NOP 5017-2 

www.ams.usda.gov/nop

(202) 720-3252 Date Issued: March 17, 2010

NATIONAL ORGANIC PROGRAM

Dry Matter Demand Tables

For Classes of Dairy Cattle

Adapted from: "Nutrient Requirement Tables," from Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle: Seventh Revised Edition, 2001, 

by Subcommittee on Dairy Cattle Nutrition, Committee on Animal Nutrition, National Research Council, 2001, Washington, 

D.C.: National Academies Press. Copyright 2001 by National Academy of Sciences.
NOP 5017-2

NOP - DMD Tables, Dairy 1 Date Issued: March 17, 2010

Cows, Lactating

Page 3

Page 3

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Page 5

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Cows, Dry

Page 7

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Table of Contents

DAIRY CATTLE DRY MATTER DEMAND REQUIREMENTS

Cows, Transitioning 

Table 1 - 2: Daily Dry Matter Demand Requirements in Kilograms and Pound

Mid Lactation Small Breed Dairy Cows

20 - 40 Kilograms or 44 - 88 Pounds Daily Milk Production

78% Total Digestible Nutrients Diet

Table 1 - 3: Daily Dry Matter Demand Requirements in Kilograms and Pounds

Mid Lactation Small Breed Dairy Cows

10 - 30 Kilograms or 22 - 66 Pounds Daily Milk Production

68% Total Digestible Nutrients Diet

Table 1 - 4: Daily Dry Matter Demand Requirements in Kilograms and Pounds

Early Lactation Large Breed Dairy Cows

20 - 40 Kilograms or 44 - 89 Pounds Daily Milk Production

78% Total Digestible Nutrients Diet

Table 1 - 5: Daily Dry Matter Demand Requirements in Kilograms and Pounds

Mid Lactation Large Breed Dairy Cows

35 - 55 Kilograms or 77 - 121 Pounds Daily Milk Production

78% Total Digestible Nutrients Diet

Dairy Cows

Table 1 - 1: Daily Dry Matter Demand Requirements in Kilograms and Pounds

Early Lactation Small Breed Dairy Cows

15 - 30 Kilograms or 33 - 67 Pounds Daily Milk Production 

78% Toal Digestible Nutrients Diet

Table 1 - 7: Daily Dry Matter Demand Requirements in Kilograms and Pounds

Large Breed Dry Cows, 240 - 279 Days Pregnant 

Calf Weight 45 Kilograms or 99 Pounds

Average Daily Gain, .67 Kilogram or 1.48 Pounds 

Table 1 - 8: Daily Dry Matter Demand Requirements in Kilograms and Pounds

Transitioning, Second or Greater Lactation Cows, 270 Days Pregnant

Average Daily Gain, .3 kg or .7 lb

Conceptus Average Daily Gain, .66 Kilogram or 1.45 Pounds

Table 1 - 6: Daily Dry Matter Demand Requirements in Kilograms and Pounds

Mid Lactation Large Breed Dairy Cows

25 - 45 Kilograms or 55 - 99 Pounds Daily Milk Production

68% Total Digestible Nutrients Diet
NOP 5017-2

NOP - DMD Tables, Dairy 2 Date Issued: March 17, 2010

Page 8

Heifers, Bred

Page 9

Heifers, Transitioning 

Page 10

Page 11

Table 1 - 12: Daily Dry Matter Demand Requirements in Kilograms or Grams and Pounds

Weaned Calves

Table 1 - 11: Daily Dry Matter Demand Requirements in Kilograms and Pounds

Transitioning, Close-Up, First Lactation Large Breed Heifers 270 Days Pregnant

Average Daily Gain, .3 Kilograms or .7 Pounds

Conceptus Average Daily Gain, .66 Kilogram or 1.45 Pounds 

Calves, Weaned 

Calves

Table 1-9: Daily Dry Matter Demand Ranges in Kilograms and Pounds

Table 1 - 10: Daily DMI Ranges in Kilograms and Pounds

Heifers, Non Bred

Heifers

Table of Contents
NOP 5017-2

NOP - DMD Tables, Dairy 3 Date Issued: March 17, 2010

Daily Milk 

Production (kg)

