Melaku Dinku

25/01/2024

14/07/2022

How much maize silage should you feed a dairy cow?

Maize silage

Farmers are increasingly using maize silage as a source of feed for dairy cows in Kenya. Maize silage has important nutrients that can help the cow increase milk production and also ensure that milk production is maintained during the dry season. Higher milk production means higher income for farmer.

How much should you feed a dairy cow?

· If you are going to do a good job of feeding your cow, then you should have an estimate of the cow’s weight.

· The easiest way to get a cow’s weight is using a weighing band, which you can buy in the nearest agrovet.

· A cow in milk will eat 2 % of their body weight as forage dry matter and good quality silage is approximately one-third dry matter, so 2% x 3 is 6% of their body weight each day.

· Therefore, a cow of 500 kg should eat 30 Kgs of silage (6% * 500 = 30 kg).

· With a balanced ration composed of good maize silage (30 kg) and dairy meal/concentrates (5 kg) representing in total 15 kg of dry matter, a cow that is well managed can produce at least 20 litres of milk per day.

___________________
NOW AVAILABLE!!

FACT SHEET 2, FEEDING MAIZE SILAGE TO DAIRY COWS ( e-copies), Kindly pay ksh 100 via mpesa Till Number 664444 and text your email to 0724512194, Indicate F2

30/01/2022

430

27/01/2022