Milk proteins at farm level are currently approaching the yearly low point for milk protein.
Every 0.1% increase in milk protein annually is worth c.€5000 for the average supplier
(100 cow herd, February 2024 milk price)
To keep protein % as high as possible:
- Feed the highest energy forage possible. Grass is 20% higher in energy than silage. Prioritize the feeding of grass when the weather allows.
- Feed a balanced level of concentrates for your cows’ milk yield. A 25ltr cow on 70DMD silage needs 7kg of concentrates to meet her energy demands.
- For every +/- 5 units in DMD you can decrease or increase concentrates by 1.5kg.
- For every +/-2 litre change in milk yield decrease or increase concentrates by 1kg.
- If you’re letting your cows out to grass for 6 hours with a belly full of grass silage your cows will eat c.6kg DM grass and you can drop your concentrate feeding levels by 1.5kg.
- It is possible to get higher grass intake into cows allowed c.4 hours grazing, but a specific on-off grazing plan has to be implemented.
- If milk protein % is low feed more concentrates and/or get more grass into your cows
- If milk protein % is low, your cows energy intake is low, she is losing weight and this may affect 2024 fertility performance.
For more information contact your local ASM today