Milk

Fat (%) DMD (kg)

Daily Milk 

Production (lb)

Milk

Fat (%) DMD (lb)

15 4.0 9.4 33.07 4.0 20.72

15 4.5 9.7 33.07 4.5 21.38

15 5.0 9.9 33.07 5.0 21.83

30 4.0 12.9 66.14 4.0 28.44

30 4.5 13.5 66.14 4.5 29.76

30 5.0 14 66.14 5.0 30.86

Daily Milk 

Production (kg)

Milk

Fat (%) DMD (kg)

Daily Milk 

Production (lb)

Milk

Fat (%) DMD (lb)

20 3.0 16 44.09 3.0 35.27

20 3.5 16.5 44.09 3.5 36.38

20 4.0 17 44.09 4.0 37.48

30 3.0 19.5 66.14 3.0 42.99

30 3.5 20.3 66.14 3.5 44.75

30 4.0 21.1 66.14 4.0 46.52

40 3.0 23.1 88.18 3.0 50.93

40 3.5 24.2 88.18 3.5 53.35

40 4.0 25.2 88.18 4.0 55.56

Table 1 - 2: Daily Dry Matter Demand Requirements

in Kilograms and Pounds

Mid Lactation *Small Breed Dairy Cows

20 - 40 Kilograms or 44 - 88 Pounds Daily Milk Production

78% Total Digestible Nutrients Diet

Abbreviations used in table:

DMD = Dry Matter Demand, kg = Kilogram, lb = Pound 

*Small Breed Live Weight = 454 Kilograms or 1,001 

Pounds

Adapted from: "Table 14-2," from Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle: Seventh Revised Edition, 2001 , by 

Subcommittee on Dairy Cattle Nutrition, Committee on Animal Nutrition, National Research Council, 2001, 

Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press. Copyright 2001 by National Academy of Sciences.

Table 1 - 1: Daily Dry Matter Demand Requirements

in Kilograms and Pounds

Early Lactation *Small Breed Dairy Cows

15 - 30 Kilograms or 33 - 67 Pounds Daily Milk Production

78% Total Digestible Nutrients Diet

Adapted from: "Table 14-1," from Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle: Seventh Revised Edition, 2001 , by 

Subcommittee on Dairy Cattle Nutrition, Committee on Animal Nutrition, National Research Council, 2001, 

Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press. Copyright 2001 by National Academy of Sciences.

Abbreviations used in table:

DMD = Dry Matter Demand, kg = Kilogram, lb = Pound 

*Small Breed Live Weight = 454 Kilograms or 1,001 

Pounds
NOP 5017-2

NOP - DMD Tables, Dairy 4 Date Issued: March 17, 2010

Daily Milk 

Production (kg)

Milk

Fat (%) DMD (kg) Daily Milk Production (lb)

Milk

Fat (%) DMD (lb)

10 4.0 12.4 22.05 4.0 27.34

10 4.5 12.7 22.05 4.5 28.00

10 5.0 12.9 22.05 5.0 28.44

20 4.0 16 44.09 4.0 35.27

20 4.5 16.5 44.09 4.5 36.38

20 5.0 17 44.09 5.0 37.48

30 4.0 19.5 66.14 4.0 42.99

30 4.5 20.3 66.14 4.5 44.75

30 5.0 21.1 66.14 5.0 46.52

Table 1 - 3: Daily Dry Matter Demand Requirements

in Kilograms and Pounds

Mid Lactation *Small Breed Dairy Cows

10 - 30 Kilograms or 22 - 66 Pounds Daily Milk Production 

68% Total Digestible Nutrients Diet

Adapted from: "Table 14-3," from Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle: Seventh Revised Edition, 2001 , by Subcommittee 

on Dairy Cattle Nutrition, Committee on Animal Nutrition, National Research Council, 2001, Washington, D.C.: National 

Academies Press. Copyright 2001 by National Academy of Sciences.

