Video Ahrens

5 kg of straw per cow? Why dry cows need good quality straw Today we're visiting Marianne Ahrens in southern Lower Saxony. Together with her husband, she runs a dairy farm with around 170 cows and recently switched to Keller funnel straw in the dry cow ration. Why? Because today it's not milk yield that matters, but rather the start of the next lactation. ⸻ In the video you'll learn: • Why dry cows need up to 5 kg of straw per cow per day • Why straw homogeneity is more important than the price per ton • Why cows don't select from funnel straw • What advantages uniform straw lengths offer in the feed mixer wagon • How workload, storage, and logistics change • Why Marianne consciously switched to Keller funnel straw • What role rumen fill, dry matter intake, and metabolic health play ⸻ The most important takeaway: The cheapest straw isn't always the most economical. Rather, the straw that is eaten mixes evenly and optimally supports the cows' metabolism. Especially during the dry period, good feed management often determines how successful the next lactation begins. ⸻ If you are already using funnel straw or have any questions about feeding, please leave them in the comments. 👉 Subscribe to the channel for more insights into modern dairy farms. More information: https://keller-stroh.de