Managing Dairy Cattle
Dairy cattle have special dietary needs when compared to those of beef cattle. It’s been established that during the first 21 days of lactation a cow can experience a large number of physical changes and subsequent stress.
This is because cows must first withstand the stress of calving, then adjust to a ration change to help compensate for the increased demands of milk production.
In most cases, the cows that experience the greatest amount of difficulty are those that have a reduced feed intake. This is in response to a drop in their ruminal pH as a result of the stress of calving.
Through correcting the pH and thereby increasing feed intake, the proper pH can be maintained. This optimizes chances of having a healthy cow that is able to better maintain body condition and produce higher-quality milk.