Feeding practices can support persistent dairy lactation
As the calving period advances, later-calving cows with body-condition scores of 5.0–5.5 can remain on maintenance diets. This approach is intended to reduce metabolic risk while supporting animal health and reproductive performance. Feed management therefore changes across the season rather than following one fixed ration for all cows.
Before mating, the feeding priority becomes maximising intake of high-energy dry matter. Energy is frequently the first nutrient in short supply during early lactation. The amount and quality of pasture are consequently important production factors, while additional energy from pasture can reduce dependence on supplements that cost more.
Feed allocation needs to be accurate. Allocating feed carefully can help increase intake, reduce waste, reveal pasture in excess of immediate requirements and preserve pasture quality. These tasks link day-to-day feeding decisions with the condition of the pasture available for subsequent grazing or harvest.
Supplements are recommended only when they have a defined nutritional purpose. The first check is whether the ration meets energy requirements. Feed managers can then assess whether additional protein, fibre or carbohydrate is required, using tools such as FeedChecker. The order of these checks is intended to match the supplement with the identified nutrient requirement.
DairyBase data cited in the guidance shows that each $1 spent on supplementary feed can add $1.50–$2.00 to total costs. The figures are presented as a reason to use supplements selectively and to identify their role before allocating them. They do not replace the initial assessment of energy supply from pasture and other feed.
Lactation persistence is linked in the guidance to several management measures: limiting the decline in body condition between calving and mating, keeping residual pasture at target levels and changing rotation length as the rate of leaf emergence changes. Spring pasture is identified as the least expensive feed source. Managing it supports milk production, pasture quality and profitability, while DairyNZ provides feed tools and resources for these decisions.
