Top Dress Forage in Modern Ruminant Husbandry: A Natural Instigation

Abstract

This perspective article provides grounds to urge the modern ruminant husbandry to create capacities to benefit from top-dress forage provision. Modernization in nutrition and management has given rise to a variety of metabolic disorders in dairy and beef farming. Overfeeding starch has decreased forage effectiveness in maintaining healthy rumen and intermediary metabolism. As such, efficacious feasible on-farm strategies are needed to help secure both rumen and host against health issues and production losses. Topdress delivery of adequately long forage choices is a practical and appetizing approach to improving nutrient intake and rumen conditions in high-producing ruminants.

Keywords: Top dress; Forage; Ruminant husbandry; Management

A Farm Forum Discussion

The rapid growth of ruminant husbandry in many regions has caused many health problems that largely contribute to devastating economy losses. High levels of milk and beef production have been realized by feeding overly high levels of starch and fat. On the other hand, fertility and longevity have dramatically declined. Preparing total mixed rations to dilute the energy content of super diets usually fed to high-merit ruminants has been introduced as a strategy to reduce risks from rumen over-fermentation and consequent health and immune problems [1-4]. However, such a presumed efficacy has been under serious questions [5-8]. The real initial problem is not how to prepare or deliver diets to high-producing ruminants, but it is rather how to formulate diets that maintain reasonable rumen and host health while wisely and not overly improving production properties [9-12]. Because of feeding too much concentrate and starch, mixing forage and concentrate may significantly reduce forage fibre effectiveness within a suboptimal sub acidotic rumen environment [1-3]. Overfeeding starch and fat and then mixing them with forages hoping to eradicate problems is just self-cheating. That could be a reason why component feeding proves more effective than total mixed ration delivery under certain management systems [1,2]. Top-dress delivery of adequately effective forage choices helps ensure that metabolically pressured ruminants receive reasonable amount of physically effective fibre at least once daily. This separate forage provision acts as an appetizer while providing the rumen with sufficient effective fibres to stimulate ruminating, chewing, and timely naturalized rumen conditions. As a consequence, overall daily intake can be improved, which is of utmost importance in early postpartum dairy cows suffering from negative nutrient balances. Wet and ensiled forages are better suited for total mixed rations preparation, as they embrace small concentrate particles and improve meal and bout uniformity. For top-dress presentation, however, dry forages would be more appropriate. Top-dress alfalfa and mixed legume-grass hays would be among optimal choices. Notable, the amount of top-dress forage offered must not be too much of a good thing to not increase nutrient imbalance and not reduce nutrient and feed efficiency.

Implication

This perspective article discussed the necessity and efficacy of top-dress forage provision in modern dairy and beef farming for the healthy management of ruminant husbandry and human food production. Top-dress and delicate provision of adequately long and physically effective forages is a workable strategy to improve food intake and rumen conditions. This on-farm approach works towards sustainable ruminant husbandry and food safety and security. But, too much of a good thing hurts.

Acknowledgment

Thanks to the Ministry of Science Research and Technology, National Elite Foundation, and University of Zanjan for supporting the author’s global initiatives and programs of optimizing science edification in the new millennium.

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