1. Dairy Grazing Intensive Karen Hoffman Resource Conservationist – Animal Science Norwich, NY Natural Resources Conservation Service

2. Forages Foundation upon which nutritionally sound and economical dairy rations are built High quality forage = less grain & better income over feed cost Forage quality impacts intake, milk production and animal health Are the primary source of “effective” fiber

3. Forages Physical Fiber Rumen Degradable Protein NFC feeds Grains Byproducts Minerals and Vitamins “Bypass” Protein Fat Suppl. Feed Additives The Feed Pyramid (Rick Lundquist, 1995) Use the Feed Pyramid to think about how rations should be formulated and cows fed. A basic ration with high quality forages (bottom three sections of pyramid) should support up to 75 lbs (or more) of milk per day. Fats, bypass proteins and feed additives are needed by higher producing cows and should top off the base ration

4. What Does Your Forage Customer Want? A consistent supply of: – High quality, high digestibility – “effective” physical fiber – Palatable

5. What Limits the Amount of Forage a Cow Can Consume? Fiber level Lignin content Digestibility (rate of digestion) Time in the rumen (rate of passage) Particle size (rate of digestion) Inventory (how much we have) Pasture availability

6. Effect of Maturity on Forage Quality ENERGY AND PROTEIN Early MaturityLate Maturity Energy and Protein NDF (Fiber) Lignin

7. NDF and Intake Lower NDF = higher intake NDF from forage – Low Quality Stored 0.8-1.0% of body weight – High Quality Stored 1.0-1.2% of body weight

8. NDF and Intake Forage NDF Intake – Pasture + Grain Up to 1.4% of body weight Total DMI up to 4% BW – Pasture Only Total DMI up to 3.25% BW Milk production limit Pasture is the most digestible forage and has highest intake potential

9. Why Maximize Intake From Pasture? Pasture is cheapest feed – Keeps costs low! Highly digestible – Allows cow to eat more High intakes – Allows cow to milk more – 1 lb or kg extra DMI = 2 lb or kg extra milk

10. Estimating Intake Very difficult to measure directly Depends on plant and animal factors – Biting rate, grazing time, and intake/bite – Plant density, maturity, and species – Supplemental feeds in barn Substitution effect

11. Supplementation In The Barn Substitution effects – Too much stored forage pound for pound – Too much TMR > pound for pound – Too much protein Post-ingestive feedback

12. Anything that interferes with this process will reduce DMI and thus animal performance Bite RateBite Size Bite Rate Bite Size Time Spent Grazing

13. Biting Rate/Minute 50 – 70 bites per minute is common 93 bites per minute has been observed! (28,000 – 35,000 bites per day)

14. Biting Rate/Minute Fastest rate when first enter a new paddock – why? Slow down with time – why? Too long in same paddock – what happens?

15. Amount Of Feed Taken/Bite.57 of a gram (.02 ounce) per bite or less 2.0 to 4.0% of body weight/d in dry matter

16. Pasture Yield Is A Function OfHeight Plus Density Pasture Yield Is A Function Of Height Plus Density Height Density

17. 8 inches (20 cm)

19. 6 inches (15 cm)

21. 900 lbs DM/Ac (1000 kg DM/ha) 1600 lbs DM/Ac (1800 kg DM/ha)

22. New paddock after every milking = higher intake/bite!

23. Something to think about…. The 1 st time in a paddock, cows eat in the dining room… The 2 nd time in a paddock, cows eat in the bedroom… The 3 rd time in a paddock, cows eat in the bathroom… If YOU don’t eat in the bedroom or bathroom, WHY do you make your cows do it?? Slide 23

24. Forage Quality Graze at 6 to 10 inches (15 to 25 cm) – Residual 2 to 3 inches (5 to 8 cm) Graze at 10 to 16 inches (25 to 40 cm) – Residual 4 inches (10 cm) or more Slide 24 Which recommendation should you believe?

25. Typical Forage Quality 15-25 cm NUTRIENT PASTURE HAY HAYLAGE Dry Matter % 20-25 88-92 35-40 Crude Protein % 20-30 8-14 14-20 Net Energy G, Mcal/lb.50-.60.40-.50.45-.55 ADF% * 20-30 30-40 30-40 NDF% ** 40-50 55-65 45-55 * Acid Detergent Fiber – cellulose + lignin **Neutral Detergent Fiber – hemicellulose + cellulose + lignin

26. Nutrient Profile Of 9 Inch Tall Orchardgrass TOP 27.4 38.5.79 MIDDLE 22.9 44.6.76 BOTTOM 14.0 60.0.67 CP NDF NEL 3” Grazing animals eat in thirds…..

