Northeastern Dairy Farm Forage Demonstration Project

Northeastern Dairy Farm Forage Demonstration Project

Summary

Over the last ten years, intensive rotational grazing has been found to be a low-cost means of producing high-quality forage. The majority of pasture in the northeast, however, is grazed continuously, resulting in sparse regrowth, many weeds, and low nutrient value due to overgrazing. This has led to a bad reputation for pastures as a whole.

This project uses a whole-farm approach to assess the input reduction and profitability of a year-round forage management system which includes the use of intensive rotational grazing systems on small and mid-sized farms. Harvest management reduces the need for chemical weed control and fertilizers, and soil and water quality are enhanced because fewer acres need to be plowed. This reduces energy utilization and machinery costs, as animals are used to harvest about fifty percent of the forage.

Specific achievements during the first two years of funding include development of:

techniques for effectively sampling fresh forage in the field for analysis,

a pasture plate for estimating tons of available forage dry matter from a pasture using a bulk height measurement,

a data base of fresh forage analysis results from two years for protein, energy, and minerals; "Dairy Pasture Ration Balancer" computer program with user's guide,

a workshop format for introducing dairy producers to intensive rotational grazing, and

a seminar-tour about this grazing method for dairy professionals.

Currently being completed are development of calibration equations for near infrared (NIR) analysis of fresh forage, whole farm economic case studies of four farms using rotational grazing techniques, and in vivo analysis of some fresh forage samples to determine rates of digestion. Future plans for this project include further refinement of the forage analysis and feeding recommendation components, as well as demonstration of forage harvest options for the stored forage component of a year-round farm system.

Objectives

(1) To expand the fresh forage analysis data base that has been developed by this project to improve its accuracy, and verify calibration equations for near infrared (NIR) analysis of fresh forage samples. Producer sampling and handling techniques for fresh forage analysis will be tested and verified.

(2) To refine feeding management recommendations for supplementing dairy cows to maximize milk production and maintain body condition while using pasture.

(3) To further farmers' and agribusinessmen's understanding of pasture and harvest management in order to maximize forage production and availability to the dairy cow during the pasture season, and allow for adequate high-quality stored forage to be harvested in a timely manner for use during the winter.