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Intensive rotational grazing for dairy cattle feeding

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 October 2009

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.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1995

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