Gaining from Improved Dairy Cow Nutrition: Economic, environmental and animal health benefits

David R. Colman and David E. Beever

No 51424, 83rd Annual Conference, March 30-April 1, 2009, Dublin, Ireland from Agricultural Economics Society

Abstract: A majority of UK dairy herds have the potential to increase profitability by improving the ration of their cows. This paper reports that gains averaging around £100 per cow have been made within one year of adopting the Keenan Hi-Fibre ration by 239 UK herds in 2006 and 2007. Larger gains have been made by herds in France. The key performance indicator underlying these gains is Feed Conversion Efficiency, whereby the same, or even a smaller amount of Dry Matter Intake generates higher yields per cow. Importantly, the gains are associated with large improvements in animal health and reductions in greenhouse gases per litre of milk produced.

Keywords: Feed conversion efficiency; cattle nutrition; greenhouse gas emissions; animal health.; Livestock Production/Industries (search for similar items in EconPapers)
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-agr and nep-env
Date: 2009-04-01
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