Stop the Butterfat Slide This Summer

• Facebook
• Twitter
• LinkedIn
• Email

By Dan Smith, PAS

The heat of summer is upon us and it's only going to worsen. The combination of heat and humidity seems to compound problems for dairy cows. They struggle to cool down, intakes drop, butterfat decreases, production declines, and feet become sore. Maintaining milk and its components can be challenging, but with careful ration work, it can be achieved.

High-quality, digestible feeds are essential. Striving to produce the best quality haylage is important. Chop length, moisture, and overall quality are key factors. The difference between average haylage and high-quality haylage is significant. Feeding 50% haylage in a diet, the variance between an 18% haylage and 23% haylage translates to a savings of $0.40 per cow on just protein feeding.

Monitoring feed intakes is crucial. Whenever different feeds are added or removed from rations, daily feed intake must be tracked. Rations need adjustment with any changes. Inaccuracies in the moisture content of new feeds can exacerbate problems more rapidly in summer heat. Maintaining adequate fiber in the ration can help preserve butterfat levels. Adjustments to summer feeding of starches are necessary. Incorporating some slower-digesting starches can help maintain butterfat.

Reducing starch levels in the diet to maintain butterfat may require adding fat to sustain milk production. A combination of fats is preferable. Some vegetable fats are acceptable. Including palm fats can be beneficial for rumen digesting bugs. While cheaper fats may not be optimal for butterfat production, they can be included in limited amounts.

Supplementing extra minerals can be beneficial in summer heat. Excessive sweating and urination result in losses of sodium and potassium. Sodium bicarbonate is particularly important; feeding levels as high as 8 ounces can help maintain butterfat levels.

Incorporating feed stabilizers like crop cure or TMR stabilizer into your TMR for summer feeding can be advantageous. Crop cure (acetic acid) prevents mold growth and keeps the mix cooler for the cows. TMR stabilizer provides various components, including electrolytes, yeast buffers, and magnesium, in one package. These additives enhance TMR palatability and promote healthier cows that can better tolerate heat. The cost to add these products varies from $0.20 to $0.50 per cow. Considering the current high butterfat price payment, even a slight drop from 4.2% to 3.6% would result in a loss of $1.66 per cow. It's essential to take preventive measures to prevent this decline as it's easier to maintain components than to try and recover them after a drop.

There are numerous strategies that can be implemented on a farm to combat the heat stress of summer. These include adding fans, keeping waterers clean and providing adequate space for everyone, pushing up feed more frequently, and utilizing feed additives. Having your trusted feed nutritionist inspect your facility can yield significant benefits for your bottom line.