DAIRY FARMS WORK TO FEED DIETS THAT MATCH ANIMAL NEEDS, AIMING TO IMPROVE FARM PROFITABILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP. HOWEVER, ON-FARM PROCESSES INTRODUCE VARIABILITY IN THE PHYSICAL PROPERTIES AND NUTRITIONAL CONTENT OF DIETS. ON-FARM PROCESSES SUCH ASINGREDIENT STORAGE, FEED MIXING, AND ANIMAL CONSUMPTION PATTERNS CAN ALTER THE NUTRIENTS AVAILABLE TO ANIMALS FOR MILK PRODUCTION AND BODY FUNCTIONS.THIS PROJECT AIMS TO HELP NUTRITIONISTS AND FARM WORKERS BETTER MANAGE DAY-TO-DAY NUTRITIONAL VARIATION. FIRST, WE WILL CONDUCT A SURVEY AND FARM CASE STUDIESTO UNDERSTAND CURRENT PRACTICES AND SET BENCHMARKS FOR CONTROL MECHANISMS SUCH AS FEED SAMPLING AND MIXING PROCEDURES. NEXT, WE WILL TEST RESPONSES OF LACTATING COWS TO DAY-TO-DAY CHANGES IN DIETARY FIBER AND STARCH, WITH AND WITHOUT SUPPLEMENTAL FORAGE. THE ANIMAL EXPERIMENT WILL EXPLORE HOW ANIMAL BEHAVIOR AND DIGESTION PROCESSES RESPOND TO DAY-TO-DAY DIETARY VARIABILITY. FINALLY, WE WILL CREATE A PRACTICAL TOOLKIT TO HELP NUTRITIONISTS AND FARM PERSONNEL MAKE NUTRITIONAL MANAGEMENT DECISIONS IN LIGHT OF DIETARY VARIABILITY.

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