Jersey cows produce the most delicious milk that you enjoy with its rich products. Although they are smaller in size than other dairy breeds. they have an unprecedented biological ability to convert the energy they take from the feed into high-quality milk, instead of wasting it and expelling it as waste.
If you want to keep Jersey cows and get high-quality raw milk from them, you should consider that providing them with a good diet will keep them in excellent productive condition.
In the coming lines, we will talk about important details about the amount of food that Jersey cows should eat per day, the best food for them, and some other important points about Jersey cows being a profitable investment for you.
How Much Does A Jersey Cow Eat Per Day?
The amount of food you provide to your Jersey cow must be balanced so that you never overfeed a particular source of food, as providing a balanced diet is the best approach to keep Jersey cows healthy and continue to produce ample amounts of high-quality milk.
Jersey cows need a ration that contains these substances in certain proportions to feed well:
- Dry matter (4.5% of body weight)
- Crude fat (4.5% of body weight)
- Energy
- Protein (12% of body weight)
- Copper
Here are the types of feed that Jersey needs and recommendations for each of them.
Dry Matter
Jersey cows at their highest milking stages need to be fed dry matter up to 4.5% of their total body weight. For example, if you have a Jersey cow weighing 450 kg.
The amount of dry matter that this cow will require to meet its needs based on 4.5% of its total body weight will be 20.25 kg of dry matter per day. This number is low compared to what the larger dairy cows consume.
Other dairy breeds consume dry matter by 4.0% of their total body weight. but due to the large weight, this percentage represents a greater number of kilograms of dry matter. For example, if there is a larger dairy cow weighing 700, it will eat 28 kg of dry matter in its share per day.
The word dry does not refer to one really dry type of food, rather it refers to a wide variety of foods that are included in a cow’s diet such as Alfalfa hay, Corn silage, Corn stover, Grass hay, Soybean straw, and many other types of dry food that Jersey cows can eat.
You may want to read: How Often Should You Feed Cattle Cubes?
Crude Fat Levels
Fortunately, Jersey cows need lower levels of fat than other dairy breeds. When comparing Holstein cows needs to Jersey cows needs, you will probably find that Holstein cows need higher levels of fat in their diet. You will find the matter different in Jersey cows, which need 4.5% or less fat. Keep in mind that although Jersey cows need very little fat, their ratio should still contain fat in the recommended proportions.
Energy Levels
With regard to energy levels, it is up to the requirements of the cow. In any case, it is not a matter of concern, especially given the low maintenance requirements of Jersey cows, but it is preferable to balance energy levels with other foods.
Copper Levels
Jersey cows are more susceptible to copper toxicity, some believe that this is because their livers contain high stores of copper. The amount of copper in their ratio must be carefully calculated. Copper levels should be low, less than 20 ppm, in the ration of Jersey dairy cows.
Protein Level
Do Jersey cows need grain? This question is often asked by Jersey farmers. Yes, Jersey cows eat grains, as it is a high source of protein, providing them with their protein needs. The amount of grain ration that provides 12% crude protein is suitable for meeting the protein needs of a Jersey cow.
What Is The Best Feed For A Jersey Cow?
As with any breed, the best diet for Jersey cows is a balanced ration of grass, dry matter, and grain. It is not preferable to overfeed any one source of feed, but rather the sources must be diversified and balanced. However, there are some things that must be taken into consideration when setting the daily feeding system for your Jersey cow, which we have explained in the above lines. [1]
Related Article: What cattle Breeds grow the fastest?
How Much Does It Cost To Feed A Jersey Cow?
Feeding costs for Jersey cows are very moderate and not as expensive as in breeds of dairy cows such as Holsteins and Guernsey. even if you feed them high-quality fodder.
Jersey cows can cost about $1,200 to $1,800 a year. studies on feeding different breeds of dairy cows indicate that jerseys consume less food and save a lot of fodder expenses, equivalent to about 13 -18% of the total feed expenditure it consumes compared to other dairy breeds. Since cow feed costs account for nearly 55% of the inputs in dairy production, this will be huge savings for you.
The savings that Jersey cows provide don’t just stop with the food supply. But it includes a lot of other aspects, for example, since Jersey cows eat less food than others. It does not cost more expenses than it takes for agricultural lands to produce enough fodder to satisfy their hunger. It also reduces manure storage by about 24%, as well as reducing costs related to harvesting fodder. In addition, Jersey cows do not need much space to store the fodder they consume.
FAQS
How Much Grain Should I Feed My Jersey?
The grain ration you provide to Jersey cows that contains 12% crude protein is usually appropriate and sufficient in most cases.
How Much Alfalfa To Feed Jersey Cow?
High-producing Jersey cows usually need up to three pounds of good alfalfa hay per 100 pounds of live weight per day. For example, if you have a Jersey cow that weighs 1,000 pounds, it will need about 30 pounds of alfalfa daily.
How Much Hay Does A Jersey Cow Eat?
A Jersey cow will typically eat hay, at a rate of about 2 to 2.5 pounds per day. You can follow the accepted rule, which is the usual rate for dairy cows, which is to feed hay at a rate of 16%. If you feed your cows grain at the same time, then it is a good and balanced rate.
