Feeding programs during the lactation period

Feeding cows during the lactation period is one of the most important factors influencing overall productivity, animal health, milk quality, and the economic efficiency of a dairy farm. During this time, a cow transfers a significant amount of nutrients from the feed into milk production, placing high demands on the diet. Improper feeding can lead to energy deficits, body weight loss, decreased reproductive function, diseases, and a significant drop in milk yield.

Modern animal husbandry uses a precision diet balancing system based on the animal’s physiological state, productivity, and individual needs. One of the main goals is to achieve maximum milk yield while maintaining the health of the cow and ensuring high product quality.

Proper feeding during lactation is crucial, as this period determines the future productivity of both the cow and the calf. The main components of the lactation diet are forages, which form the basis of cattle feeding. The feed base should include various types of feed: roughage (hay, silage, haylage, green mass), concentrates (corn, barley, wheat grain, oilseed cake and meal), and succulent feeds (root crops, melons).

Compound Feed

— is a balanced feed product that contains a mixture of grains, proteins, minerals, vitamins, and enzymatic components. It ensures accurate delivery of nutrients, reduces labor costs for feeding, and allows for more effective diet control. The use of complete compound feed promotes diet stability, reduces animal stress, improves feed digestibility, and increases milk yield.

Compound feeds for the lactation period should contain a high energy level, sufficient protein, and all essential macro- and microelements.

BMVD

— are concentrated protein-mineral-vitamin supplements added to the main feed or grain mixes. They help to precisely balance the diet in terms of amino acids, minerals, and vitamins. Benefits of using BMVD include reduced feeding costs, improved nutrient absorption efficiency, lowered risk of deficiencies, and support for liver, gastrointestinal tract, and immune system function.

Premixes

— are mixtures of microelements, vitamins, and enzymes added in small amounts to the main feed or compound feed. Premixes make it possible to correct even minor dietary deficiencies. Properly selected premixes ensure high reproductive performance in cows, disease prevention (mastitis, ketosis, hypovitaminosis), and stable increases in milk yield.

Recommendations for proper feeding management during lactation:

1. Grouping cows by productivity allows for optimized diets for different groups.
2. Systematic blood analysis helps precisely balance the diet.
3. The use of total mixed rations (TMR) increases feed intake and provides dietary stability.
4. Constant access to water.
5. Monitoring milk yield helps timely diet adjustments.
6. Body condition monitoring – cows should not lose more than 0.5–1 BCS points during the first 90 days of lactation.

A properly organized cow feeding program during lactation is not just about the diet but a strategic element in managing the productivity of the entire herd. The use of quality forages, effective compound feeds, BMVD, additives, and premixes, along with careful diet balancing according to the physiological needs of the animals, leads to significant increases in milk production, improved reproductive function, disease prevention, and long-term productivity of dairy cattle.

Modern dairy farming systems require scientifically grounded feeding approaches based on monitoring, adaptation, and high production standards. Only a comprehensive approach to cattle feeding can unlock the potential of each animal, ensuring farm profitability and stability.