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As published in

TMR AuditTM improves milk production

consistency

By Tom Oelberg, Ph.D.

Dairy Field Technical Specialist

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A key nutritionist in my area asked if we could conduct a TMR AuditTM on one of his

dairies to determine the limiting factors in the lactation herd feeding system and to

see if we could improve the feeding management. The herd was a Holstein herd

milking over 350 cows with a rolling herd average of 23,550 lbs. The owner did all

or most of the feeding. The mixer wagon was a pull-type vertical, twin-auger wagon

with relatively sharp blades and the kicker plates were in good condition.

The feed mixing area was done in four areas where he had to move the wagon:

1. feed center with storage for large alfalfa squares and commodities

2. area with plastic bags containing alfalfa haylage

3. area where he added water

4. area with plastic bags containing corn silage.

The loading sequence was as follows:

1. large alfalfa squares

2. No pause for processing the hay

3. Commodities

4. A move to the haylage bags

5. Haylage

6. A move to the water

7. Water

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8. A final move to the corn silage bags

9. Several buckets of corn silage

10. Very little mix time after the last bucket of silage was added

Ingredients were loaded with a skid-steer loader. There was a driver for the tractor

and wagon, and the owner operated the skid-steer loader.

We tested three loads of TMR by taking 10 quart-sized samples per load along the

bunk for Penn State Shaker box analyses. The shaker box analysis showed that the

wagon did a very nice job of mixing. However, during the TMR AuditTM we observed

that the cows were sorting against the long-stem hay and that there were clumps of

hay in the freshly delivered TMR indicating that the hay was not well processed and

blended into the TMR (Figures 1 and 2, respectively). Note the Penn State Shaker

box does not always show problems with the TMR, where as visual observation can

show potential problems. This is because our sampling technique cannot catch all

the variation we sometimes see with our eyes.

Figure 1. Weigh backs containing mostly alfalfa hay that cows sorted against

Figure 2. Clumps of alfalfa hay in freshly delivered TMR.

Figure 3. Processing alfalfa squares in twin-auger mixer

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We tested and sampled three different loads of TMR that were the same formula in

which we tested different combinations of mixing time and forage restrictor settings

to help process the hay. Figure 4 shows a forage restrictor set out (not processing)

and figure 5 shows the visual results of the Penn State Shaker box test on the three

loads of TMR.

Figure 4. Forage restrictor set out so that forage processing is reduced.

Figure 5. Visual results of Penn State Shaker box

We were able to show the dairyman that he could set the forage restrictors in and

mix for an additional three minutes after the last bucket of corn silage was added

without reducing the top screen in the Penn State Shaker box. In other words, the

additional mix time along with the forage restrictor set in would not affect the

rumen health of his cows. This small change in the mixing routine during the audit

gave the producer confidence in our recommendations.

So, the final recommendation was to load the entire daily requirement for alfalfa

squares into the wagon and process the hay until the average particle length was

around 6 inches. The processed hay was unloaded onto the feeding pad before the

loading of TMRs started. This was a significant change in the owner/feeder’s

routine, but proved to be very beneficial as the results below will show. It made

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mixing and loading of each load of TMR more consistent in timing and provided

more accurate weights in loading the processed hay. Reducing variation in TMR

loading and mixing times allows for more consistent delivery times to the pens of

cattle.

The dairyman followed our recommendation and the milk production and

component changes were almost immediate. See figures 6, 7 and 8 and table 1

below. Figure 6. Milk fat test 28 days before and 28 days after the TMR Audit

TM

Figure 7. Milk protein test 28 days before and 28 days after the TMR Audit

TM

Pre- and Post-TMR Audit Fat %

3.4

3.5

3.6

3.7

3.8

3.9

4

6/30/2

011

7/7/2

011

7/14/2

011

7/21/2

011

7/28/2

011

8/4/2

011

8/11/2

011

8/18/2

011

8/25/2

011

Pre- and Post-TMR Audit Protein %

2.7

2.8

2.9

3

3.1

3.2

6/30/2

011

7/7/2

011

7/14/2

011

7/21/2

011

7/28/2

011

8/4/2

011

8/11/2

011

8/18/2

011

8/25/2

011

Audit

Audit

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Figure 8. Bulk tank weights 28 days before and 28 days after the TMR AuditTM

Table 1. Summary of milk production before and after the TMR Audit

TM

Milk production started going up immediately and there was less variation in the

bulk tank weights as shown by the decrease in coefficient of variation (CV%)

(standard deviation divided by the average times 100) for milk from 7.8% to 3.4%

(Table 1). Milk production in the bulk tank changed 1,158 lbs over the next 28 days

after the audit and was continuing up (Figure 8). Milk fat test increased 0.07 units

and milk protein test increased 0.08 units over the next 28 days after the audit and

the consistency in these two components improved as shown by the decreases in

the CV% (table 1) and shown by the smoother line graphs after the audit in figures 6

and 7.

We have conducted several hundred TMR AuditsTM across the U.S. since January

2008 and we have seen many similar outcomes as reported in this article. Often, we

don’t see changes in milk production, but often times we are able to improve the

efficiency of feeding operation resulting in reduced feed shrink, fuel and labor costs.

Bottom line: Diamond V’s TMR AuditTM has produced many happy nutritionists,

feeders and dairy owners.

Pre- and Post-TMR Milk

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

6/30/2

011

7/7/2

011

7/14/2

011

7/21/2

011

7/28/2

011

8/4/2

011

8/11/2

011

8/18/2

011

8/25/2

011

Audit

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