Examining pasture-based dairy systems to optimize profitability environmental impact, animal health and milk quality

Examining pasture-based dairy systems to optimize profitability environmental impact, animal health and milk quality

Summary

Dairy cows in this 3-year project completed their lactations in August 2006 and efforts have been underway since that time to summarize data from various aspects of the study and to work on getting publications ready. Approximately 130 people including dairy graziers, research and extension personnel, dairy industry leaders, and students participated in the 6th Mid-Atlantic Dairy Grazing Conference at CEFS and at the Wayne County Center on October 31 and November 1, 2006. The participants represented 18 different states including dairy geneticists from several land-grant universities. Mr. Gary Zimmer, and organic dairy farmer from Wisconsin was the keynote speaker and he spoke to the group about becoming a “Biological Farmer.” Participants then were able to see the dairy herd and facilities at CEFS and to discuss management approaches and various research efforts including work recently completed, studies in progress, or research being planned for the future. Many of those studies are highlighted in the Mid-Atlantic Dairy Conference Proceedings available at the dairy unit section of the CEFS web site: www.cefs.ncsu.edu and are listed below. Differences were evident in breeds for reproductive efficiency with Jerseys and crossbred cows breeding more efficiently than Holsteins but stocking rate system had little effect on reproduction. Cows at the higher stocking rate that received more supplementa grain milked slightly more than cows that received more pasture and less grain. Because productivity per unit of land area was higher, cows stocked at 1.5 cows per acre may be economically more attractive than cows stocked at 1.0 cow/acre as long as costs of supplemental feeding and environmental impacts are minimal. Although trained panelists could detect differences in milk flavor from pastured vs. TMR-fed cows, all milks were deemed acceptable and a consumer taste panel could not consistently detect differences..

Objectives/Performance Targets

1). Examine and quantify factors affecting economic and production efficiency of environmentally sound pasture-based dairy systems in the region;
2). Characterize potentially beneficial differences in the composition of milk produced under pasture-based production systems;
3). Characterize the antioxidant components of forages and their impact on cow immunocompetence and health;
4). Provide interactive educational programs for dairy producers and industry leaders to enable them to make informed production and management decisions.

Accomplishments/Milestones

Approximately 130 people including dairy graziers, research and extension personnel, dairy industry leaders, and students participated in the 6th Mid-Atlantic Dairy Grazing Conference at CEFS and at the Wayne County Center on October 31 and November 1, 2006. The participants represented 18 different states including dairy geneticists from several land-grant universities. Mr. Gary Zimmer, and organic dairy farmer from Wisconsin was the keynote speaker and he spoke to the group about becoming a “Biological Farmer.” Participants then were able to see the dairy herd and facilities at CEFS and to discuss management approaches and various research efforts including work recently completed, studies in progress, or research being planned for the future. Many of those studies are highlighted in the Mid-Atlantic Dairy Conference Proceedings available at the dairy unit section of the CEFS web site: www.cefs.ncsu.edu

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

Publications:

Rankin, S. A., S. P. Washburn, B. Luth, G. Licitra, S. Carpino, and P. Kindstedt. 2006. Production meets processing: A vital link for high quality dairy foods. J. Dairy Sci. 89: (Suppl 1): 279 (Abstr.).

Croissant, A. E., L. Dean, S. Washburn, and M. A. Drake. 2006. Evaluation of chemical properties and consumer perception of uid milk from conventional and pasture-based production
systems. J. Dairy Sci. 89: (Suppl 1): 178 (Abstr.).

Williams, C. M., S. P. Washburn, A. N. Elias, and C. S. Whisnant. 2006. Breed differences in postpartum cyclicity of pasture-based dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci. 89: (Suppl 1): 129 (Abstr.).

Washburn, Steve. 2006. Management of Genetics, Reproduction, and Calves at the CEFS Dairy Unit. In: Proceedings of the 6th Mid-Atlantic Dairy Grazing Conference, Goldsboro, NC Oct 31-Nov 1; pp 57-60. www.cefs.ncsu.edu/PDFs/Dairy%20Conferece%20Proceedings/Dairy%20Proceedings%20Home.html

Croissant, A. E., L. Dean, S. Washburn, and M.A. Drake. 2006. Evaluation of chemical properties and consumer perception of fluid milk from conventional and pasture-based production systems. In: Proceedings of the 6th Mid-Atlantic Dairy Grazing Conference, Goldsboro, NC Oct 31-Nov 1; pp 61-63. www.cefs.ncsu.edu/PDFs/Dairy%20Conferece%20Proceedings/Dairy%20Proceedings%20Home.html

Watson, Wes, Elina Lastro, Kateryn Rochon, Steve Denning, Mike Stringham, Steve Washburn, and Andy Meier. 2006. Insect Repellents in the Management of Horn Flies. In: Proceedings of the 6th Mid-Atlantic Dairy Grazing Conference, Goldsboro, NC Oct 31-Nov 1; p 67.
www.cefs.ncsu.edu/PDFs/Dairy%20Conferece%20Proceedings/Dairy%20Proceedings%20Home.html

Benson, Geoff, Steve Washburn and Jim Green. 2006. Some Preliminary Results from the CEFS Dairy Grazing Project. In: Proceedings of the 6th Mid-Atlantic Dairy Grazing Conference, Goldsboro, NC Oct 31-Nov 1; pp 75-77.
www.cefs.ncsu.edu/PDFs/Dairy%20Conferece%20Proceedings/Dairy%20Proceedings%20Home.html

Washburn, S. P., G.A. Benson, J. T. Green, Jr., and C. M. Williams. 2006. Effects of stocking rate and breed on milk production and reproduction in a pasture-based dairy system. In: Proceedings of the 6th Mid-Atlantic Dairy Grazing Conference, Goldsboro, NC Oct 31-Nov 1; pp 79-82.
www.cefs.ncsu.edu/PDFs/Dairy%20Conferece%20Proceedings/Dairy%20Proceedings%20Home.html

Williams, C. M., S. P. Washburn, A. N. Elias, and C. S. Whisnant. 2006. Breed differences in postpartum cyclicity and fertility of pasture-based dairy cows. In: Proceedings of the 6th Mid-Atlantic Dairy Grazing Conference, Goldsboro, NC Oct 31-Nov 1; pp 83-86.
www.cefs.ncsu.edu/PDFs/Dairy%20Conferece%20Proceedings/Dairy%20Proceedings%20Home.html

Washburn, S. P., C. M. Williams, A. Meier, C. Sevillano, and D. Latta. 2006. Breed differences in birth weights, calving difficulty, and mortality of Holstein, Jersey, and crossbred calves in a pasture-based dairy system. In: Proceedings of the 6th Mid-Atlantic Dairy Grazing Conference, Goldsboro, NC Oct 31-Nov 1; pp 87-89.
www.cefs.ncsu.edu/PDFs/Dairy%20Conferece%20Proceedings/Dairy%20Proceedings%20Home.html

Washburn, S. P. 2006. Pasture-based dairy farming – an alternative for family farms. Presented as a poster in: Proceedings of the 4th National Small Farm Conference, October 16-19, 2005. p 288 (Abstr.). Available at: http://www.csrees.usda.gov/nea/ag_systems/pdfs/proceedings_05.pdf

Collaborators: