A Comparison of Three Pasture Plans with Grasses for Dairy Cows

Abstract

Statistical analyses indicated that there were no significant differences in amounts of total digestible nutrients consumed by dairy cows from pasture forage when a ten-day rotational, a one-day rotational and a soilage management plan were compared. When effect of years is removed, the average feed costs of producing 100 lbs. of milk by cows on the ten-day rotational, one-day rotational and soilage management systems were $1.19, $1.29 and $1.55, respectively. With a pasture mixture made up largely of grasses in these trials, the ten-day rotational grazing system resulted in lower feed cost per 100 lbs. of milk than did the one-day rotational grazing or soilage management systems.