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Publication #DS43

Understanding Dry Matter Consumption by Dairy Cows1

Barney Harris, Jr.2

Many factors influence the dry matter (DM) intake of high producers. Those commonly observed are body weight, health of cows, level of milk production, climate, frequency of feeding, ration balance and palatability of the ration.

The dry matter intake for high producers varies according to type of ration and can range from 2.5 to 5 lb of dry matter per 100 pounds body weight.

Forages vary considerably in protein and energy. Where stored forages are used in abundance, a forage test should be conducted periodically.

Table 1 contains information on DM intake for cows on various rations. Table 2 contains information on DM intake for cows of various sizes producing different levels of milk.

Tables

Table 1. 

Dry matter intake on various rations in Florida.

Treatment

DM

intake

(% body wt)

Milk

(lb)

Milk

fat

(%)

Daily

wt. gain

(lb)

Ensiled complete

ration

3.1

41.1

4.8

0.99

Ration blended

at feeding

3.2

41.6

4.8

0.79

Silage and concentrate

fed separately

3.1

42.5

5.0

1.30

Complete (bagasse)

feed

3.9

47.8

4.1

1.10

Complete (CS hulls)

feed

4.1

50.2

3.8

0.75
Table 2. 

Estimated DM intake at various levels of production and body weight (4% FCM).

FCM

Body weight of cows (lb)

(lb/day)

900

1100

1300

1400

20

2.6

2.3

2.1

2.1

40

3.4

3.1

2.8

2.7

60

4.1

3.7

3.4

3.2

70

4.6

4.0

3.6

3.5

80

5.1

4.3

3.8

3.7

90

5.5

4.7

4.1

3.9

100

--

5.0

4.4

4.2

*NRC 1988; FCM = fat correct milk

Footnotes

1.

This document is DS 43, one of a series of the Animal Science Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date September 1992. Reviewed June 2003. Visit the EDIS Web Site at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.

2.

Professor, Dairy Science Department, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville.

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Millie Ferrer-Chancy, Interim Dean.