Feed use efficiency on small scale dairy farms in the south of rio grande do Sul, Brazil

Types and amounts of feeds used, milk offtake and body weight changes of cows were monitored during 12 months on farms of cash crop and milk producers (CM) and cash crop producers with surplus milk marketing (Cm). The intake of feed dry matter (DM) and crude protein were different between the two production systems across the seasons. On a yearly basis, cows ingested 97.3g DM/kg0.75 and 100.8g DM/kg0.75 per day, consisting to 48% and 64% of forage from pastures, 33% and 17% silage or cut green forage and 18% mix of concentrates and grains on CM and Cm farms, respectively. The yearly body weight change on CM was 4.5kg as compared to 7.0kg on Cm. Daily milk production per cow was 9.8L on CM and 10L on Cm and varied between seasons for both production systems. In both systems, feed intake was below the recommendations for lactating cows, leading to a very low feed use efficiency of 0.78L/kg feed DM on CM and 0.81L/kg feed DM on Cm. It is concluded that more cautious feeding of cows in both systems might increase use efficiency of fodder resources for milk production, and feed intake on both farms should be improved.