Outwintering strategies – From the plot and from the field

Authors: CAVADINI, JASON - University Of Wisconsin; Akins, Matthew; ABEL, ADAM - Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS, USDA)

Submitted to: Meeting Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/2/2023
Publication Date: 2/2/2023
Citation: Cavadini, J., Akins, M.S., Abel, A. 2023. Outwintering strategies – From the plot and from the field. Meeting Proceedings. GrassWorks Grazing Conference, Wisconsin Dells, WI, 2/2/2023.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Stockpile grazing offers a number of benefits to grazing dairy farms including extending the grazing season and reduced feeding costs, however minimal information is available on dairy heifer growth while grazing stockpiled forages. This research focused on evaluating forage growth and quality of three grass species, and subsequent dairy heifer growth while grazing those forage grasses. Results from this work show that stockpiling forages in late-summer can allow adequate forage growth to maintain grazing from early October through late November and likely further into winter. In addition, dairy heifer growth met industry standards with growth between 0.8 and 1.0 kg gain/day. Overall, grazing stockpiled forages is a viable option for grazing dairy operations but likely depends on farms having excess land base and a system capable to provide water during freezing conditions.