Changes

'''Overestimation of forage dry matter content''': The dry matter of forage must be estimated in order to calculate how much of ir should be included in the diet. The cut of for healthy rumen function is a concentrate-to-forage dry matter ration of 60:40; if this is exceeded then SARA can develop. Therefore, if the dry matter content of forage is overestimated, a relatively smaller quantity of the fodder will be included in the diet, tilting the ratio to potentially detrimental proportions.

'''Overestimation of forage dry matter content''': The dry matter of forage must be estimated in order to calculate how much of ir should be included in the diet. The cut of for healthy rumen function is a concentrate-to-forage dry matter ration of 60:40; if this is exceeded then SARA can develop. Therefore, if the dry matter content of forage is overestimated, a relatively smaller quantity of the fodder will be included in the diet, tilting the ratio to potentially detrimental proportions.

[[Image:Cows Eating TMR.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Cows eating a total mixed ration. Source: Wikimedia Commons; Author: Tractorboy60 (2007)]]

[[Image:Cows Eating TMR.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Cows eating a total mixed ration. Source: Wikimedia Commons; Author: Tractorboy60 (2007)]]

'''Overmixing the total mixed ration''':

'''Overmixing the total mixed ration''': If the total mixed ration is mixed too much in the mixer wagon, the long fibre will be broken into shorter pieces and hence become less effective. This can be overcome by adding the forage into the mixer wagon last, ensuring minimal degradation.

If a diet is overmixed in the TMR mixer wagon, long

 

fibre will become less effective. The long fibre (forages)

should always be placed in the mixer wagon last to

ensure minimal degradation.

Excessive feeding of starches and sugars

Excessive feeding of starches and sugars

Excessive feeding of starches and sugars is a common

Excessive feeding of starches and sugars is a common