June 13, 2009

Higher methionine supply may improve milk output from alfafa

Alfafa silage can constitute a large portion of the forage dry matter of lactating cow rations in the Midwest.

During the research's trials, cows ate 48 pounds of dry matter, of which 20 pounds was alfafa silage, 12 pounds corn silage, 12 pounds high moisture shelled corn, 1.7 pounds soymeal, 1.9 pounds roasted beans, 1.3 pounds ground corn plus mineral and vitamin supplements.

When cows were supplemented with 13 grammes of a commercial rumen protected methionine product, there was a difference of two additional pounds in milk production whereas feed efficiency improved from 1.66 to 1.72.

At current market prices the supplement represents almost 16 cents per day for a response of two pounds of milk, or about 20 cents in return, said South Dakota Cooperative Extension Service Dairy Specialist Alvaro Garcia.

"But more importantly, what also has to be factored in this calculation is that at current high feed prices, improving feed efficiency by four percent results in an additional 20 cents deducted from the feed costs. That is, the additional milk produced and the increased feed efficiency put about 25 cents extra per cow in the producer's pocket at the end of the day," Garcia said.