Abbreviations used in table:

DMD = Dry Matter Demand, kg = Kilogram, lb = Pound *Small Breed Live Weight = 454 Kilograms or 1,001 Pounds
NOP 5017-2

NOP - DMD Tables, Dairy 5 Date Issued: March 17, 2010

Daily Milk 

Production (kg)

Milk

Fat (%) DMD (kg)

Daily Milk 

Production (lb)

Milk

Fat (%) DMD (lb)

20 3.0 12 44.09 3.0 26.46

20 3.5 12.4 44.09 3.5 27.34

20 4.0 12.7 44.09 4.0 28.00

30 3.0 14 66.14 3.0 30.86

30 3.5 14.5 66.14 3.5 31.97

30 4.0 15.1 66.14 4.0 33.29

40 3.0 16 88.18 3.0 35.27

40 3.5 16.7 88.18 3.5 36.82

40 4.0 17.4 88.18 4.0 38.36

Daily Milk 

Production (kg)

Milk

Fat (%) DMD (kg)

Daily Milk 

Production (lb)

Milk

Fat (%) DMD (lb)

35 3.0 22.7 77.16 3.0 50.04

35 3.5 23.6 77.16 3.5 52.03

35 4.0 24.5 77.16 4.0 54.01

45 3.0 25.7 99.21 3.0 56.66

45 3.5 26.9 99.21 3.5 59.30

45 4.0 28.1 99.21 4.0 61.95

55 3.0 28.7 121.25 3.0 63.27

55 3.5 30.2 121.25 3.5 66.58

55 4.0 31.7 121.25 4.0 69.89

Abbreviations used in table: DMD = Dry Matter 

Demand, kg = Kilogram, lb = Pound 

*Large Breed Live Weight = 680 Kilograms or 1,499 

Pounds

Adapted from: "Table 14-5," from Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle: Seventh Revised Edition, 2001 , by 

Subcommittee on Dairy Cattle Nutrition, Committee on Animal Nutrition, National Research Council, 2001, 

Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press. Copyright 2001 by National Academy of Sciences.

Table 1 - 4: Daily Dry Matter Demand Requirements

in Kilograms and Pounds

Early Lactation *Large Breed Dairy Cows

20 - 40 Kilograms or 44 - 89 Pounds Daily Milk Production

78% Total Digestible Nutrients Diet

Adapted from: "Table 14-4," from Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle: Seventh Revised Edition, 2001 , by 

Subcommittee on Dairy Cattle Nutrition, Committee on Animal Nutrition, National Research Council, 2001, 

Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press. Copyright 2001 by National Academy of Sciences.

Abbreviations used in table: DMD = Dry Matter 

Demand, kg = Kilogram, lb = Pound 

*Large Breed Live Weight = 680 Kilograms or 1,499 

Pounds

Table 1 - 5: Daily Dry Matter Demand Requirements

in Kilograms and Pounds

Mid Lactation *Large Breed Dairy Cows

35 - 55 Kilograms or 77 - 121 Pounds Daily Milk Production 

78% Total Digestible Nutrients Diet
NOP 5017-2

NOP - DMD Tables, Dairy 6 Date Issued: March 17, 2010

Daily Milk 

Production (kg)

Milk

Fat (%) DMD (kg)

Daily Milk 

Production (lb)

Milk

Fat (%) DMD (lb)

