1-82 Weekly/10 day Feed Budget Template
Working backwards from target
This template can be used for any period of time starting at the target average pasture cover
required at the end of the period.
For example it can be used to generate the 10 day or weekly pasture cover targets for the late
autumn/winter, starting with the target APC at calving.
For cow intakes refer to Tables 1 - 4 below. All the intakes are shown as kg DM eaten per cow
per day i.e. “down the cow’s throat”. Therefore, when allocating feed an allowance needs to be
made for utilisation.
An example template is attached for a farm, for the last month before calving which has a target
cover at calving of 2300 kg DM/ha.
For further information contact the DairyNZ Farmer Information Service on 0800 4 DairyNZ
(0800 43247969) or your local DairyNZ Consulting Officer
Table 1
Maintenance Requirements – Kg DM Eaten/cow/day
(for diets of 11.0 ME/kg DM)
Kg Lwt
350
400
450
500
550
Calving – 12 weeks before calving
4.6
5.0
5.5
6.1
6.3
12 Weeks before calving
5.1
5.7
6.3
7.0
7.4
8 Weeks before calving
5.6
6.4
7.0
7.8
8.2
4 Weeks before Calving
6.5
7.3
8.2
9.4
10.0
Notes: Add 0.15 kg DM per cow for every kilometre walked over 2 km per day
Add 0.2 kg DM per cows for every 100 meters climbed per day
Add/subtract 5% for diets below/above 11.0 MJME/kg DM
Table 2
Milksolids Requirements – kg DM Eaten/kg MS (for diets of 11.0 ME/kg DM)
Jersey
Crossbred
Friesian
Kg DM to produce 1.0 kg MS
6.5
6.8
7.0
Kg DM to produce 1.2 kg MS
7.8
8.2
8.4
Kg DM to produce 1.4 kg MS
9.1
9.5
9.8
Kg DM to produce 1.6 kg MS
10.4
10.9
11.2
Kg DM to produce 1.8 kg MS
11.7
12.2
12.6
Note: Add/subtract 8% for diets below/above 11.0 MJME/kg DM
Updated April 2008
Farm Fact 1-82
Page 2
Table 3
Condition Score Requirements – kg DM Eaten/condition score
(for diets of 11.0 ME/kg DM)
Autumn pasture or
Autumn pasture & good
quality grass silage
70% Autumn past & 30%
poor quality silage (9.0 ME)
70% Autumn past &
30%PKE or
60% Autumn past & 40%
avge maize silage or
80% Autumn past & 20%
grain
220
235
205
Note: Very difficult to put weight on with supplement less than 10.5ME/kg DM
Table 4
Requirements for Maintenance and Condition Score Gain – Kg DM
Eaten/cow/day (for diets of 11.0 ME/kg DM)
Time condition over which
condition put on
Average
Cow Lwt kg
CS Gain
400
450
525
30 – 120 days before Calving
1.0
8.3 (9.8)
8.9 (10.5)
9.8 (11.5)
30 – 120 days before Calving
2.0
10.9 (12.9)
11.5 (13.5)
12.4 (14.6)
30 – 90 days before Calving
1.5
11.9 (14.1)
12.5 (14.8)
13.5 (15.9)
30 – 90 days before Calving
1.0
10.0 (11.7)
10.6 (12.4)
11.5 (13.6)
30 – 90 days before Calving
0.5
8.0 (9.4)
8.6 (10.1)
9.6 (11.3)
30 – 60 days before Calving
1.0
14.3 (16.8)
14.9 (17.5)
15.9 (18.7)
30 – 60 days before Calving
0.5
10.3 (12.2)
10.9 (12.9)
11.9 (14.0)
Notes: Figures in brackets ( 0 ) are available feed offered per cow at 85% utilisation to achieve
intake
Add/subtract 5% for diets below/above 11.0 MJME/kg DM
Updated April 2008
FarmFact 1-82
Page 3
FEED BUDGET WORKING BACKWARDS FROM TARGET PASTURE COVER - EXAMPLE Month before calving 1st August
PERIOD
No. of
Days
Date
ANIMAL DEMAND
Date
Kg DM/cow/d
Feed Type kg DM/ha/day
(1) Total kgDM DEMAND /ha/day =
Other x
Kg DM/cow/d
Grass Growth
(2) Total kgDM SUPPLIED/ha/day=
Other x
Kg DM/cow/d
Silage
DEMAND – SUPPLY =
Total Daily Requirements (kg DM) =
Hay
Multiply by
Ensure cow intake allows for wastage
Nitrogen
(Change in cover in Period)
Divide by Effective ha
Other
Add Opening Cover 1/
