I have two scenarios I am working on currently. The first is an Amish herd, current customer making 75-78 lbs milk and normal summertime Bfat on the herd will be 3.5%, Fall & Winter months 3.8. We have been as low as 3.2 and have gotten back to 3.35. Starch in the diet is 25%, good quality forage and RUFAL around 400 grams. We are currently @ .50 lbs Bicarb with a 57 % forage/ high Corn Silage diet with the dairy using Ear Corn and a Supplement. Cud chew is very good and I’m scratching my head thinking perhaps a wild yeast in forage is affecting our rumen.

The second scenario is a 260 cow dairy, non customer, making 85 lbs milk RHA 26,550 and has been as low as 3.35 Bfat. The current nutritionist has the dairy feeding 4 lbs Whole Cottonseed and perhaps 1 lb Corn Distillers coming in through a Custom Conc. Current Bfat since adding Palm Fat has the herd @ 3.65 % and normally the herd averages 3.9 during the winter months. The herd is 25% overcrowded, excellent intakes, Body Condition is good with great genetics. The dairy is well managed with a focus on forage quality and timing of cut on Alfalfa Haylage.
the RUFAL load from the WCS & Distillers would be around 450-460 grams alone…………… I haven’t calculated RUFAL from forage or HMSC. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thank You,
Jim Zimmerman, PAS
Top O The Hill Nutrition, LLC