The Feeding Value of Excellent Forage for Milk Production

Abstract

Results of 4 experiments involving the use of excellent winter pasture are shown. The forage maintained milk production at a level in excess of 40 lb./day when fed as the sole ration so long as the dry matter digestibility remained above 70%. Two hours of grazing/day on similar quality forage maintained a 20 lb. level of production when the cows were also fed U. S. No. 2 hay free choice. The same amount of grazing maintained a 28-lb. level of production when the cows also received good corn silage and U. S. No.l lespedeza hay. The limited forage was not adequate to maintain production when fed with poor hay, apparently because of lack of ration nutrients. Free choice feeding of good roughage may also reduce the amount of pasture consumed and thus extend the number of cows which can be grazed/acre.