Dairy cows consuming a ration to optimize feed efficiency in cattle farming

Feed efficiency in ruminants, a major performance driver

Feed efficiency measures a herd’s ability to convert ration into production – milk or growth, expressed in kilograms of production per kilogram of dry matter intake. It directly reflects the link between technical performance, profitability, and environmental impact.

A comprehensive approach, from ration to margin

Good feed efficiency simultaneously reduces feed costs and limits waste, provided all herd management parameters are controlled.

Dairy cows consuming a ration at the feed barrier to optimize feed efficiency in cattle farming

  • Optimal forage utilization

    Forages form the basis of the ration. Their utilization depends on their quality and the precision of their supplementation. Rapid analysis via NIRS technology enables detailed characterization of nutritional values and automatic integration of this data into the Chorus® rationing tool. Precise knowledge of forages guides the formulation of a coherent ration, limiting losses and maximizing performance.

  • Adapted supplementation

    Supplementation must precisely meet requirements, both in quantity and quality. CCPA uses specific criteria such as fast starch, Protein One concept to characterize the degradability and kinetics of nutrients in the rumen. This expertise enables the design of feeds and ranges adapted to species, systems, and the objectives of farmers or production chains. The Chorus® tool also integrates herd management parameters to optimize performance and margin.

  • Health and metabolic function

    Effective ration utilization depends on healthy animals with a functional rumen and an efficient liver. The dietary solutionsDeltavit – Acidoline, Deltapass FL – help support these essential physiological functions. Certain production phases induce constraints that significantly reduce performance through energy diversion. The adjuvant Feedstim® Dairy, based on patented Scutellaria baicalensis, supports production performance during these high-risk phases.

  • Improved digestion

    Ruminant digestion has limited efficiency, particularly for protein (25–35%). For nearly 30 years, CCPA has been developing phytogenic solutions aimed at improving digestion: Amiviv, Turboviv and Rumiviv, each adapted to a specific type of ration. These products, proven by numerous trials, improve feed efficiency and their effects are integrated into formulator matrices and rationing tools to optimize margin over feed cost.

  • Performance management and monitoring

    The decision support toolFarm E-Val centralizes farm data in the form of technical and economic indicators. It calculates the monthly Margin Over Feed Cost (MOFC), essential for measuring the profitability of dairy production in relation to the distributed ration.

  • Team support

    Feed efficiency also relies on farm management: audits, diagnostics, technical-economic analysis. In fattening operations, efficiency can be improved by deliberately modulating growth at certain stages – DYNALIM project conducted with IDELE. CCPA engineers support and train teams to strengthen skills and autonomy in the field.

  • Environmental impact

    The CCPA group is committed to measuring the environmental impact of its solutions through Life Cycle Analyses (LCA). Two LCAs have already been completed: Turboviv’ SE and Feedstim® Dairy, showing a reduction in global warming impact of 6.9% and 5.5% respectively.

Our products to support feed efficiency in ruminants

    Vivactiv

    Optimise food costs and help reduce your environmental footprint.

    Product for ruminant

Our associated digital solutions

Discover how our digital tools support you in your farming practices.

See all digital solutions

Chorus

Optimise your ruminants’ feed rations to improve the performance of your livestock.

Farm-E-Val

Turn your livestock data into practical decisions and performance drivers.

Our associated scientific publications

Discover the studies and scientific research associated with our solutions.

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