Feed2Milk: The best way to feed your cows

Improve your herd's performance and ration efficiency

Instead of simply looking at the inputs and outputs, Feed2Milk starts with analysis of homegrown forage using dry NIR, then carefully formulates and accurately measures nutrient content of feed, then onto the Optifeed rationing program which matches the nutrients supplied with the requirements of the cow, to predict performance and ration efficiency.

Our Feed2Milk system expresses these predictions through a set of figures, including:

• MELK – More Energy for the Lactating Cow (indication of true milk yield potential from energy) 
• TDP – True Digestible Protein (digestible protein available for milk production)
• RFC – Rapidly Fermentable Carbohydrate (indicating rumen health risk)
• AI – Acidosis Index (predicting the risk of acidosis)
• RI – Rumination Index (structural fibre supply)

These figures help provide information about a herd’s potential performance and give a much better understanding of how each individual farm’s forage will perform. The Feed2Milk system then uses over 3,000 equations resulting in a tailored Optifeed ration program for your herd, that optimises rumen function and predicts the best performance outcome of a ration.

The advantages and proven benefits

This holistic approach has been used throughout the winter on numerous British farms for four years and pulls on even longer experience and knowledge from the work done in Holland over the past eight years. 

Results from Feed2Milk nutrition plans show an average increase of 1.8 litres/day (with a range of 0.5-8.0 litres/cow/day). The value of extra milk production resulted in an average increase of £14/cow/month.

With Feed2Milk, an improvement in feed efficiency was also observed with an average 0.04kg/litre reduction in feed rate. This led to an average saving of £6/cow/month in feed costs, or a potential extra 700 litres per cow produced from forage.

For more information

To learn more about Feed2Milk and the most suitable products that meet your herd's nutritional goals and objectives please contact your local Account Manager or contact a Dairy Specialist today:

Contact a Dairy Specialist