One of the keys to achieving profitability in a dairy herd is feeding adequate amounts of high quality forage. Feed represents more than 50% of the total cost of production therefore it is important to plan ahead the amount and quality of forage needed in the dairy operation. Forward planning minimizes the risk of running out of forage and having to buy at inopportune times. For instance, many times hay prices climb in late winter and spring due, in part, to an increase in demand caused by livestock producers not anticipating their forage needs.
A good way to reduce the risk of purchasing hay at high prices is to periodically determine forage requirements and supplies throughout the year. This allows the anticipation of shortages and gives the producer time to plan ahead. If shortages are discovered in advance, several options exist to fix the situation:
1. purchase hay or other forage;
2. reduce animal numbers;
3. re-balance rations, substituting some high fiber co-products for a portion of the forage;
4. re-balance rations, reallocating forages based on availability.
In addition, in order to determine amounts of forage and hay supplies, separating forages by quality (especially in a year when forage is expensive) may help to increase farm profitability. For instance, if only prime quality hay is available and an inventory indicates that a shortage of total forage exists, a lower quality hay to feed pregnant heifers can be purchased. This may prevent from running out of forage and to purchase prime hay, sometimes difficult to find, for lactating cows.
A forage inventory should be done every three months. This will help you to avoid dramatic ration changes caused by poor allocation of forage, i.e. running out of hay and having to switch to an all corn silage ration, or running out of corn silage and replace it with triticale silage. It is better to make small adjustments in rations than to run out and make a drastic change. Cows do not adjust well to dramatic ration changes, and planning ahead to anticipate changes is the best way to avoid drops in production and cattle health.
Developing a Feed Inventory
Three basic questions relate to the development of a forage inventory:
1. How much forage is required for all animals?
2. What is the total forage supply available?
3. How can a feeding program be developed on the forage supply available and the different forage needs of animals?