What Does a Dairy Cow Eat?

• Dairy cows' daily diets are planned by a nutritionist [based on] how much protein, fiber ("forage" in farmer lingo) and the types of minerals and vitamins cows need.
• Dairy cows often eat 100 pounds of rations a day, made up of a balanced combination of forage, grain, mineral supplements and protein-rich feeds such as soybean meal.
• Forage is the basis for a cow's diet. This includes pasture grass in the spring and summer months, or it can be chopped grass (silage).
  
  • Farmers cut silage during the summer when grass is at its prime quality, then ferment it to lock in the nutrient content

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