An essential nutrient in dairy rations, cows typically need 15 to 20 per cent of their metabolisable energy (ME) to come from fat, which may be equivalent to more than 6 per cent fat in the ration dry matter (DM) for high-yielding cows.
“These key feed supplements help ensure the fat requirements of the animal are met while also providing a concentrated source of energy without adding to the acid load in the rumen as is the case with starchy cereal energy sources,” Dr Kirkland said.
“Looking at the blend of fatty acids within a fat supplement offers the ability for farmers to target specific areas of cow performance to support their milk contract.”
In rations based on forage and cereals, meeting energy requirements with a nutrient-dense and rumen-safe ingredient is essential.
As a macronutrient, fat is energy dense with 500g of a fat supplement like Megalac increasing energy density by 0.5 MJ/kg DM.
Dr Kirkland said compared to cereals, it contains more than 2.5 times the energy density while protecting rumen function, and improving milk production and feed efficiency.
He said from supporting body condition and conception rates to milk production, meeting energy requirements is essential for the short and long-term performance of a dairy herd.
“The multi-purpose benefits of rumen-protected fat supplements make them a great catch-all ingredient in dairy rations to give farmers a greater return on investment from their feed inputs.
“There are a lot of feed ingredients that will fulfil one role in a ration — but only rumen-protected fat delivers a highly-concentrated energy source without risk to rumen function, and enabling specific areas of herd performance to be targeted.”
