There are a number of different feed systems used by farmers to optimise results on farm.

Different feed systems have allowed prospective dairy farmers to begin producing milk in a wide variety of climates – from the deserts of the Middle East to the tropical climate in Far North Queensland.

By choosing the correct system for your farm, you can optimise your results, leading to healthier cows, better milk production and fewer animal health issues.

Types of dairy farming feed systems

According to Dairy Australia, there are five main feed systems Australian dairy farmers typically choose from.

They list them as:

‘1. Pasture + other forages + low grain/concentrate feeding in bail

(Grazed pasture + other forages + up to 1.0 tonne grain/concentrates fed in bail).

2. Pasture + other forages + moderate-high grain/concentrate feeding in bail

(Grazed pasture + other forages + more than 1.0 tonne grain/concentrates fed in bail).

3. Pasture + partial mixed ration ± grain/concentrate feeding in bail

(Pasture grazed for most or all of year + partial mixed ration on feed pad ±

grain/concentrates fed in bail).

4. Hybrid system

(Pasture grazed for less than nine months per year + partial mixed ration on feed pad ±

grain/concentrates fed in bail).

5. TMR system

(Zero grazing. Cows housed and fed total mixed ration)’

Each system has pros and cons, but the most important thing is to select the most suitable system based on your unique climate, financial constraints, infrastructure, machinery, labour availability and skill levels, and personal preference.

How to incorporate probiotics into your chosen feed system

Many factors go into choosing the correct feed system for your dairy farm. You may be wondering whether probiotics are suitable, practical, or even necessary in your system. The good news is no matter which system you run, probiotics can help you get the best out of your herd, and APS has a solution that will work for you.

BioPro SuperStart and BioPro DFM can be added to the feed bail in the shed, meaning that no matter which system you run, you can feed out probiotics. The advantage of feeding out directly into the feed bail is that you can ensure that each cow gets her daily ration.

However, if you run system 3, 4 or 5 and feed a ration out onto the feed pad, you also have the option to add either Biopro SuperStart or BioPro DFM to the feed pad mix. This is useful for farms which don’t have feed bails in shed, so that the herd can still benefit from the multiple benefits associated with feeding probiotics to cattle.

Now that you know your options for feeding out probiotics based on your farm’s feed system, explore our site to find out about the benefits of probiotics and how they can help you to optimise production, reduce animal health costs and streamline your calving management.

Contact us here for more information about the right products for your herd.