The Business of Milk Production

The Business of Milk Production

The dairy operation ultimately is about milk production. A number of factors influence your profitability: forage quality, nutrient supply, ration formulation, animal environment, health, cow comfort and conditions throughout the transition period. The three most common production issues facing dairy operations are overall milk production, milk composition, and peak milk. Cargill Animal Nutrition consultants work with you to develop production management recommendations and improvements.

We first take a look at your business goals, production management and nutritional concerns. We then use the MAX™ system to analyze your current diet and look at your feeding management practices. We evaluate production records and check on rumen function with the Cargill Digestion Analyzer. Your specific objectives may require additional analyses and evaluations such as those listed below. Our consultants work with you to achieve the right ration recommendations and help you track progress toward your goals.

Improving Production

Analyze forage and feeding management practices
Conduct a Production Management Audit of your facilities
Evaluate animal health and reproduction records
Develop a customized product

Resolving Milk Composition Issues

Analyze practices using tools like the Penn State Particle Separator
Evaluate bunk management issues such as feed sorting
Compare rumen pH to the Rumen Health Index Model for optimum milk fat
Review milk protein potential against the Dairy Digestible Amino Acid Model
Evaluate dietary fat levels and composition in light of milk fat and protein goals
Develop a customized product

Boosting Peak Production

Analyze forage practices
Conduct a Production Management Audit reviewing far-off dry, close-up dry, fresh, and high group pens
Evaluate herd health records
Focus the dietary analysis on transition and high cow diets
Use the MAX™ system Transition Cow Model to develop ration recommendations