Start Date
2-22-2001 4:00 PM
Description
Alfalfa is known as the queen of the forage crops and for good reasons. Alfalfa is an excellent forage for dairy cattle because it provides nutrients needed by dairy cows in a package which is highly digestible and cost effective. Alfalfa can be grazed directly by cattle or harvested as hay, haylage, or batage. Dairy farmers will purchase locally-grown hay if it is high quality (RFV greater than 150). When marketing cash hay one needs to understand that the quality of alfalfa greatly impacts milk production and economics of a dairy operation. This impact is felt even when as little as 5 lbs of alfalfa hay is fed per dairy cow.
Included in
Alfalfa for Dairy Cattle
Alfalfa is known as the queen of the forage crops and for good reasons. Alfalfa is an excellent forage for dairy cattle because it provides nutrients needed by dairy cows in a package which is highly digestible and cost effective. Alfalfa can be grazed directly by cattle or harvested as hay, haylage, or batage. Dairy farmers will purchase locally-grown hay if it is high quality (RFV greater than 150). When marketing cash hay one needs to understand that the quality of alfalfa greatly impacts milk production and economics of a dairy operation. This impact is felt even when as little as 5 lbs of alfalfa hay is fed per dairy cow.