Nutrition and Feeding

Access resources on dairy cattle nutrition and feeding, including nutrition requirements, cattle feed management, water supply, and supplements. Find useful information and webinars on feeding and weaning calves, such as using calf milk replacer and colostrum.

Dairy Cattle Nutrition Management

Three types of nutritional management systems are typically used in dairy production – total mixed rations, component-fed rations, and pasture-based systems. Make the most of Penn State Extention’s dairy experts’ advice on each of these systems at our Dairy Cattle Nutrition Workshop. You can also access our free feed management monitoring tool for lactating cows, dry cows, and heifers.

The total mixed ration (TMR) nutritional system is perhaps the most widely adopted method for feeding high-producing dairy cows. As long as quality control is maintained, commodity ingredients can be effectively included in a dairy herd TMR diet, making it cost-effective.

Component-fed nutrition systems are also very common. Producers feed their herd with forages and concentrates separately throughout the day, usually following a fiber, energy, and protein feed sequence. Resources on component-fed nutrition and supplements are also available in this section.

Additionally, you can find information on precision feeding strategies and technologies, byproduct feeds, and even on precision feeding as a cost management mechanism.

Managing dairy herd nutrition for pastured cattle poses numerous challenges. Use Penn State Extension’s resources on nutrition models for lactating cows on pasture, pasturing dry cows and heifers, as well as advice on necessary dietary minerals and supplements.

Feed for Heifers, Lactating, and Dry Cows

Dairy cattle nutrition requirements are unique at each stage of lactation. Here you can find information and tools for managing the feeds for heifers, lactating, and dry cows.

Look up our resources on feed efficiency and controlling feed costs for heifers, or use the dairy heifer diet formulator tool.

Read more on the dietary needs of transition cows. Information on lactating cows’ nutritional needs is also readily available here, as well as in the Dairy Production and Milk Quality section.

Forage and Pasture Quality, Water Supply, and Use of Supplements

Dairy cattle should consume enough forage material – pasture grasses, fodder, and silage – to meet their daily caloric requirements. This can be achieved through grazing, using feeding equipment, or a combination of both. Common wet and dry forage materials include corn, barley, hay, alfalfa, and pasture grasses.

Learn how to determine forage quality, and understand forage ranking quality factors. Use our resources to get actionable insights on pasture quality and dairy grazing management.

To ensure the health and productivity of their cattle, dairy producers add various supplements and additives to the feed. High-energy supplements are often used for pasture-based nutritional systems, as are fat and alternative forage supplements.

Adequate intake of clean water is just as important as feeding for healthy cattle and milk production. You can find more information on cattle water requirements here, and get advice on watering systems in the Dairy Facilities and Milking Equipment section.

Feeding cows the right amount of food in the right combination helps them to maintain a healthy weight. Underweight or malnourished cows are unlikely to produce a high volume of good milk. Body condition scoring can help you determine whether a cow is at a healthy weight.

Weaning Strategies for Calves

Comprehensive resources related to feeding and weaning calves are also available here. From feeding the newborn dairy calf to colostrum supplements and feeding milk replacer, you can find all the necessary information and tools to manage calves’ nutrition needs. The Calf Milk Pasteurization Evaluator can also be a useful tool for producers, helping them determine the costs of operating a pasteurizer and feeding waste milk to calves.

Additionally, Penn State Extension provides insights and best practices on weaning strategies and nutrition considerations. You can browse our Dairy Cow Reproduction section for even more information on dairy cattle breeding and calving.