How much do cows eat?

Did you know that the average dairy cow can eat over 100 lbs. of feed per day.

Many of the older cows will even eat around 120 lbs. per day when they are at peak milk production. That means each cow is can eat about 18 tons of feed per year. Dairy cows are like athletes and do a great job converting feed into the energy they need for maintenance and milk production.

The main factor in how much a cow will eat depends on her milk production. A cow that is milking will eat more feed than a cow that is not milking.

Feed consumption comparison between a milking cow and a dry cow

The amount of feed that cows eat will follow milk production very closely. There is a direct correlation in cows between milk production and feed consumption.

The amount of feed a cow eats follows milk production

There are a variety of factors that can influence how much a cow will eat:

• Genetics – The breed of the cow will largely determine how much feed is eaten; dairy cows eat more than beef cow breeds because they are converting that feed to milk. Beef cows convert feed to body fat and so eat less. Holstein cows are a bit bigger than the Jersey cows so the Holsteins need a bit more feed for body maintenance.
• Milk Production – The amount of milk a cow is producing is the largest factor affecting how much feed a cow eats. If a cow is producing high amount of milk, she needs more food. There is a direct correlation between how much a how eats and how much she will produce.
• Health Condition – A Sick cow will eat less than healthy cows. Just like when people get sick, cows will eat less when they’re not feeling well.
• Reproductive status – Being pregnant will mean that a cow needs to eat more feed. It’s often not noticed because cows that are pregnant begin to drop in milk production so the amount of feed needed for milk production is reduced over time even though a pregnant cow will need more energy for the baby.
• Age – Younger cows eat less than older cows. Even though younger cows put more energy towards growth. Older cows put more energy towards milk production because they no longer need that energy to grow.
• Temperature/ Weather – Weather is a big factor on a cows diet. If it is too cold, cows will eat more so they can sustain normal body function – more feed will be used for maintenance to keep warm. In the summer, heat stress can reduce a cow’s appetite.
• Feed Consistency – Believe it or not, the consistency of the feed can also affect a cow’s eating habits. Cows are creatures of habit and any significant changes to their food (like changing types of grass or forages) will cause them to eat less. They like eating the same things each day.

Keeping it Balanced

To make sure cows get proper nutrition, we have a nutritionist balance the cow’s meal specifically for her needs. The nutritionist balances all the macronutrients and micronutrients to make sure the cow gets all the nutrition it needs for proper health. Carbohydrates, fat, protein, vitamins, minerals, ect. The nutritionist even gets into the micronutrients, making sure they get all the essential amino acids and in the proper balance. Gym bros be jealous.

The majority of the cow’s diet is grass, but some grains are used to balance the amount of protein and energy. Cows need to eat a balanced meal.

A variety of factors can affect the nutritional content of feeds so they are checked so the cows ration can be balanced accurately. Every type of feed (alfalfa hay, corn silage, oats, rye grass, sorghum grass, ect.) is analyzed to check the nutrient content that is available for the cows. The hay grown early in the summer has a different nutrient content than hay grown late in the season.

Some of the different nutrients that are analyzed in cows feed

Is feeding cows a “waste” of food

Feeding cows is not wasteful because cows are bio-converters of low quality feeds. Cows take low quality foods that humans cannot digest and convert them to highly nutritious and absorbable forms.

Cows convert fiber to milk

Grass and other forages cannot be eaten efficiently by people. If these grasses are eaten by people, they provide very little nutrition – mostly because they are so high in fiber. Because of the way the cow’s stomach is designed, the cows can take fiber and convert it to milk – which is rich in protein, fat, sugar, vitamins, minerals, and other bioactive compounds. A much higher quality food.

Dairy Cows and Feed Efficiency

Interestingly, today’s dairy cow is more feed efficient than cows in the past. Many dairies today are focused on breeding cows for better feed converting abilities

Cows today are more feed efficient and have a lower environmental hoofprint