Optimizing milk efficiency and component yield are very important to overall farm profitability. Both milk efficiency and component yield are greatly influenced by the rations fed. ADM dairy nutritionist, Dr. Brian Lammers, shares his insights on how to feed your cows to maximize milk efficiency, milk fat, and milk protein production.

Feed costs are the largest expense on a dairy farm. During these challenging times, feed costs are magnified now more than ever, making components included in your ration critical for success. Increasing the efficiency that cows convert feed to milk protein and fat, improves dairy farm profitability substantially. Milk efficiency is one of the most important performance metrics for the cow side of the dairy farm.

The lactating dairy cow is possibly the most complex animal to feed a balanced diet. Providing the optimal type and amounts of available protein and energy for the rumen microbes is necessary, as well as sufficient effective fiber to maintain rumen health, and the correct ME and MP (Metabolizable Energy and Protein) to provide for her maintenance and milk production needs. Like air pressure within a car or truck tire, too much or too little of a nutrient will decrease component yield and milk efficiency.

Lysine is an essential amino acid which is not produced is sufficient quantities by the body and therefore must be consumed in the diet to support biochemical functions. “Lysine is a biological building block that supports improved production performance in lean tissue gain, milk components and milk volume*”. Lysine is one of 10 essential amino acids can be sourced from various feeds stuffs or ingredients. However, these source can be inconsistent in their lysine content leading to unreliable production responses.

Not all sources of lysine are the same. Some products are not as effective against microbial breakdown in the rumen, while others are too tightly protected and do not release as much of the lysine as necessary to the animal in the small intestine. Using unique chemistry and manufacturing technologies, ADM researchers have developed NutriPass™ L, an encapsulated lysine product resistant to breakdown in the rumen and releases the lysine when it enters the small intestine.

NutriPass L is made at facilities in the USA from lysine derived from all American-grown corn. By encapsulating lysine, NutriPass L supplies a consistent and stable source of metabolizable lysine in dairy diets which enhances feed efficiency and helps control producer’s input costs. NutriPass L targets lysine delivery to the small intestine where it is utilized by the animal to keep them working at their best. Selecting the right and best rumen protected lysine product can have huge economic implications to improving dairy farm component yield, milk efficiency, and profitability.

Contact 866-666-7626 or animalnutrition@adm.com to ask for our data against competitive sources of lysine and incorporate NutriPass L in your rations today.