Dairy Cow Feed Ration: A Practical Guide
By Saleh Kamal Al-Saleh, dairy farm and cheese factory owner, founder of Lebnara · Last updated:
Feed is the largest cost on a dairy farm, often more than half of all costs. The right ration is not the most expensive one, but the one that gives the highest milk output at the lowest cost per litre while keeping the cow healthy. These are general principles; the final ration should be reviewed by a nutritionist based on your feeds and their analysis.
How much does a dairy cow eat?
A lactating cow typically eats dry matter equal to about 3 to 4% of her body weight per day. A 600 kg cow producing 25 litres needs roughly 20 to 22 kg of dry matter daily.
Note this is dry matter, not feed as fed. Silage has only about 30 to 35% dry matter, while barley and straw are around 88 to 90%.
Forage-to-concentrate ratio
- Forage (straw, hay, silage, clover) should not fall below 40 to 50% of dry matter, to protect the rumen and milk fat.
- Concentrate above 60% raises the risk of acidosis and lowers milk fat.
- A common rule of thumb: about 1 kg of concentrate for every 2 to 2.5 litres of milk above maintenance, adjusted for forage quality.
Protein and energy
A high-producing cow needs about 16 to 18% crude protein in total dry matter. Too little protein lowers output; too much wastes money and can hurt fertility.
Main energy sources are yellow corn and barley; main protein sources are soybean meal, cottonseed meal and clover.
Example concentrate mix
A common regional example for illustration only. Proportions change with ingredient prices, availability and forage type.
| Ingredient | Share of mix |
|---|---|
| Ground yellow corn | 35 - 40% |
| Ground barley | 20 - 25% |
| Soybean meal | 20 - 25% |
| Wheat bran | 10 - 15% |
| Mineral and vitamin premix | 1.5 - 2% |
| Limestone (calcium carbonate) | 1% |
| Salt | 0.5 - 1% |
| Sodium bicarbonate | 0.5 - 1% |
The metric that matters: feed cost per litre of milk
Do not compare rations by price per tonne; compare them by feed cost per litre of milk. Add up everything the herd ate in a month and divide by the milk produced in the same month.
Example: a herd that uses 3,000 JOD of feed a month and produces 9,000 litres has a feed cost of 0.33 JOD per litre. If you switch to a ration that costs 10% more but raises output by 15%, the cost per litre falls even though feed is more expensive.
Track feeding efficiency in Lebnara
In the farm module you record feed items, their unit cost and quantities, and log milk daily. The software then shows feed cost per litre, feed as a share of total cost, and the expected run-out date of each item, so you can measure the effect of any ration change in numbers.
Frequently asked questions
- How many kilograms of concentrate does a cow need per day?
- It depends on her yield and forage quality. A rough guide is about 1 kg per 2 to 2.5 litres of milk above maintenance.
- How do I know the ration is right?
- Watch milk yield and fat, body condition and feed cost per litre, and ask a nutritionist to analyse your feeds.
Try the feed ration calculator
Pick the cheapest mix from your available ingredients and forecast milk and profit.