The most common feeds for dairy cows can be broadly divided into two categories: roughage and concentrates. Roughage forms the foundation of a dairy cow's daily ration, accounting for the vast majority of its feed intake and nutritional needs.
Roughage
This forms the basis of dairy cow diets, typically comprising more than 50% of their dry matter intake.
It mainly includes: corn silage (the most common and primary component), hay (such as alfalfa hay and sheepgrass), and fresh pasture.
Functions: Provides basic satiety, maintains rumen health, and is an important source of fiber.
Nutritional Supplement --Concentrates
Concentrates are used to supplement the nutrients lacking in roughage, such as energy, protein, minerals, and vitamins, to achieve nutritional balance and meet the needs of dairy cows for milk production, growth, and reproduction.
Energy Feeds
Grains: Corn (flaked, ground), barley, sorghum, wheat, etc., mainly provide starch and energy.
By-products: Wheat bran, rice bran, etc., provide energy, as well as some fiber and phosphorus.
Protein Feeds
Plant-based Protein:
Soybean meal: The most commonly used bulk protein source, derived from a byproduct of soybean oil extraction.
Rapeseed meal, cottonseed meal: Also important protein supplements.
Other protein sources: Whole cottonseed is a very popular dairy cow feed, containing fat, protein, and fiber, often referred to as a "three-in-one" feed for dairy farms.
Other Supplements
Mineral and Vitamin Premixes: Ensure dairy cows receive essential calcium, phosphorus, salts, trace elements (such as zinc, copper, selenium), and vitamins (A, D, E, etc.).
Fats: Sometimes rumen-treated fat powder is added to provide extra energy for high-producing dairy cows.
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A typical daily diet example
A high-yielding Holstein dairy cow's daily diet might look like this (on a dry matter basis):
| Corn silage | 40% - 50% (energy base) |
| Alfalfa hay/silage | 15% - 25% (protein and fiber base) |
| Concentrate supplement (containing soybean meal, corn, bran, premix, etc.) | 25% - 35% |
For dairy cows raised on a large scale, the most common feed combination is "corn silage + alfalfa (silage or hay) + concentrate supplement".
