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Graduate Student Literature Review: Refining nutrient use efficiency in dairy farming through precision feeding
L M Campos1, V L Daley2, I A M Teixeira3
1Department of Animal Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24060.
Journal of Dairy Science
|June 12, 2026
Summary
Precision feeding strategies enhance nutrient (Nut) use efficiency (KNut) in dairy cattle, reducing environmental impact and improving farm profitability. These approaches optimize nutrient delivery, leading to more sustainable and efficient livestock production.
Area of Science:
- Animal Science
- Nutritional Science
- Agricultural Engineering
Background:
- Optimizing nutrient use efficiency (KNut) is vital for sustainable and profitable dairy production.
- Current nutrient requirement systems may not suit individual animal needs, leading to inefficiencies.
- Dietary energy and protein are key factors influencing nutrient utilization and excretion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review nutritional and precision feeding strategies for improving KNut in dairy cattle.
- To explore short-term and long-term approaches for enhancing nutrient utilization.
- To examine precision dairy technologies and their role in operationalizing precision feeding.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of nutritional strategies, precision feeding applications, and dairy technologies.
- Analysis of scientific basis for energy and protein efficiencies in cattle.
- Evaluation of field and modeling studies on precision feeding outcomes.
Main Results:
- Precision feeding reduces nitrogen excretion and improves income over feed costs.
- Tailored nutrient supply leads to measurable production responses.
- Automated technologies enable real-time ration adjustments and monitoring.
Conclusions:
- Precision feeding, supported by data integration and evaluation frameworks, can significantly enhance KNut.
- Reduced nutrient loss and improved whole-farm profitability are key benefits.
- Addressing challenges in data integration and implementation is crucial for widespread adoption.
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