Already in 2020, German experts “The New Dummerstorfer Feeding Assessment” , which is intended to enable an even more accurate assessment of the energy and protein supply situation of dairy cows. Two central innovations in this publication concern the reduction of the upper limit of milk urea content to 25 mg/100 ml and an adjustment of the limits of the optimal milk protein content to the milk production of cows. As part of the scientific activity “LKV_Fütterung_neu” (DAFNE project 101786), this new methodology was checked on Austrian LKV data in order to be able to decide whether a switch to the new methodology should take place.

The results of this evaluation show that both adaptations described above provide benefits in the efficiency of feeding and the detection of possible feeding errors. In addition, Austria-specific, milk yield-dependent lower and upper limits for the optimal milk protein content were determined using the Austrian LKV data and using the same methodology as the new Dummerstorf feeding assessment. A discussion with feeding experts revealed that the Austria-specific methodology is even more suitable than the new Dummerstorf feeding assessment. The results of the scientific work were transmitted to LKV Austria , which is now responsible for deciding whether and in what form the new findings will be incorporated into the LKV daily report.