What dairy cows eat varies from region to region. There are different breeds of cows as well as conditions the cows have to be able to be well equipped for. When it comes to a cow’s diet, there is no “one size fits all” feeding regimen. Each cow will require different nutritional needs based on age, weight, and milking habits. That being said, what do cows generally eat, and what is considered the best food for dairy cows?
Best food for dairy cows
The best food for dairy cows is forage, which should make up around half of their diet. Other good food options are fermented silage, grains, and vegetable and fruits.
Aside from food, it is also vital that your dairy cow drinks a lot of water.
Forage is Important
Forage is the foundation of a cow’s diet making up over 50% of her diet. This is fresh pasture grass that is offered in the spring and summer months. Some farmers and cow owners allow their cow or cattle to free range for their supply while others will collect it and offer it in a secure barn. Either way, this is one of the more important aspects of a cow’s diet and should never be skipped.
Typically, a dairy cow should consume around 25 pounds of forage per day.
Fermented Silage for the Winter Months
When silage is cut at the peak of summer when the grass and vegetation have the most nutritional value, it can be fermented to offer a high-quality feed year round. The ideal time to feed cows fermented silage is in the fall and winter months when the grass is not as available or nutritionally complete.
Silage is made up of Bermuda grasses, Sudan hay, ryegrass, corn stalks, and other highly nutritious grasses to offer a complete balanced of all minerals and vitamins for the cow. When fermented, most if not all of the nutritional value is kept.
A dairy cow should consume around 5 pounds of silage for every 100 pounds of body weight per day. Therefore, if your dairy cow weighs 1,000 pounds, they should eat around 50 pounds of silage per day.
Grains for Filler
Grains should be fed to cows but never more than one-quarter of their diet. Usually, 10% to 15% is ideal for most cows. Some grains offered include corn kernels, wheat, barley, and recycled food from production. This will help cows keep on weight and make up for any nutrition they could be lacking from grass and silage alone.
If you do not have any food production going on your farm or homestead, these items can be collected from farms in your local area, sometimes at no cost, as it is just thrown away. Another option would be to include cattle feed in your cow’s diet which is a mix of different grains and dried vegetation. Cattle cubes offer protein where it is lacking.
Vegetable and Fruit Scraps
All the parts of vegetables and fruits humans typically can’t digest or make use of, a cow can easily digest and it adds quality to not only their milk but their waste. This greatly benefits the production of milk for cheeses and butter as well as manure.
Some vegetables that dairy cows can eat include cabbage, cauliflower, carrots, and even pumpkins.
In terms of fruits, dairy cows can eat apples, blueberries, mangoes, bananas, and watermelon. These fruits all have high vitamin C contents which is good for your cow.
In fact, vegetables and fruits are my favorite treats for cows.
Mineral supplements
Dairy cows are large animals that require a large range and quantity of minerals and supplements. The most important vitamins for a dairy cow are:
- calcium
- potassium
- magnesium
- sodium
- chloreine
- sulfur
Sometime, dairy cows are not able to get enough of these vitamins in their day to day feed. This can cause development and bone health, and can also effect their milk. Luckily, there is an easy way to fix this with supplements. There are many types of vitamin supplements that you can easily mix into their water.
You can also add a soybean meal to your dairy cow’s diet in order to increase their protein intake. This is particularly beneficial for younger, developing dairy cows.
Supplements are also a great way to put weight on show cattle.
Work With a Nutritionist
As mentioned, each cow will require different needs depending on its age, weight, and workload so it is important to work with a nutritionist to find the ideal balance for your cow’s overall health. Some supplementation may be required for optimal health. Keep a close eye on your dairy cow’s day to day behavior, and reach out to a vet if you notice any strange behaviors.
Conclusion
Dairy cows can reach weights of well over 1,000 pounds. To maintain this weight, a dairy cow should consume around 115 pounds of food per day. However, it can be hard to decide how much of each food to give them. I hope this article helped answer this question and gave you a good idea of what to feed a diary cow.
Remember, it is very important that your dairy cow also has access to fresh, clean drinking water at all times.
