Bonus Tydskrif SPRING SUMMER 2024 FINAL

How on-farm service can improve The autumn slump is a common occurrence among dairy cows in South Africa, which is caused by the interplay of various environmental, physiological, andmanagement factors. During the autumn season, as temperatures start to decrease and daylight hours become shorter, several significant factors contribute to a decline inmilk production and the overall health of dairy cows. As the autumn season arrives, farmers face additional challenges that worsen the decline in milk production. The Autumn Slump Chris Taylor, Technical Advisor Dairy, De Heus Forage quality and availability: Autumn marks the transition from lush summer pastures to drier, less nutritious forage. This shift in diet can impact the nutritional intake of dairy cows, leading to a decrease in milk production. Additionally, the decline in pasture quality and availability may necessitate an increased reliance on supplementary feed (maize silage), which may not always provide the optimal balance of nutrients required for peak lactation and thus rations need to be balanced correctly. Temperature fluctuations: High daily temperatures, cause heat stress which has a negative impact on dry matter intake (DMI). A reduction in DMI has a direct negative impact on cow weights and milk production as the energy needs of the cow are not met. Heat stress also uses up glucose in the body which increases the energy requirement even further. In pasture- based systems, forage to concentrate ratio is upset as cows don’t like to graze in the heat yet consume their concentrate in the parlour. This causes a drop in rumen pH and has a negative impact on butter fat production. Heat stress can further impact reproductive efficiency, potentially leading to delayed conception and longer calving intervals. Autumn / Herfs 2024 BONUS www.agribonus.co.za 40 How on-farm service can improve The autumn slump is a common occurrence among dairy cows in South Africa, which is c used by the interplay of various environmental, physiological, andmanagement factors. During the autu n season, as temperatures start to decrease and daylight hours become shorter, several significant f ctors contribute to a decline inmilk production and the overall healt of dairy cows. As th utum season arrives, f rmer face additional challenges that worsen the decline in milk production. The Autumn Slump Chris Taylor, Technical Advisor Dairy, De Heus Forage quality and av ilability: Autu n marks the transition from lush summer pastures to rier, less nutritious forage. This shift in diet can impact th nutrition l intake of dairy cows, lea ing to a decrease i milk production. Additionally, the decline in pasture quality and availability may necessitate an increased reliance on supplementary feed (maize silage), which may not always provid the optimal balance of nutrients required for peak lact tion and thus rations need to be balanced correctly. Temperature fluctuations: High daily temperatur s, cause heat stress which has a negative impact on dry matter intake (DMI). A reduction i DMI has a direct negative impact on cow weights and milk production as the energy needs of the cow are not met. Heat stress also uses up glucose in the body which increases the energy requirement even further. In pasture- based systems, forage to concentrate ratio is upset as cows don’t like to graze in the heat yet cons me their concentrate in the parlour. This causes a drop in rumen pH nd has a negative impact on butter fat production. Heat stress can further impact reproductive efficiency, pote tially leading to delayed conception and longer calving intervals. Autumn / Herfs 2024 BONUS w ww.agribonus.co.za 40 Chris Taylor, Technical Specialist Dairy, De Heus The autumn slump is a co on occ rr ir co s in South Africa, which is caused by t i t r l f rious environ ental, physiol gical, and management f ct rs. Duri t t se son, as temperatures start to decrease and daylight hours become shorter, several significant factors contribute t li i il r tion and the overall health of dairy cows. As the autumn season arrives, farmers face addi ional challenges that worsen the decline i milk production. Forage ality a v il bility Aut n rk th tr siti fr lush summer stures to rier, less nutritious for e. This shift i i t can p ct the nutrition l int k f iry co s, lea ing to ecre se ilk roduction. A ition lly, the ecline i st re quali y and availability may n ces itate an incr ased reliance on supple entary feed ( ize sil e), ic y not lw ys provi e the o ti l l ce of nutrients re uire f r eak l ct tion n thus r tions ee t e l nce correctly. r ture ctu ti High ily te er t res cause heat stress hich s a negative impact on dry matter intake (DMI). A reduction in I h s ir t tiv i t co ei hts d ilk r u ti s t energy nee s f t co r t t. Heat stress also uses up glucose in the body which increase the en rgy r quir t f rt r. I t r sed s st s, f r -t -concentrate r tio i p et a ’t li graze in the h at, y t consume their conc ntrate in the parlour. This c uses a drop in rumen pH and has a negative imp ct on butter fat production. Heat stress can further impac r productive efficiency, potentially leading to delayed conception and longer c lving interv ls. Spring/Summer 2024 BONUS www.agribonus.co.za 40