Precision nutrition, milk components and better youngstock rearing could help farmers strengthen profitability
Dairy farmers are being encouraged to take greater control of farm margins as volatile farmgate milk prices continue to put pressure on profitability across the sector. According to Dr Chris Bartram, head of nutrition at Mole Valley Farmers, greater precision in feeding and herd management could help producers extract more value from existing resources.
Bartram noted that dairy farmers have already achieved significant improvements in productivity. Between 2008 and 2025, milk yields, fat and protein increased by 27%, driven by improvements in genetics and management. However, he argued that further gains remain possible through more targeted nutrition.
Feed efficiency can unlock additional milk
One of the key opportunities identified by Bartram is improving the efficiency with which cows convert feed into milk.
First-cut silage in South West England averaged 11.2 MJ/kg dry matter (DM) of metabolisable energy (ME) this year, compared with 10.9 MJ/kg last year. According to Bartram, the improvement in forage quality could allow cows to produce approximately one additional litre of milk per day from forage.
However, he stressed that farmers should balance different forage sources carefully rather than simply increasing feed levels.
The economic value of additional production ultimately depends on the milk contract. Where contracts reward additional litres or milk components, feeding for marginal production can remain financially attractive.
Concentrate quality matters
Bartram also warned farmers against treating all concentrates as equivalent.
Trials comparing concentrates with different acidity levels found that higher-acidity feeds were associated with reduced forage intake and lower milk production. In the trial, forage intake fell from 11.7 kg DM to 11.1 kg per cow, while milk yield declined from 31.7 litres to 27.8 litres per cow.
Butterfat also dropped from 4.18% to 3.75%.
The results highlight the importance of considering how concentrate formulations interact with forage intake and rumen function.
Targeted feeding around calving
Another opportunity involves nutrition during the transition period.
Bartram recommended feeding fresh cows TPI90, a blend containing prairie meal, protected methionine and lysine, around calving.
According to the trial results presented, the approach increased milk fat and protein concentrations by 0.2 percentage points. Cows also gained weight rather than losing it, potentially helping improve their condition for subsequent breeding.
The economics were also highlighted: an investment of around £30 per cow was reported to generate approximately £60 in returns.
Importantly, Bartram said that feeding the product for only four days after calving produced continuing benefits, suggesting that targeted short-term interventions can deliver measurable results without requiring prolonged additional expenditure.
Youngstock nutrition offers another opportunity
Improving calf and heifer nutrition could provide longer-term returns.
A Reading University trial found that increasing dietary protein at a cost of less than £4 per calf generated a positive return on investment. Farmers would need only around 15 additional litres of milk during the first lactation to reach the break-even point.
A summary of recent studies also found that milk production increased from 10,242 litres to 11,511 litres when higher protein diets were used during the rearing period.
Bartram therefore encouraged farmers currently using concentrates containing around 18% protein to consider whether a 22% protein formulation could provide better returns.
Key nutrition opportunities
| Area | Reported opportunity |
|---|---|
| Forage quality | Higher-energy silage can support additional milk from forage |
| Concentrates | Feed formulation can influence forage intake and rumen performance |
| Transition cows | Targeted TPI90 feeding improved milk components and bodyweight |
| Calf nutrition | Higher protein intake can improve long-term productivity |
| Silage management | Additives can help reduce storage and clamp losses |
| Minerals | Forage analysis can guide more precise supplementation |
| Carbon efficiency | Efficiency-linked payments may provide an additional income stream |
Managing inputs is increasingly important
Bartram also recommended using silage additives to reduce clamp losses and reviewing mineral and specialist feed inputs according to forage analysis.
The overall objective is not simply to increase production, but to ensure that every additional unit of feed expenditure generates an appropriate return.
According to Bartram, combining better feed efficiency, improved milk components, youngstock development and potential payments for carbon efficiency could help farmers recover up to 5p per litre.
The approach reflects a broader shift toward precision dairy nutrition, where profitability depends not only on the price farmers receive for milk but also on how effectively they convert feed and other inputs into saleable output.
While farmers have little direct control over volatile milk prices, they can exert greater influence over input costs, feed efficiency, milk composition and herd productivity.
