to Review Your Feed Rations

Feed is usually the largest cost on a dairy, so the question of when to review rations has real money attached. The short answer is on a schedule and whenever something changes.

Illustration for the farm.FM story “Dairy Bot Requests Paid Time Off; Cow Says the Old Milker at Least Brought Snacks”
A farm.FM agribusiness story fits because feed costs drive both dairy management and the jokes told about it. Read “Dairy Bot Requests Paid Time Off; Cow Says the Old Milker at Least Brought Snacks” on farm.FM.

When is a ration review worth doing?

Set a regular review at least a couple of times a year, then add one whenever something important changes. Triggers include a new batch of forage, a change in feed prices, a shift in milk components, a heat wave, a change in herd stage, or a drop in intake.

Most nutritionists would rather see a farm call early about a small change than late about a big one. Ration reviews are cheaper than guessing, and they build a record you can learn from.

The goal is not a perfect ration on paper but a steady one in the bunk, so review with the real feed in front of you.

What data should you bring?

Bring forage test results, dry matter numbers, recent milk production and component data, body condition notes, manure observations and feed costs. The more specific you are, the better the review.

Forage quality varies from cutting to cutting and from year to year, so test each lot. In the Texas Panhandle, corn silage and purchased feeds often drive the ration, and supply can shift with the weather.

If you buy feed by contract, keep the delivery tickets and any quality guarantees with your records, since they help explain changes in performance.

How does the calendar shape rations?

Summer heat reduces intake, so rations are often adjusted for density and cooling. Fall brings new silage and the question of how it performs. Winter cold raises energy demand, and spring brings fresh pasture on some operations. Review at each turn rather than waiting for the herd to tell you something is off.

Weather matters too. The National Weather Service outlooks and NOAA climate information can help you anticipate heat and cold stress, and the U.S. Drought Monitor helps you think ahead about feed supply.

Also look at water. Cows that are short of clean water eat less, and no ration can fix that problem.

How do prices fit in?

A ration is both a nutrition plan and a cost plan. Look at the market for feed and milk together. The USDA Dairy Market News reports and the USDA Economic Research Service publish price and cost data, but numbers change constantly, so use the latest official figures and not a number from an article.

Coverage programs such as Dairy Margin Coverage relate milk price to feed cost, and enrollment rules, margins and dates are set by USDA, so confirm current details before relying on them.

Who should you ask?

A qualified dairy nutritionist is the main person for this job. Many are independent, and others work through feed companies or cooperatives. Ask how they are paid, how often they visit and what they need from you.

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension dairy specialists can help you find training and unbiased information. The Dairy MAX team and dairy herd care guides are also good starting points.

What about the money and the lighter side?

If feed costs are squeezing the budget, talk with your lender early, and see the farm money guide for general planning ideas. This is education and not financial advice, so check with a licensed professional.

Over at farm.FM agribusiness the writers cover farm economics, and a farm.FM story on feed costs adds a smile to a topic that rarely gives you one.

How do you track results after a change?

A ration change is only useful if you watch what happens next. Track dry matter intake, milk yield and components, manure consistency and animal health for several weeks, and note the weather and any feed lot changes during the same period. Without that record, it is hard to tell whether the new ration worked or the weather simply changed.

Share the numbers with your nutritionist and agree in advance on what counts as a good result and when to adjust again. Small, measured changes are easier to learn from than big overhauls. For another view on dairy management, farm.FM dairy coverage offers stories from people in the business.

Sources and further reading

Ask locally: Ask your dairy nutritionist and your AgriLife Extension dairy contact how often they recommend reviewing rations for your herd.

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