Since January 2008, Diamond V dairy nutrition specialists have conducted over 12,000 TMR audits on dairies around the world. The mastermind behind the audit process, Dr Tom Oelberg, known to many as the “Grandfather of the TMR” recently retired.
The lessons learned from TMR audits over the years are numerous. How did we get here? Where are we at today? And where are we going in our journey to feeding cows better?
The Introduction of the TMR Audit
When Dr Oelberg first got started with his feeder training program all those years ago, it was based off the concern in the dairy industry about whether low-inclusion products were getting mixed. As the evaluation evolved, the Diamond V team=noticed that when customers bought new mixing wagons, their milk production went up. Because of this, they started looking at the mix quality and used that information and knowledge to set up the TMR sampling system as we all know it today.
From there Tom asked permission from a nutritionist to do a mock TMR audit. In January 2008, they did their first three and used that information, and the Penn State shaker box as methodology, to take samples. From there, they started digging further and wrote an article on their findings. This is where it all began and how the Diamond V TMR audit came to be.
Typically, a TMR audit results in a more consistent diet getting fed and more awareness from the farm management team on the impact diet variation has on cow health and performance. The result is often improvements in milk production and efficiency of feeding operations, resulting in reduced feed shrink, fuel, and labor costs.
The Change of Rations and Diets
People are more aware, now than ever, of the importance of a consistent diet. In the past, so many of the TMR audits were centered around the consistency of the diets and making sure the mixes were working efficiently. When time-lapse cameras were introduced, and more focus was put on what’s happening at the feedbunk, the audit went to the next level. With these time-lapse cameras, it was discovered that they could make sure cows always had access to feed.
People are also seeing more forages fed at higher levels in the diet due to higher digestibility. There has been a lot more focus on genetics and better harvest practices as of late. Dairymen are always looking for ways to optimize feed costs. And because of the higher levels of forages, they can accomplish less out-of-pocket expenses, healthier diets, and lower overall feed costs.
In the last 20 years, there’s a ton of emphasis on lowering the environmental footprint of TMRs. There’s also a big effort, as well as research, regarding feed additives. Recently, we’ve seen that we may be able to increase forage digestibility with feed additives, especially ones that are a postbiotic feed ingredient.
Where is the Future Headed?
One thing that’s emerged is the importance of monitoring the feed software reports to screen feed performance, ensuring there’s a quality control program in feeding cows. These reports get the nutritionist engaged and have been helpful in monitoring feeding programs.
Herd management data is another big frontier coming down the line. Dairymen use it daily to manage what’s happening at the dairy, but it’s often underutilized. If we can help them in turning that data into information they can assess, analyze, and make decisions from we will be further ahead in the next three to five years.
Another thing people are looking at are better robotic systems to feed cows 24/7. They’re also looking at more efficient systems and reduced labor. Most likely, there’s going to be a continued effort for more efficient feed mixing and delivery systems to ensure well-mixed feed is delivered on time. Safety is another big thing. Most likely, there will be efforts to help improve safety, such as removing and reducing dust on feed facilities. As technology improves, there will be continued advancements that will reshape how everyone looks at managing cows and feed ten years down the road. A lot of the future will be centered around new technologies that are brought into the marketplace and how those technologies are utilized.
For more than a decade, the TMR Audit has become a proven system to measure feeding efficiency and help producers get the most out of their feeding system. Enhancing the consistency of TMRs improves cow health and performance – and boosts dairy profitability. Since January of 2008, thousands of audits have been conducted on farms around the world, advancing dairy efficiency. Today’s TMR Audits can detect inconsistencies in the ration and help identify other feed-related management opportunities. We’ve come a long way and we still have a way to go! But we couldn’t have done any of it without the help from Tom Oelberg.
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