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Dairy nutrition
As discussed above in the section on feed, providing a high-quality, appropriate diet is the cornerstone of organic dairy management. The best base for that diet is well-managed pasture. Many organic farmers work with a nutritionist to help evaluate and balance the ration they offer their cows.
Gary Zimmer, of Midwestern Bio-Ag, suggests that a good target for a milking cow is a 16 to 18% protein ration made up of 60 to 75% forages on a dry- matter basis. Usually this includes a combination of hay, haylage, corn silage, dry corn and roasted soybeans. Some farmers don't like corn silage; others find it's useful in small amounts. The components of your ration will depend on many factors, including your available land, equipment and expertise. But remember: Make your cows' health your first priority. Productivity and profitability follow from there.
Organic dairy nutritionists and veterinarians place a great deal of emphasis on mineral balancing and how cows' mineral needs change through different stages of production. Offering free-choice minerals is a good insurance policy in case your nutritional analysis and ration planning fall short. But your underlying goal should be to achieve the right mineral balance in the ration itself. Healthy soils are better able to produce forage and grain crops that provide the right balance of minerals in the first place.
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Farmer-to-Farmer"Each breed—Jersey, Holstein, belted, shorthorn, etc.—has slightly different nutritional needs due to production levels combined with milk com- ponents. But balanced nutrition is very important for the optimum health of any living creature. And we should all keep in mind that the best path to healthy food is healthy soil. It all starts at the soil level."
~Jeff Mattocks
The Fertrell Company
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