ARS | Publication request: Orchardgrass vs. alfalfa for replacing dairy-cow grain

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: October 4, 2010
Publication Date: November 17, 2010
Citation: Raeth-Knight, M.L., Jung, H.G., Peterson, P.R., Litherland, N.B., Linn, J.G. 2010. Orchardgrass vs. alfalfa for replacing dairy-cow grain [abstract]. In: 2010 Minnesota Forage Research Symposium, November 17-18, 2010, St. Cloud, Minnesota. p. 14.

Technical Abstract: Alfalfa is currently the predominant forage fed to lactating dairy cows in the Midwestern United States however interest in incorporating grasses into lactating dairy cow diets has recently been rejuvenated. Due to differences in chemical composition and physical characteristics of grasses and legumes, directly comparing the feeding value of alfalfa to grasses in lactating dairy cow diets is challenging. Therefore, the objective of our study was to use linear regression analysis to compare the change in lactating dairy cow performance when increasing amounts of corn grain and soybean meal were replaced with alfalfa or orchardgrass hay in a total mixed ration.