For effective use of TMR diets, cows must be separated into early, mid, and late lactation stages and dry cows. One dry cow group should comprise those cows in the first four- six weeks of the dry period, and the other those in the two- four weeks before calving. Diets for lactating cow groups should be balanced for more milk production. This is to ensure that the nutrient requirements of the higher-producing cows in the group are met. Optimal balance for the nutrient requirements depending on the number of feeding groups and their stage of lactation should be guaranteed.

Confinement systems in which concentrates and forages are fed separately.

Most farmers have underperforming dairy cows because of wrong and inappropriate feeding methods. It is not necessarily true that Zimbabwe dairy farmers have a shortage of feed resources to feed their dairy animals. It is the absence of technical know-how on how to feed a dairy cow as well as the fact that available resources are fed separately. Unmixed or component feeding method do not allow proper performance of dairy cows. Starches and concentrates are fed separately while poor roughages are fed on their own with either salt or molasses. Starch, concentrates and other non-fibre carbohydrates are provided in very minute quantities per day, especially during milking time. The major disadvantage when starch is offered without relish is that there is a greater possibility for large fluctuations in rumen pH, which may impair the degradation and digestion of hay and crop residue and contribute to poor rumen health. To most farmers, this system was designed to avoid the use of large quantities of concentrated meals. When a component or unblended feeding system is used there is a greater possibility for underfeeding because of the inability to monitor forage intake. This is because chances are high that the amount of forage offered is not weighed if it is not being mixed with other diet components. Thus, there is no means to accurately adjust concentrate intake to match fluctuations in forage consumption. This becomes a particular problem in hot weather during which forage consumption may be reduced substantially while concentrate consumption is less affected. This leads to alterations in the intended proportions of fibre and non-fibre carbohydrates in the diets.

Pasture-based systems.

Pasture management has evolved to optimise the use of forage resources in pasture- based feeding systems. Such systems require intensive pasture management of pasture for optimal dry-matter and nutrient yields and for optimal feeding and nutrition of high-producing dairy cows. To achieve these goals, paddocks must be rotated frequently, so forages are consumed at an optimal stage of growth and overgrazing should be avoided. Pastures are typically divided into paddocks. Dairy cows are rotated through paddocks as forages reach stages of growth which is optimal for both dry-matter yields and nutrient composition. From a nutritional point of view, the three major challenges of pasture-based dairy systems are namely; maintaining favourable rumen fermentation conditions, maintaining adequate dry matter intake, and meeting energy and protein requirements. Creating and maintaining a stable and healthy rumen ecosystem and ensuring that the cow is taking adequate dietary fibre are the biggest challenges with pasture-based systems. Young and fast growing pasture grasses have high energy and protein density but are deficient in Neutral Detergent Fibre (NDF) concentrations. Hence there is quick rumen fermentation resulting in low pH production and unstable rumen environment. Supplementing the pasture with dry forages to maintain adequate effective fibre concentrations is frequently necessary in all pasture-based feeding systems. Dry matter consumption in pasture systems may limit nutrient intake because maximal consumption rates are lower than in confinement systems. This will limit energy intake, thus requiring supplemental energy sources to be fed to achieve high milk production.  Milk production rates in unsupplemented pasture feeding situations are seldom >25 kg/day. Energy supplements may include starches such as cereal grains or highly fermentable fibre sources such as grain by-products. Protein, and particularly sources of Rumen-undegradable protein (RUP), may also need to be supplemented. Protein concentrations in pasture grasses may be high but are generally highly rumen degradable.