25 3.0 19.6 55.12 3.0 43.21

25 3.5 20.3 55.12 3.5 44.75

25 4.0 21 55.12 4.0 46.30

35 3.0 22.7 77.16 3.0 50.04

35 3.5 23.6 77.16 3.5 52.03

35 4.0 24.5 77.16 4.0 54.01

45 3.0 25.7 99.21 3.0 56.66

45 3.5 26.9 99.21 3.5 59.30

45 4.0 28.1 99.21 4.0 61.95

Table 1 - 6: Daily Dry Matter Demand Requirements

in Kilograms and Pounds

Mid Lactation *Large Breed Dairy Cows

25 - 45 Kilograms or 55 - 99 Pounds Daily Milk Production 

68% Total Digestible Nutrients Diet 

Adapted from: "Table 14-6," from Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle: Seventh Revised Edition, 2001 , by 

Subcommittee on Dairy Cattle Nutrition, Committee on Animal Nutrition, National Research Council, 2001, 

Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press. Copyright 2001 by National Academy of Sciences.

Abbreviations used in table:

DMD = Dry Matter Demand, kg = Kilogram, lb = Pound 

*Large Breed Live Weight = 680 Kilograms or 1,499 

Pounds
NOP 5017-2

NOP - DMD Tables, Dairy 7 Date Issued: March 17, 2010

Current Dry Cow Body Weight 

with Conceptus (kg) 

Days 

Pregnant

DMD 

(kg/day)

Current Dry Cow Body Weight 

with Conceptus (lb)

Days 

Pregnant

DMD 

(lb/day)

730 240 14.4 1609.4 240 31.7

751 270 13.7 1655.7 270 30.2

757 279 10.1 1668.9 279 22.3

Current Body Weight with 

Conceptus (kg) 

Days 

Pregnant

DMD 

(kg/day)

Current Body Weight with 

Conceptus (lb)

Days 

Pregnant

DMD 

(lb/day)

751 270 13.7 1,655.7 270 30.2

Abbreviations used in table:

DMD = Dry Matter Demand, kg = Kilogram, lb = Pound 

*Large Breed Mature Weight = 680 Kilograms or 1,499 Pounds 

Adapted from: "Table 14-11," from Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle: Seventh Revised Edition, 2001 , by Subcommittee on Dairy Cattle 

Nutrition, Committee on Animal Nutrition, National Research Council, 2001, Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press. Copyright 2001 by 

National Academy of Sciences.

Table 1 - 7: Daily Dry Matter Demand Requirements in Kilograms and Pounds

*Large Breed Dry Cows, 240 - 279 Days Pregnant 

Calf Weight 45 Kilograms or 99 Pounds 

Average Daily Gain, .67 Kilogram or 1.48 Pounds 

Adapted from: "Table 14-9," from Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle: Seventh Revised Edition, 2001 , by Subcommittee on Dairy Cattle Nutrition, 

Committee on Animal Nutrition, National Research Council, 2001, Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press. Copyright 2001 by National Academy 

of Sciences.

Abbreviations used in table: 

DMD = Dry Matter Demand, kg = Kilogram, lb = Pound 

*Large Breed Mature Weight = 680 Kilograms or 1,499 Pounds without 

Conceptus

Table 1 - 8: Daily Dry Matter Demand Requirements in Kilograms and Pounds

Transitioning, Second or Greater Lactation *Large Breed Cows, 270 Days Pregnant

Average Daily Gain, .3 Kilogram or .7 Pound

Conceptus Average Daily Gain, .66 Kilogram or 1.45 Pounds 
NOP 5017-2

NOP - DMD Tables, Dairy 8 Date Issued: March 17, 2010

DMD

Minimum DMD Maximum

DMD

Minimum DMD Maximum

3.0 3.1 3.1 6.6 6.8 6.7

4.0 4.2 4.1 8.8 9.3 9.1

5.0 5.2 5.1 11.0 11.5 11.3

5.9 6.2 6.1 13.0 13.7 13.4

6.2 7.1 6.7 13.7 15.7 14.7

DMD

Minimum DMD Maximum

DMD

Minimum DMD Maximum

4.1 4.2 4.2 9.0 9.3 9.2

5.1 5.2 5.2 11.2 11.5 11.4

6.0 6.2 6.1 13.2 13.7 13.5

6.9 7.1 7.0 15.2 15.7 15.5

7.7 8.0 7.9 17.0 17.6 17.3

8.5 8.8 8.7 18.7 19.4 19.1

Adapted from: "Tables 14-12 and 14-13," from Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle: Seventh Revised Edition, 2001 , by Subcommittee on Dairy Cattle Nutrition, Committee on Animal 

Nutrition, National Research Council, 2001, Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press. Copyright 2001 by National Academy of Sciences.

