Forage and Animal Responses in Pasture-based Dairy Production Systems for Lactating Cows

Abstract:
Greater volatility in milk prices, higher production costs, and stricter environmental regulations for nutrient management on farms have led to Florida dairymen to consider use of grazed pasture for their dairy cows. Research information to make grazing recommendations is lacking. The current research has shown that N-fertilized rye-ryegrass pastures are more adapted to intensive grazing management than grass-clover pastures for winter grazing in sandy soils of Florida. Matching the pastures with an appropriate stocking rate is critical for milk production. Stocking rate should be adjusted to ensure that animals have adequate forage availability. In, summer, providing highly digestible pastures such as perennial peanut allows animals to obtain high feed intake, despite short grazing time due to heat stress, resulting in higher milk production. Expenditure on feedstuffs may be reduced if the concentrate fed is matched with nutrient intake from pasture. Efficient pasture-based dairying in Florida will depend on managing pastures to ensure adequate availability of good quality forage.
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