The term “total mixed ration” refers to a popular technique of providing feed for dairy cattle. The method is developed to help improve the overall health of the reared cattle through the feed’s nutritious contents. A TMR diet is given to ensure that each animal can be supplied with the level of nutrients that it requires in every bite. The ratio for a cow should be composed of forages of the highest quality and a well-balanced mix of proteins and grains in addition to vitamins and minerals.
Contents
Management of Total Mixed Ration
A diet of total mixed ration will be given to the cattle after considering a few things, such as the loafing areas, the size of the existing herd, and the barn’s layout. The animals should be categorized into low, medium, and high lactating ones, and heifers are grouped into pre-breeding and post-breeding conditions. This is an important part of the entire process, considering that some of those animals (like cows that are of the first lactation period, for example) can’t keep up with feed areas that are too crowded.
Working in a barn of two or three groups would be much easier to go through. Low-quality forages can be directed at cows of priority. The high-quality forages can then be dedicated wholly to the ones with higher priority. This is a convenient way of making sure that the top-priority group can maintain their overall good health level. Their performance in terms of producing dairy products will also elevate.
Implementing a total mixed ration diet for dry cows will significantly reduce the risks of metabolic and nutritional disorders in the calving and postpartum period. A system that separates pre-breeding heifers from post-breeding ones is highly required to promote both their growth and further development. Heifers of the pre-breeding condition need a diet that is high in both energy and protein. The post-breeding ones can be fed with a diet rich in forage instead.
Some Key Points Regarding Total Mixed Ration
There are some important aspects that require attention by farmers regarding a total mixed ration diet:
- For a ration to be deemed complete, it must be produced through a blended approach. A single feed must contain a mix of forages, protein supplements, concentrates, vitamins, and minerals.
- A complete ration system is effective in keeping overall feeding costs under control and helping save labor.
- The ration must be kept in the same way day after day. The mixture can be tweaked in a gradual manner. Don’t switch things up all of a sudden.
- Problems with the ration system can possibly be detected early by taking a close inspection over the level of milk in the bulk tank every after milking.
- Analysis of forage is something that must be done. The forage must contain dry matter, phosphorus, calcium, detergent fibers (acid and neutral), and crude protein.
- Good management can never be traded for a total mixed ratio. While the system is effective for many farmers, it should be implemented along with an increase in management intensity. The most critical factors in this regard are a dairy farmer’s competency and management skills. Only after said factors are thoroughly observed can the system work effectively.
An Additional Note on Total Mixed Ration
Another thing about total mixed ration is that the feed requires a special tool to prepare called a mixer. The type of mixer that a farmer should use greatly depends on the size of the farm itself.
For a farmer whose farm is of large size and perhaps needs some sort of efficiency in terms of a time period, a horizontal mixer can be implemented to help said farmer accomplish their goals pretty effectively. The type of feed itself also plays an important role in informing a farmer which device they should go for. Some mixers can’t be used to process long hay, while some others can.
You can learn more about total mixed ration tools used in fixing it through the official website of Jummos. We specialize in providing and supplying mixers for TMR feed for farmers from all across the globe. We have been doing this for decades and with tons of positive feedback from consumers and clients alike. If you find your farm may benefit from a TMR implementation, we at Jummos are more than ready to provide guidance and solutions for you to take into account.