1996 Annual Report for FNC96-140
Extending the Grazing Season in a Rotational Grazing System for Dairy
Summary
"Due to high feed and harvesting costs, producction costs decreases and profits increase as cows obtain nutrients through grazing. We hope to eleimnate purchased fertilizers by having the cows go to the feed rather than bringing the feed to the cows."
Objectives: To extend the number of days pasture is available to milk cows during the year. To reduce concentrate levels and stored forage and increase profitability. Funds will be used to rent a no-till drill, buy seed and herbicide, and run forage anlysis on varius clippings. Nine paddocks will be used in the trial, one left as a control and the other eight no-tilled with wheat, red river crabgrass, grazing alfalfa, oats, sorghum, sudangrass, triticale, hairy vetch and brassicas.
Results: By utilizing a mangement-intensive grazing system and a variety of forages, includign fescue, rye grass, hairy vetch and turnips, the project coordinator has extended his grazing season and increased profits. Turnips are no-till drilled along with rye into mulch where fescue has been burned down with herbicides. Although milk production has been significantly reduced, profits have increased.