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ARS Home » Northeast Area » University Park, Pennsylvania » Pasture Systems & Watershed Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #334837
Title: Evaluation of fodder production systems for grazing dairy farms

Author
item Soder, Kathy
item HEINS, BRAD - University Of Minnesota
item PAULSON, JIM - University Of Minnesota
item CHESTER-JONES, HUGH - University Of Minnesota
item HAFLA, AIMEE - Agri-King, Inc
item RUBANO, MELISSA - University Of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES)

Submitted to: American Forage and Grassland Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/1/2016
Publication Date: 1/22/2017
Citation: Soder, K.J., Heins, B., Paulson, J., Chester-Jones, H., Hafla, A., Rubano, M. 2017. Evaluation of fodder production systems for grazing dairy farms. American Forage and Grassland.Paper No.1.

Interpretive Summary: An interpretive summary is not required.

Technical Abstract: Sprouted grains have gained renewed interest among grazing dairy farmers in response to high grain prices, grain scarcity (in the organic dairy sector) and challenges in producing high-quality forages. This interest has been spurred by high-profile advertising by companies selling the systems, as well as farmer reports of improvements in milk yields, cow health and farm profitability. However, there is little scientific data available on feeding sprouted grains in the temperate regions of the country such as the Northeast or Upper Midwest. We found a 327% increase in fresh weight yield when barley grain was sprouted for 7 days. However, there was a corresponding 17% loss in dry matter (DM). Coupled with a 21% loss in energy, there was a significant net loss in nutrients by sprouting the barley grain. Nutrient digestibility of fodder was not as good as with high-quality pasture. These results suggest that there would likely be a net loss of digestible energy available to the animal, which could negatively impact animal performance and increase feed costs. When 9 kg (as fed) of fodder replaced 2.7 kg of a corn-based concentrate in a TMR, milk production, milk fat, body weight and body condition score of lactating dairy cows were not affected by fodder. Cows fed fodder had slightly greater milk protein and greater milk urea N (16.5 for fodder cows vs. 13.5 for cows not fed fodder).This suggests that cows fed fodder may not have been as efficient in utilizing protein. Income over feed costs (IOFC) favored not feeding fodder except when grain prices increased by 50% over those used in the study ($11.77/bushel), giving fodder a slight edge ($0.44/cow/day). However, the initial investment in the fodder system was not included in the IOFC analysis, and therefore the actual cost of producing fodder would be even higher. Each farm must put pencil to paper to determine if implementing fodder in feeding management is a good idea. Be sure to include all costs in deciding whether the money could be better spent growing or purchasing higher-quality forage.