Effective Fiber for Dairy Cows

Unlike other nutrients, such as protein and calcium, where requirements are provided in grams per cow per day for specific body weight and milk production levels, fiber “requirements” are merely minimum guidelines (NRC, 2001) aimed at maintaining normal ruminal pH, fiber digestion and milk fat test and preventing sub-acute rumen acidosis (SARA), laminitis and displaced abomasums (LDA). NRC (2001) guidelines for minimum neutral detergent fiber (NDF) from forage, minimum total diet NDF, and maximum diet nonfiber carbohydrates (NFC) are presented in Table 1. Remember that these are fiber minimums and NFC maximums, and not recommended formulation targets for all situations.