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Intensive rotational grazing for dairy cattle feeding

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 October 2009

J.W. Rust ,
C.C. Sheaffer ,
V.R. Eidman ,
R.D. Moon  and
R.D. Mathison
J.W. Rust
Affiliation:
Professor of Animal Science, North Central Experiment Station, Grand Rapids, MN 55744;
C.C. Sheaffer
Affiliation:
Professor, Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55708
V.R. Eidman
Affiliation:
Professor, Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55708
R.D. Moon
Affiliation:
Professor, Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55708;
R.D. Mathison
Affiliation:
Research Fellow, North Central Experiment Station, Grand Rapids, MN.
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Abstract

A 2-year study compared milk production and profitability for confinement feeding versus rotational grazing. Guernsey and Guernsey x Holstein cows grazed perennial grass pastures from mid-May to October or were fed in confinement. Averaged over both years, confined cows produced 7% more milk; their milk was similar in fat concentration to that of grazing cows. Body weight changes and health of the two groups were similar. Net return per cow averaged $64 higher for rotational grazing than for confinement because of lower costs for feeding, facilities, equipment, and labor. Intensive rotational grazing of pastures is a competitive alternative for dairy cow feeding. However, farmers in the northern U.S. will still require stored feeds from late fall through early spring.

Keywords

intensive grazingconfinement feedingdairyVoisin grazing
Type
Articles
Information
American Journal of Alternative Agriculture , Volume 10 , Issue 4 , December 1995 , pp. 147 - 151
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1995

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