27. Pasture Samples Must represent what cows eat – No “random samples” Cows are not random grazers Sample paddock being grazed – “But they’ll eat it before results are back!” – Are results reliable? – Yes! If all paddocks managed same, quality will be similar

28. Forage Analysis How to take a pasture sample – Randomly “graze” paddock Sample multiple places, species, heights – Pack in plastic bag & freeze – Mail Wet chemistry for minerals – More accurate results vs. NIR

29. Protein Protein from pasture > animal req’ts – 20 – 30% crude protein from pasture – Dairy cow needs 16-17% Protein from pasture > rumen bacteria req’ts – 70 – 80% degradability Feeding energy supplements can help to dilute protein

30. How Excess Degradable Protein Wastes Energy Degradable Protein  Used by microbesNot used protein + carbohydrates   converted to ammonia microbial protein -  energy used by cows ammonia into blood  ammonia in blood to liver  energy urea excretion  liver converts to urea

31. Supplementation Dilute the pasture protein Feed a little dry hay Lower protein than pasture Substitutes for pasture intake Use the pasture protein Feed a little ground corn Provides non-fiber carbs (NFC) Rumen bugs use to make more bugs

32. Does it Make Sense to Feed Some Grain to Cows on Pasture? High quality pasture is high in protein, high in rumen degradable protein and low in nonfiber carbohydrates The rumen has excess ammonia that is excreted via the urine

33. Feed Costs From NODPA Newsletter, January 2013

34. Does No Grain = No Cost? Lower milk production Body condition challenge Breeding efficiency Need to consider “unseen” and longer term costs Look at cow genetics, breed, body size, eating history before deciding to try no grain No grain train wrecks have been known to happen

35. How Much Milk Can We Expect if We Fed Only Pasture and No Grain? Results from recent research trials

36. Reis & Combs – 2000 - Wisconsin Mixed pasture (50:50 grass:legume) 19% CP, 40% NDF pasture Stocking rate = 1.3 cows/acre Front fence moved 2x 3 treatments (0, 11 and 22 lbs. grain) Grain mix was 90% ground corn, 5.5% SBM and 3% molasses

37. Dry Matter Intake, lbs/day

38. Milk Production, lbs/day

39. Milk Income and Returns, $/cow/day Milk price $35 and feed price $700/ton

40. Small Changes = Big Difference Milk price $35 and feed price $700 or $600/ton

41. Point of Diminishing Returns Every farm will be different L. Muller – Penn State reviewed data from research studies – Range was 0.6 to 1.45 lbs milk/lb grain – Average was about 1 lb milk/lb of grain fed – This ratio decreases as more grain is fed What is the cost of 1 lb of grain vs. value of 1 lb of milk?

42. Grain vs. Molasses Grain contributes sugar and starch to ration Molasses contributes multiple sugars, no starch Equivalent in metabolizable energy for cows – 3 studies – 2 on-farm and 1 laboratory Difference in how energy used in rumen Base decision on price

43. Minerals

44. Plant Minerals Most available form for animals Fresh forage vs. fermented Depends on soil fertility Depends on soil health Depends on plant and root structure

45. Immune System & Minerals Major minerals Ca, P, Mg, K, Na, Cl, S Acid-base balance, osmotic pressure, membrane electrical potential and nervous transmission Trace minerals Co, Cu, I, Fe, Mn, Mo, Se,Zn Components of enzymes and enzyme co-factors, hormones These systems are inter-related in support of the immune system – need to consider holistic viewpoint

46. Vitamins A, D, E Function in metabolic pathways, immune cell function, gene regulation Grazing Season Vitamin A – precursor is ß-carotene Vitamin D – sunlight & grass May decrease slightly in diet

47. Kelp Approved for organics Source of minerals, vitamins, anti-oxidants High iodine content Not problematic Limited research Boosts immune system Reduces pinkeye

48. “Profitable” Profitability is different on every farm Dependent on fixed expenses – Debt, insurance, utilities, labor Dependent on variable expenses – Feed and fertilizer purchases, veterinary What is a “comfortable” family living expense? Management strategies not one-size-fits-all for optimum profit

49. Economic Studies Bob Parsons – UVM - 2012 report – Highest profit herds had more milk per cow – Highest profit herds spend most on grain – Two no-grain herds moderately profitable

50. Economic Studies Tom Kriegl – U. Wis. – 12 year financials – Compared confinement, grazing, organic – Feed cost/cwt sold highest for organic, lowest for grazing – Feed costs of 41% of income on organic dairies Vs. 44.18% grazing and 47.32% confinement – NFIFO/cwt $1.03 more than grazing and $3.21 more than confinement – No data on how much grain fed vs. milk production

51. The Bottom Line Manage pasture for high quality forage – High forage intake = more milk at lower cost Milk price to feed cost ratio critical – Small amount of grain Push pencil on: – Milk production – Income vs. expenses

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