Take Home Messages

• Determine the optimal economic approach when deciding the optimal number of groups and number of rations. • Multiple TMR can reduce feed cost per cow per day IF milk yield drop is less than 3 pounds per cow per day. • Explore different ways to use the same TMR using under dressing, top dressing, and other feeding approaches. • Monitor on an individual herd basis strategic benchmarks to decide how TMR patterns should change: milk price, feed prices, lead factors, amount of weigh back, forages available, reproductive success, and body condition score. Feed delivery systems continue to change and evolve as herd sizes increase, by-product feeds become economically attractive, and milk and feed prices shift monthly. Hoard’s Dairyman 2008 market survey of U.S. dairy managers reported 58.2 percent of surveyed herds were feeding total mixed rations. With current market changes and the loss of rBST in some milk markets, questions on using one ration mix compared to several ration approach have been raised. This paper will respond to questions and concerns raised by dairy managers, nutritionists, and veterinarians. Answers are farm specific and will depend on current feeds available, herd profile, and future milk prices. What is a one group TMR? The “one ration ” approach in this paper will be one ration that is mixed for all lactating cows balanced for one level of nutrients and fed to all groups or milk production strings. Guidelines for a one ration TMR are listed in Table 1. Most rations will be balanced at 80 to 90 pounds of milk allowing for higher dry matter intake to meet the nutrient needs of cows over 100 pounds of milk. Also, balancing at 80 to 90 pounds of milk results in maximum levels of fats/oils and starch with minimum levels of fiber and protein. Some managers will fine tune the use of one ration in th