Milk yield increases very quickly after calving and reaches its maximum in the range of the 4-7th week of lactation. Feed intake lags behind this development. It does not reach its peak until 8 to 11 weeks after calving. As a result, in early lactation, the energy requirement for the milk yield plus maintenance metabolism exceeds the energy intake that can be achieved through the feed.
The dairy cow goes through a phase of negative energy balance in the first 5 to 10 weeks, high-performance cows even up to 16 weeks of lactation*.
If too many cows are in this energy deficiency situation with declining body mass loss, this is an indication of too little energy and nutrient intake.

Signal values: F% < 4.0 and P% < 3.2 to 2.8 depending on the amount of milk

red

>= 35 % in the lactation section

orange

>= 25 % in the lactation setion + disturbed feed intake > = 8 % in the lactation setion >= 201 days

yellow

>= 25 to <35 % im Laktationsabschnitt + Energiemangel>= 10% in the lactation setion 31st to 100th day

Additional examinations:

Lactone content of milk > 200 mmol/l

* “Application of Body Condition Score…” R. Staufenbiel

Measures

Goal: Maximizing feed intake and thus ensuring a better energy supply

~4% of body mass. At lower levels, too much body mass is lost
Offer the best quality basic feed for free use (aim for 2% of body mass)
Rumination time should be 30 to 40 min/kg DM
ensure a high level of cow comfort
Rumen-friendly feeding
- in the case of component feeding, no more than 3 kg of concentrated feed per meal
Moisture content of the ration below 50 %
no blatant change of feed
Check your protein supply

Check feed intake

Unlimited access to the feeding area
- Avoid overcrowding (animal: feeding place = 1:1)
- guarantee sufficient feeding times. 12 feeding periods of 30 min each.
- Food must be available for at least 20 hours, preferably around the clock.
Securing the water supply
Check the amount of residual feed (at least 5%)
Is the food ration (calculated) also eaten?

Check feed quality

If possible, energy content above 6.5 NEL/kg DM in roughage
Roughage digestibility above 70%.
Secure 400 g of crude fibre for every 100 kg of body mass.
- Pay attention to the proportion of structurally effective crude fiber.
- 8 – 10% of the particles should be larger than 4 cm.
Feed without impurities and deteriorations (dirty, moldy, frozen)

Controlling animal health

Check hoof health, trim claws if necessary
check for health impairments (BHV1 – suspicion with veterinarian)

Rule out other causes:

improper transit feeding