200

250

300

440.9

551.2

661.4

350 771.6

400 881.7

Abbreviations used in table: 

DMD = Dry Matter Demand, kg = Kilogram, lb = Pound, w = with 

*Small Breed Mature Weight = 450 Kilograms or 992 Pounds

*Large Breed Mature Weight = 650 Kilograms or 1,433 Pounds

Table 1 - 9: Daily Dry Matter Demand Ranges in Kilograms and Pounds

*Small and *Large Breed Non-Bred Heifers

Daily DMD Range (kg) 

w/ .3-.8 kg Daily Gain DMD Daily 

Average 

(kg)

Daily DMD Range (lb) 

w/ .7-1.8 lb Daily Gain DMD Daily 

Average 

(lb) Small Breed

Current Body Weight (kg)

Small Breed

Current Body Weight (lb)

DMD Daily 

Average 

(lb) Large Breed

Current Body Weight (kg)

Large Breed

Current Body Weight (lb)

100 220.5

300 661.4

150

200

330.7

440.9

250 551.2

Daily DMD Range (kg) 

w/ .5-1.1 kg Daily Gain DMD Daily 

Average 

(kg)

Daily DMD Range (lb) 

w/ 1.1-2.4 lb Daily Gain

150 330.7
NOP 5017-2

NOP - DMD Tables, Dairy 9 Date Issued: March 17, 2010

DMD

Minimum 

DMD 

Maximum

DMD

Minimum 

DMD 

Maximum

7.6 7.7 7.7 16.8 17.0 16.9

8.5 8.7 8.6 18.7 19.2 19.1

9.4 9.6 9.5 20.7 21.2 21.0

10.3 10.5 10.4 22.7 23.1 23.0

DMD

Minimum 

DMD 

Maximum

DMD

Minimum 

DMD 

Maximum

10.3 10.5 10.4 22.7 23.1 23.0

11.1 11.4 11.3 24.5 25.1 24.9

12.0 12.2 12.1 26.5 26.9 26.8

12.8 13.0 13.0 28.2 28.7 28.6

13.6 13.8 13.8 30.0 30.4 30.3

Adapted from: "Tables 14-14 and 14-15," from Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle: Seventh Revised Edition, 2001 , by Subcommittee on Dairy Cattle Nutrition, Committee on Animal 

Nutrition, National Research Council, 2001, Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press. Copyright 2001 by National Academy of Sciences.

Table 1 - 10: Daily Dry Matter Demand Ranges in Kilograms and Pounds

*Small and *Large Breed Bred Heifers

Daily DMD Range (kg) 

w/ .3 -.9 kg Daily Gain DMD Daily 

Average 

(kg)

Daily DMD Range (lb) 

w/ .7 - 2.0 lb Daily Gain DMD Daily 

Average 

Small Breed (lb)

Current Body Weight (kg)

Small Breed

Current Body Weight (lb)

300 661.4

350 771.6

400 881.8

450 992.1

Large Breed

Current Body Weight (kg)

Large Breed

Current Body Weight (lb)

Daily DMD Range (kg) 

w/ .5 - 1.1 kg Daily Gain DMD Daily 

Average 

(kg)

Daily DMD Range (lb) 

w/ 1.1 - 2.4 lb Daily Gain DMD Daily 

Average 

(lb)

