Key Points
- Barley at $260 per tonne is a more cost effective supplement for dairy cows than grass silage at 19c/kgDM.
- There are significant cost savings for dairy farmers from feeding grains as compared to grass silage in terms of labour, reduced wastage and reduced depreciation.
- Grain is an energy dense supplement, therefore when cows consume 1 kgDM, they will get more energy from grain than they will from grass silage.
- Feeding grain is more efficient at putting on cow condition, will increase milk production and can improve fertility by giving the cow a greater source of energy than grass or pasture silage.
- Supplementary feeds, such as grains, can overcome short term deficits but are not cost effective when there is plenty of grass available.
- Supplementary feeds can produce a more even milk flow, especially through the summer and late autumn; and in late lactation, supplementary feed can lengthen the lactation.