Publication Date
1997
Description
The effects on the net profit and total milk production were compared using two levels of grain supplementation and forage-only feeding in a program of seasonal dairying in South Louisiana using management intensive grazing. Treatments were 8 kg grain, 4 kg grain, and 0 grain supplementation. Annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorium) and clovers (Trifolium incarnatum, and T. Alexandrinum) were grazed intensively with 51 multiparous Jersey and Holstein cows in mid-lactation in 1993-1995. Milk production, milk fat, milk protein, and blood urea nitrogen were measured. Milk and protein models were all highly significant for all classes. Daily milk production with 8 kg grain was significantly different (p < .01) than other treatments. Cows fed no concentrate had lower milk yield, but cows fed 4 kg grain daily did not have significantly (p > 0.1) increased yield compared to the zero grain group. Income-overfeed costs (IOFC) were highest for the group fed no grain in all months except May 1995. Increased IOFC in the no grain group should be sufficient to absorb any additional pasture costs of that treatment. An all-forage seasonal dairying may be profitable and may need to be considered for more management situations.
Citation
DeRamus, H A.; Labbe, L; Ingawa, K; Atkinson, W A.; Simon, M J.; and Roussel, J D., "Forage-Based Seasonal Dairying in South Louisiana" (2024). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 64.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1997/session29/64
Included in
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Forage-Based Seasonal Dairying in South Louisiana
The effects on the net profit and total milk production were compared using two levels of grain supplementation and forage-only feeding in a program of seasonal dairying in South Louisiana using management intensive grazing. Treatments were 8 kg grain, 4 kg grain, and 0 grain supplementation. Annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorium) and clovers (Trifolium incarnatum, and T. Alexandrinum) were grazed intensively with 51 multiparous Jersey and Holstein cows in mid-lactation in 1993-1995. Milk production, milk fat, milk protein, and blood urea nitrogen were measured. Milk and protein models were all highly significant for all classes. Daily milk production with 8 kg grain was significantly different (p < .01) than other treatments. Cows fed no concentrate had lower milk yield, but cows fed 4 kg grain daily did not have significantly (p > 0.1) increased yield compared to the zero grain group. Income-overfeed costs (IOFC) were highest for the group fed no grain in all months except May 1995. Increased IOFC in the no grain group should be sufficient to absorb any additional pasture costs of that treatment. An all-forage seasonal dairying may be profitable and may need to be considered for more management situations.
