Effect of balanced ration feeding on dairy animals: A review

Abstract

Imbalanced feeding is common in smallholder dairy systems across tropical regions. Such feeding practices lead to lower milk yield at increased costs and contribute to higher methane emissions per unit of milk. Since poor nutrition negatively affects animal productivity, health, and environmental sustainability, it is crucial to adopt a practical, economical strategy to enhance performance and minimize methane output in tropical ruminants. Dairy animals reach their highest production potential when they receive a well-balanced diet aligned with their genetic capabilities. A study found that 71% of the animals were getting too much protein and energy, while 65% were not getting enough calcium and phosphorus. When a balanced diet was given to dairy animals then milk production increased by 2 to 14%, and the fat in the milk improved by 0.15 to 0.2%.