500 1102.3

550 1212.5

450 992.1

600 1322.8

650 1433

Abbreviations used in table: 

DMD = Dry Matter Demand, kg = Kilogram, lb = Pound, w = with 

*Small Breed Mature Weight = 450 Kilograms or 992 Pounds

*Large Breed Mature Weight = 650 Kilograms or 1,433 Pounds
NOP 5017-2

NOP - DMD Tables, Dairy 10 Date Issued: March 17, 2010

Current Body Weight with 

Conceptus (kg) 

Days 

Pregnant

DMD 

(kg/day)

Current Body Weight with 

Conceptus (lb)

Days 

Pregnant

DMD 

(lb/day)

625 270 10.6 1377.9 270 23.4

Table 1 - 11: Daily Dry Matter Demand Requirements in Kilograms and Pounds

Transitioning, Close-Up, First Lactation *Large Breed Heifers, 

Average Daily Gain, .3 Kilogram or .7 Pound

Conceptus Average Daily Gain, .66 Kilogram or 1.45 Pounds 

Adapted from: "Table 14-10," from Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle: Seventh Revised Edition, 2001 , by Subcommittee on Dairy Cattle 

Nutrition, Committee on Animal Nutrition, National Research Council, 2001, Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press. Copyright 2001 by 

National Academy of Sciences.

Abbreviations used in table: 

DMD = Dry Matter Demand, kg = Kilogram, lb = Pound *Large Breed Mature Weight = 680 Kilograms or 1,499 Pounds 
NOP 5017-2

NOP - DMD Tables, Dairy 11 Date Issued: March 17, 2010

Current 

Body 

Weight (kg)

Average 

Daily Gain 

(g)

DMD 

(kg/day)

Current 

Body 

Weight (lb)

Average 

Daily Gain 

(lb)

DMD 

(lb/day)

50 0 0.70 110.2 0.0 1.5

50 400 1.13 110.2 0.9 2.5

50 500 1.27 110.2 1.1 2.8

50 600 1.86 110.2 1.3 4.1

60 0 0.80 132.3 0.0 1.8

60 400 1.26 132.3 0.9 2.8

60 500 1.41 132.3 1.1 3.1

60 600 1.56 132.3 1.3 3.4

60 700 1.71 132.3 1.5 3.8

60 800 1.87 132.3 1.8 4.1

70 0 0.90 154.3 0.0 2.0

70 400 1.39 154.3 0.9 3.1

70 500 1.54 154.3 1.1 3.4

70 600 1.70 154.3 1.3 3.7

70 700 1.86 154.3 1.5 4.1

70 800 2.03 154.3 1.8 4.5

80 0 0.99 176.4 0.0 2.2

80 400 1.51 176.4 0.9 3.3

80 500 1.66 176.4 1.1 3.7

80 600 1.83 176.4 1.3 4.0

80 700 2.00 176.4 1.5 4.4

80 800 2.18 176.4 1.8 4.8

90 0 1.16 198.4 0.0 2.6

90 600 2.09 198.4 1.3 4.6

90 700 2.28 198.4 1.5 5.0

90 800 2.48 198.4 1.8 5.5

90 900 2.68 198.4 2.0 5.9

100 0 1.25 220.5 0.0 2.8

100 600 2.22 220.5 1.3 4.9

100 700 2.42 220.5 1.5 5.3

100 800 2.63 220.5 1.8 5.8

100 900 2.84 220.5 2.0 6.3

Table 1 - 12: Daily Dry Matter Demand Requirements 

in Kilograms or Grams and Pounds 

Weaned Calves

Abbreviations used in table: 

DMD = Dry Matter Demand, kg = Kilogram, lb = Pound 

Adapted from: "Table 10-4," from Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle: Seventh Revised Edition, 

2001 , by Subcommittee on Dairy Cattle Nutrition, Committee on Animal Nutrition, National Research 

Council, 2001, Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press. Copyright 2001 by National Academy of 

Sciences.