Total kgDM SUPPLIED/ha/d (2)
Equals Closing Cover
FEED SUPPLY
PASTURE COVER
Kg DM/ha =
ANIMAL DEMAND
Date
days =
Cows x
Kg DM/cow/d
Feed Type kg DM/ha/day
(1) Total kgDM DEMAND /ha/day =
Other x
Kg DM/cow/d
Grass Growth
(2) Total kgDM SUPPLIED/ha/day=
Other x
Kg DM/cow/d
Silage
DEMAND – SUPPLY =
Total Daily Requirements (kg DM) =
Hay
Multiply by
Ensure cow intake allows for wastage
Nitrogen
(Change in cover in Period)
Divide by Effective ha
Other
Add Opening Cover
Total kgDM SUPPLIED/ha/d (2)
Equals Closing Cover
FEED SUPPLY
PASTURE COVER
Kg DM/ha =
Total kg DM/ha/day DEMAND (1)
PERIOD
No. of
Days
PASTURE COVER
Cows x
Total kg DM/ha/day DEMAND (1)
PERIOD
No. of
Days
FEED SUPPLY
ANIMAL DEMAND
days =
Cows x
Kg DM/cow/d
Feed Type kg DM/ha/day
(1) Total kgDM DEMAND /ha/day =
Other x
Kg DM/cow/d
Grass Growth
(2) Total kgDM SUPPLIED/ha/day=
Other x
Kg DM/cow/d
Silage
DEMAND – SUPPLY =
Total Daily Requirements (kg DM) =
Hay
Multiply by
Ensure cow intake allows for wastage
Nitrogen
(Change in cover in Period)
Divide by Effective ha
Other
Add Opening Cover
Total kgDM SUPPLIED/ha/d (2)
Equals Closing Cover
Kg DM/ha =
Total kg DM/ha/day DEMAND (1)
days =
1/
Opening cover for 1st period of budget is the average pasture cover required at the end of the budget period e.g. the APC at calving (the date that the MA cows start to
calve)
Updated April 2008
©DairyNZ 2008
FarmFact 1-82
Page 4
FEED BUDGET WORKING BACKWARDS FROM TARGET PASTURE COVER - EXAMPLE Month Before Calving 1st August
PERIOD
No. of
Days
11
Date
20-30th
July
ANIMAL DEMAND
300
Cows x
12
Kg DM/cow/d
3600
Date
10-20th
July
(2) Total kgDM SUPPLIED/ha/day=
36
Other x
Kg DM/cow/d
Silage – 3 cows/ha @ 5 kg DM/hd
15
DEMAND – SUPPLY =
0
Hay – 3 cows/ha @ 1 kg DM/hd
3
Multiply by
Nitrogen
8
(Change in cover in Period)
Divide by Effective ha
3600
100
Kg DM/ha =
36
ANIMAL DEMAND
Cows x
10
Kg DM/cow/d
3000
Date
1 -10th
July
36
Equals Closing Cover
days =
0
1st August
2300
th
20 July
2300
FEED SUPPLY
PASTURE COVER
Feed Type kg DM/ha/day
(1) Total kgDM DEMAND /ha/day =
30
Kg DM/cow/d
Grass Growth
10
(2) Total kgDM SUPPLIED/ha/day=
28
Other x
Kg DM/cow/d
Silage – 3 cows/ha @ 5 kg DM/hd
15
DEMAND – SUPPLY =
2
3000
Ensure cow intake allows for wastage
Divide by Effective ha
100
Kg DM/ha =
Cows x
10
Kg DM/cow/d
Hay
Nitrogen
30
ANIMAL DEMAND
3000
Multiply by
3
Other
Total kgDM SUPPLIED/ha/d (2)
10
20
20th July
2300
(Change in cover in Period)
Add Opening Cover
28
days =
Equals Closing Cover
th
10 July
2320
FEED SUPPLY
PASTURE COVER
Feed Type kg DM/ha/day
(1) Total kgDM DEMAND /ha/day =
30
Other x
Kg DM/cow/d
Grass Growth
10
(2) Total kgDM SUPPLIED/ha/day=
22
Other x
Kg DM/cow/d
Silage 3 cows/ha @ 4 kg DM/hd
12
DEMAND – SUPPLY =
8
Total Daily Requirements (kg DM) =
3000
Ensure cow intake allows for wastage
Divide by Effective ha
100
Kg DM/ha =
30
Total kg DM/ha/day DEMAND (1)
Updated April 2008
Add Opening Cover 1/
Other
Total kgDM SUPPLIED/ha/d (2)
11
Other x
Total Daily Requirements (kg DM) =
10
36
10
Ensure cow intake allows for wastage
300
(1) Total kgDM DEMAND /ha/day =
Grass Growth
Total kg DM/ha/day DEMAND (1)
PERIOD
No. of
Days
Feed Type kg DM/ha/day
Kg DM/cow/d
Total Daily Requirements (kg DM) =
300
PASTURE COVER
Other x
Total kg DM/ha/day DEMAND (1)
PERIOD
No. of
Days
10
FEED SUPPLY
Hay
Multiply by
Nitrogen
(Change in cover in Period)
Other
Add Opening Cover
Total kgDM SUPPLIED/ha/d (2)
22
10
Equals Closing Cover
days =
80
10th July
2320
th
30 June
2400
©DairyNZ 2008