Implementation of nutritional consultation within a dairy practice

Expansion of services to include nutritional consulting for client herds is a realistic expectation of most dairy practices. In addition to a client base, a commitment to obtaining the knowledge and an expertise in dairy nutrition is necessary. Once some expertise is gained, the most important requirement becomes regarding nutritional advice as an integral part of the practice and devoting the time to provide the service. Most implementation failures result from imprecise estimates of dry matter intake or a failure to maintain an ongoing presence on the farm and monitor results.