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Forage Production and Grazing
A quick lesson in plant structure, growth and regrowth for pasture-based dairy systems. A Fact Sheet describing plant growth and structure and how they're affected by weather and grazing management.
Adding Legumes to Pastures. This factsheet summarizes research at USDFRC regarding the productivity of grass pastures where legumes have been added. Data presented illustrate production expectations from several combinations of grass and legume species, including forage yields and quality in plots and under high and low stocking rates, along with stand persistence estimates.
Animal Performance of Grazing Dairy Heifers and Cows – Assessment of Grasses. This factsheet summarizes research at USDFRC that compares various perennial grasses in their yield, quality, and potential stocking rate for rearing dairy heifers and grazing lactating dairy cows. In the case of the lactating cows, species are compared in their predicted milk production in the spring, summer, and fall.
Baled Silages. This 56-page research summary discusses experiments at USDFRC and collaborators elsewhere during the last several years. This comprehensive is geared to educators/extension professionals, nutritionists, other consultants, and detail-oriented producers seeking to better understand the science behind baled silage production.
Effect of residue height and timing of grazing on pasture quality, productivity and persistence. A Fact Sheet answering common questions graziers have about the timing of grazing based on the time of year and condition of the plant.
Effects of Canopy Structure on Intake of Perennial Cool-Season Grasses. This factsheet summarizes research at USDFRC that illustrates the variation between several key cool season perennial grass species and the forage availability and quality at different layers of the pasture canopy (4 to 6”, 6 to 8”, and 8 to 10” layers). Available forage mass, leaf bulk density, and fiber levels and digestibility data are summarized.
Endophyte Status Does Not Affect Persistence of Tall Fescue under Wisconsin Winter Conditions. In other regions of the U.S., tall fescue will not persist without the fungal endophyte symbiont that provides the grass plant with insect resistance and greater drought and heat tolerance. This short factsheet provides a summary of research showing that tall fescue persistence in Wisconsin is very good, even if the plants are endophyte-free.
Evaluating Pasture Management with Grazing Livestock. Perennial cool season grass species are the most important element of dairy pastures and other pasture-based livestock systems in the temperate regions of the U.S. This short factsheet summarizes the relationship between the available forage mass and the dry matter intake of dairy cows for four of the most important cool season perennial grass species.
Growing high-quality grasses for dairy rations requires attention to detail. A Fact Sheet with advice on growing grasses as an intentional source of high quality forage for dairy rations.
Guidelines for Growing Perennial Cool-Season Grasses. This factsheet shares research results illustrating the impacts of forage productivity, quality, and persistence of three cool season perennial grasses (i.e., meadow fescue, orchardgrass, and tall fescue) when a residual height of 2 or 4-inches is used. The data provide guidance on the consequences of grazing or harvesting these species to closely.
Importance of Acclimation to Grazing. A common question for those considering grazing either heifers or lactating dairy cows is how long they must be acclimated to grazing when they have been raised in calf hutches or barns for much if not all of their lives. This 3-page factsheet provides evidence of how quickly both heifers and lactating cows can acclimate to grazing.
Improving the establishment and subsequent yield of alfalfa interseeded into silage corn. A Fact Sheet about research on interseeding alfalfa with silage corn (during corn's last year in the rotation), using plant growth regulators on the alfalfa that will ensure alfalfa is successfully established in corn.
Interseeding Alfalfa into Silage Corn: Current Recommendations. Over the last decade, scientists at the U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center, the University of Wisconsin, Michigan State University, and Penn State University have been developing reliable methods for establishing alfalfa in high yielding silage corn. Based on this work, the linked file presents best management practices and current recommendations for interseeding alfalfa into silage corn.
Managing Cereal Grain Forages. This 56-page research summary summarizes work at USDFRC on the management and nutritional value of cereal grain (small grain) forage crops. Though many cereal grain species (e.g., rye, wheat, triticale, and oats) are grown as cover crops, a substantial number of acres planted to these species are grazed or harvested by dairy animals and other forage-consuming livestock. This detailed research summary presents data on multiple systems wherein cereal grains could best be utilized.
Measuring the trade-off between alfalfa yield and quality across four harvest periods. A Fact Sheet with harvest recommendations based on the improving knowledge of the relationships among alfalfa yield, quality, and persistence.
Managing Grasses to Minimize Challenges from Potassium in Dry Cow Nutrition. Dry cows are often fed hay or grazed on pastures containing cool season grasses or straw from these species. However, if managed poorly, the potassium (K) content of these feed sources can set up mineral deficiency challenges for cows following calving. This factsheet synthesizes data from research at USDFRC to inform management decisions regarding the feeding of cool season grasses to dry cows.
Perennial forages benefit soils, other crops, and water quality in important ways. A Fact Sheet explaining the direct benefits of perennial forages used in rotation or as a cover crop, and the more far-reaching benefits of perennial forages in terms of improved soil and water quality.
Planting date effects on the yield and nutritive value of fall-grown oat cultivars. A Fact Sheet discussing which types of oat cultivars to plant in the fall based on how late in the growing season they're being planted.
Physiology of Grazed Cool-Season Grasses. Perennial cool season grass species are the most important element of dairy pastures and other pasture-based livestock systems in the temperate regions of the U.S. This short factsheet summarizes the balance between forage yield, nutritive value, and regrowth potential at various levels of grazing pressure, including a comparison of mob grazing and moderate rotation stocking methods.
Redesigning alfalfa: Capturing more protein for economic and environmental sustainability. A Fact Sheet explaining USDFRC research with condensed tannins and a PPO/o-diphenol system for improving the nitrogen use efficiency of alfalfa.
Stockpiling Perennial Cool-Season Grasses. To reduce winer hay feeding needs, dairy heifer producers (and other pasture-based livestock operations) often will allow forage in meadow fescue, orchardgrass, tall fescue, and other cool-season grass pastures accumulate in late summer and early fall, thereby stockpiling it for grazing later in fall and winter. This factsheet summarizes research at USDFRC that informs what these producers can expect to have from the main cool season perennial grasses in terms of forage yield, quality, and durability of stockpiled forage during fall and winter, as well as how those results are influenced by late summer nitrogen fertilizer applications.
With larger bales, heating occurs at lower moisture levels; loss of energy can be substantial A fact sheet discussing the greater potential for heating and for energy loss in large bales
50 years of forage. A 7-page handout discussing top trends and game changers in dairy forage systems from 1967 to 2016. Taken from the USDFRC display at the 50th World Dairy Expo in Madison, WI.
Dairy Cattle Nutrition
Digestibility: An approach to handling variability in a variable measure
Manure, Nutrients, and the Environment
Research enhances nitrogen, phosphorus and carbon use on farms. Nutrients such as N, P, and C are critical to crop milk production on a farm. This fact sheet explains the various pathways these nutrients take on the farm and ways that producers can put more nutrients into milk and crops and fewer into runoff, leaching, and gaseous emissions.
Using MUN to reduce nitrogen emissions from dairy farms. A Fact Sheet showing how milk urea nitrogen, in addition to being used to monitor feed efficiency, also can be used to help reduce nitrogen emissions from dairy farms.
Airborne pathogens from dairy manure aerial irrigation and the human health risk. A fact sheet describing a study that both measured pathogens in irrigated manure and estimated the human health risk from manure irrigation.
Tannin NMR Database
