Different feeds and the importance of separation

A dairy ration usually combines four feed groups: forages (silage, hay, straw) for fibre; concentrates (cereals, protein meals) for energy and protein; by-products (beet pulp, distillers' grains, brewers' grains); and minerals and additives. Each has its own storage needs and risks.

Store separately

• Use dedicated bays or bins for each commodity to avoid cross-contamination.
• Keep wet by-products covered and use them quickly — they spoil fast.
• Store minerals and additives dry and clearly labelled; some are toxic to other species.
• Rotate stock first-in, first-out.

Mix in the right order

Loading order, mixing time and loading accuracy affect how uniform the TMR is. Small-inclusion ingredients such as minerals should be premixed or added early so they spread evenly.

Stop the sorting

Cows prefer fine, energy-dense particles and may sort against long fibre, eating a different diet than formulated. Leonardi, Giannico and Armentano (2005) found that adding water to dry TMR reduced sorting. Compare particle distribution of fresh feed and refusals to check.