Total Mixed Ration (TMR) for Dairy Cows: Practical Guide

A total mixed ration (TMR) is a ration in which roughage, concentrate, minerals and sometimes water are mixed together, so every mouthful the animal takes is balanced. Instead of eating green fodder, then straw, then dana separately, and picking what it likes, the animal eats the same balanced mix all day. Large dairies use TMR wagons, but the idea works on a small farm too.

Why TMR raises milk. When animals sort their feed, they eat the tasty concentrate first and leave the fibre, which upsets the rumen; or they fill up on straw and miss the energy. A well-mixed ration keeps rumen conditions steady, improves intake and makes it easier to feed exactly what the milk needs. It is the practical form of a 'santulit pashu aahar', a balanced cattle feed.

The building blocks. A TMR for Indian dairies is usually built on corn silage as the moist, energy-rich base; chopped dry fodder (bhusa or hay) for long fibre; concentrate matched to milk; and mineral mixture and salt. Silage is ideal for TMR because its moisture helps the mix hold together, so animals cannot sort the dry parts out.

A simple hand-mixed TMR for one milking cow (400–450 kg). Mix 18–25 kg of corn silage, 4–6 kg of chopped dry fodder and the day's concentrate (about 1 kg per 2.5 litres of milk) with 50 g of mineral mixture and 30 g of salt. Split it into two feeds, morning and evening. For a herd, mix in a clean pucca floor area or a large trough, turning it over until the colour is even.

Group your animals. One TMR does not fit all. Make at least separate mixes for high-yielding milkers, low-yielding milkers and dry or pregnant animals, so you do not waste concentrate on dry animals or starve the best milkers.

Common mistakes. Mixing too far in advance in summer (silage starts to heat; mix close to feeding time); chopping straw too fine (the animal needs some long fibre); skipping minerals; and switching to TMR overnight instead of over 7–10 days.

When does a TMR wagon or TMR unit make sense? For larger dairies and for entrepreneurs who want to sell ready TMR to farmers. The government's National Livestock Mission offers a 50% capital subsidy, up to ₹50 lakh, for silage, hay and TMR units (DAHD). Confirm the current terms with your state animal husbandry department before planning.

Start with a good base. A TMR is only as good as the silage in it. Richnest corn silage is harvested at 30–35% dry matter, fermented to pH 3.8–4.2 and sealed in 9-layer film. Message us on WhatsApp for the delivered rate and a TMR recipe for your herd.