
1The Impact of Corn Silage Harvesting and Feeding Decisions on Income Over Feed Costs (Ishler, Goodling, & Beck, 2018). SARE project "The impact of corn silage harvesting and feeding decisions on income over feed costs". Results are from two to four sampling periods per farm during this period.
2Milk production reflects bulk tank weights on day of TMR sampling.
3Dry matter intake reflects batch weights fed, cow numbers, refusals and TMR dry matter percent on day of sampling.
4Phosphorus percent from TMR analysis.
Note: ECM=energy corrected milk; DMI=dry matter intake; P=phosphorus
Economic perspective:
Monitoring must include an economic component to determine if a management strategy is working or not. For the lactating cows, income over feed cost is a good way to check that feed costs are in line for the level of milk production. Starting with July 2014’s milk price, income over feed cost was calculated using average intake and production for the last six years from the Penn State dairy herd. The ration contained 63% forage consisting of corn silage, haylage and hay. The concentrate portion included corn grain, candy meal, sugar, canola meal, roasted soybeans, Optigen and a mineral vitamin mix. All market prices were used.
Also included are the feed costs for dry cows, springing heifers, pregnant heifers, and growing heifers. The rations reflect what has been fed to these animal groups at the Penn State dairy herd. All market prices were used.
Income over feed cost using standardized rations and production data from the Penn State dairy herd.

Note: November’s Penn State milk price: $19.51/cwt; feed cost/cow: $7.43; average milk production: 83 lbs.
Feed cost/non-lactating animal/day.

Source : psu.edu