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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Madison, Wisconsin » U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center » Environmentally Integrated Dairy Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #416991
Research Project: Innovative Forage and Pasture Management Strategies for Dairy Agroecosystems

Location: Environmentally Integrated Dairy Management Research

Title: Stockpiled forages for grazing dairy heifers

Author
item Akins, Matthew

Submitted to: Forage Focus
Publication Type: Popular Publication
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/6/2024
Publication Date: 8/15/2024
Citation: Akins, M.S. 2024. Stockpiled forages for grazing dairy heifers. Forage Focus. August 2024.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The use of stockpiled forage for dairy heifer grazing is an effective strategy to extend the grazing season. Grass species including tall fescue, orchardgrass, and meadow fescue were found to be viable options to maintain dairy heifer growth; however tall fescue had the greatest fall forage growth potential to increase the duration of fall/winter grazing. Nitrogen fertilization was critical to improving forage growth with tall fescue and orchardgrass being most responsive to fertilization. Forage nutritive values varied minimally with increasing nitrogen fertilization, however meadow fescue had greater protein content due to less forage growth. Overall, tall fescue was found to be an ideal grass specie for stockpiled forage grazing due to greater forage growth while meeting nutrient needs of growing heifers.