ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines some ways to reduce costs at each of the stages and provides a record of individual cow performance. Nutritional and feeding system adjustments also must be made with an appreciation for their direct influence on reproductive performance. Important questions to be raised about any non-traditional feedstuff include the possibility of residues, heavy metals, or other undesirable materials that may appear in milk or tissues, as well as the acceptability and actual nutritive value of the material to the high producing cow. Assistance with formulation is available from the extension service as well as from private consulatants. The blending process should be quantitative and its performance easily monitored. Most dairymen with larger than average herds can cut feed costs by purchasing feed ingredients in bulk, by considering by-products and less commonly used feedstuffs, and by processing and formulating diets on the farm.
