Adding a feed supplement is only one of the options available when an unplanned food shortage arises.

If you face an unexpected feed shortage this summer, you may need to respond quickly. However, the key is uncovering the most cost-effective feed supplement for your circumstances.

Firstly, evaluate the current feed situation, including pasture growth rates, available pasture cover, supplements and crops already on hand and any feed you may have planned to come in. Calculate the deficit by comparing the herd’s feed requirements with available feed resources.

There are two main levers when managing a deficit: reducing demand and purchasing supplements. The available options will depend on timing; consider how long you may be planning for and what lies ahead. If it’s early December, for example, your response will differ from a dry spell occurring from late January onwards.

Demand can be reduced by removing animals or reducing energy requirements, such as changing to milking once a day. If it is earlier in the season, there will be less information to determine which animals could be culled.

After pregnancy testing is a good opportunity to consider which cows are less productive due to age, health status, or whether they are empty, and remove them sooner to ensure valuable feed is going to the right animals.

After evaluating demand reduction, assess the cost-effectiveness of different supplements by considering the cost per unit of dry matter, the nutrient value provided and the expected marginal milk.

The DairyNZ Supplement Price Calculator is a valuable tool for exploring different options. It is based on milk price and milk company, post-grazing residuals, supplement composition and your profit requirements from using a supplement.

The FeedChecker calculator is another useful tool as it estimates the energy and nutrient demands for a selected mob of cows and compares this to what is supplied in the diet. You can enter what you are expecting from the available pasture and create different options to determine the most appropriate supplement.

During dry periods, continue with your usual decision-making processes for pasture management. This will help ensure you’re on the right rotation to prevent under- or over-grazing of paddocks, and that you use supplements only to address any deficits. The key is to be prepared, have a plan and use the tools available to determine the best course of action to use supplementary feed effectively this summer.

Marginal milk

Marginal milk is the extra milk a dairy cow produces when she receives nutrients or supplements beyond what she needs for basic maintenance.

For example, a cow needs a certain amount of feed to maintain her body weight and basic functions (maintenance requirements). If you provide her with more feed or higher-quality feed, the additional nutrients can lead to increased milk production – this extra production is the ‘marginal milk’.

The profitability of producing marginal milk depends on whether the extra milk brings in more money than the cost of the additional feed. If the income from the extra milk is higher than the cost of the feed, the feeding strategy is worth it financially.

When a feed shortage arises, it’s important to consider the full cost of the marginal milk when choosing the best supplement. The response to extra feed depends on your situation, so the amount of milk produced and the expected financial return may vary.

This story first appeared in Inside Dairy, the official publication of DairyNZ.

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