This episode featured as part of the Animal Feed and Nutrition segment in partnership with SealesWinslow.

Cutting nutrient density, not feed, is how dairy farmers should be drying their cows off, independent fertiliser and ruminant nutrition advisor Melinda Turner says.

“The biggest take home message would be not to withhold food and water as a means of drying off,” she says.

The aim is to reduce nutrient density to switch the udder off while still keeping feed going in.

“Reducing protein in our systems would be probably the most effective and quickest way to do that.”

Straw is a mainstay through dry-off and transition.

“Straw’s underrated and underestimated for a big part of the season,” she says, because it keeps cows ruminating and full.

Crop should not dominate the diet. She says in an ideal world, it would only be up to 70% of the diet, topped up with baleage, silage or ad lib straw.

Minerals matter across the season.

“Understanding what’s in the herbage goes a long way to then custom-forming what they require.”

Cows should be well off crop and back on pasture about three weeks before calving, with protein kept moderate to avoid metabolic issues. Barley and ryegrass straw are her preferred options, depending on locality, with wheat straw harder for cows to use.

This episode featured as part of the Animal Feed and Nutrition segment in partnership with SealesWinslow. Whether it’s a custom blend or dairy pellet, smart modelling tools, or advice tailored for your farm, SealesWinslow is about nutrition that delivers measurable benefits. Through science, teamwork, and practical guidance, we make sure what you do today sets your herd up for better performance tomorrow. For more information visit https://sealeswinslow.co.nz/

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