Grass Based Dairy Systems Grass Based Dairy Systems Kevan Klingberg - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Grass Based Dairy Systems

Understanding Nutrient & Sediment Loss at Breneman Farms ‐ 1

Grass‐Based Dairy Systems

Kevan Klingberg ‐ UW Extension/Discovery Farms

Grazing‐Based Dairy Systems

• Grazing or pasture based dairies have existed in

Wisconsin since we began milking cows.

• While many dairies have moved cattle into

confinement facilities.

• The Wisconsin dairy industry still includes an

d f d important and growing group of producers using new techniques and equipment to practice Management Intensive Grazing (MIG). Management Intensive Grazing (MIG).

Grazing‐Based Dairy Systems

• Grazing systems allow producers to:

– begin or continue dairying with minimal investment in equipment investment in equipment. focus daily activities on managing grass / legume – focus daily activities on managing grass / legume pasture forage and dairy animals.

Grazing‐Based Dairy Systems

• Variations to system can include:

– Frequency of moving cattle – Types of facilities to house and milk cattle – Option to produce conventionally vs. organic – Others

• MIG can be done with dairy cattle beef sheep

MIG can be done with dairy cattle, beef, sheep, goats or other livestock capable of utilizing forage diets.

Grazing‐Based Dairy Systems

• Combination of:

– Grazing animals Actively growing pasture forage – Actively growing pasture forage – Paddock fences – Watering facilities – Travel lanes – Low‐cost housing / milking facility

• Existing old

g

• Retrofit old
• Low cost new
• Focus on managing ruminant animals to harvest and

eat high quality forage via grazing and spread their own manure in the process manure in the process.

Grazing‐Based Dairy Systems

Grazing‐Based Dairy Systems

• MIG systems greatly minimize the need for

year round feed harvest, feed storage and year round feed harvest, feed storage and handling and intensive housing facilities. MIG producers also minimize having to store, producers also minimize having to store, handle and haul manure.

Grazing‐Based Dairy Systems

• Dairies practicing MIG report increased profitability as a result of lower

feed, equipment, labor and energy costs, as well as improved animal health and lower veterinary costs.

• Wisconsin studies have shown that when managed correctly, both

i d fi d d i t b fit bl grazing and confined dairy systems can be profitable.

– A University of Wisconsin ‐ Center for Dairy Profitability study shows that the nine‐year average (1999‐2007) total basic costs on grazing dairies was the nine‐year average (1999‐2007) total basic costs on grazing dairies was $650 less per cow compared to confinement dairies. – Similarly, grazing dairies earned $230 more net farm income per cow compared to confinement operations over the same time period.

Grazing‐Based Dairy Systems Grazing Based Dairy Systems

• Pastures are usually delineated by permanent

perimeter fences and further subdivided by temporary fencing within the main pastures, allowing cattle controlled access to a small section of pasture at a p time.

• Cattle are systematically moved into and out of
• Cattle are systematically moved into and out of

paddocks.

– Good quality fresh pasture is grazed, followed by a rest period that allows adequate time for the perennial grass and legume plants to re‐grow before the next grazing l cycle.

Grazing Based Dairy Systems Grazing‐Based Dairy Systems

• Pastures are often connected by travel lanes

with watering systems placed in common areas with watering systems placed in common areas that serve numerous pastures.

Paddock layout showing perimeter showing perimeter fences on MIG farm Good quality fresh pasture is grazed, p g , followed by a rest period that allows adequate time for the perennial grass for the perennial grass and legume plants to re‐ grow before the next l grazing cycle.

UW‐Extension Pastures for Profit

University of Wisconsin ‐ E t i bli ti A3529 Extension publication A3529, “Pastures for profit: a guide to rotational grazing” covers the rotational grazing , covers the basics of setting up rotational grazing (MIG) on your farm. g g ( ) y

UWEX Grazing information and reso rces ebsite and resources website: http://www.uwrf.edu/grazing/

Wisconsin’s Grazing Seasons

• There are three very different seasonal time

periods for Wisconsin’s grass‐based dairies: p g

– the grazing season, – the pre‐and post‐grazing season, the pre and post grazing season, – and winter.

Wisconsin’s Grazing Seasons

• Wisconsin’s grazing season is about 180 days, lasting from May to October.
• There is another 30 days on either side of the growing season (60 days total)

where pasture plants are either just beginning to grow or have gone where pasture plants are either just beginning to grow or have gone dormant. – During this period pastures are mostly free from snow, and the soil is g p p y , thawed. – Forage quality may be limited in the late season as plant growth slows and mature forage is stockpiled to extend the grazing season and mature forage is stockpiled to extend the grazing season. – Early spring growth is generally very high quality, but limited in quantity and plants are sensitive to hoof damage because of high soil moisture. p g g – Generally both the pre‐and post‐grazing season periods require supplemental feed, which is sometimes delivered and fed within paddocks paddocks.

Wisconsin’s Grazing Seasons

• During the winter (December – March) when

Wisconsin pastures are dormant and the soil is mostly f d/ d b d d i i ith frozen and/or snow‐covered, grass‐based dairies either confine cattle to barns or keep them outside.

• Out‐wintering sites are areas where animals are

concentrated and fed on paddocks during this season concentrated and fed on paddocks during this season.

Out‐Wintering

• There are three general management approaches to
• ut wintering cattle:
• ut‐wintering cattle:

1) Continue rotating cattle through paddocks; – 1) Continue rotating cattle through paddocks; – 2) Use “sacrifice” paddocks, such that those paddocks get re‐ seeded the next year; or y – 3) Designate a paddock or two and develop a bedded pack, which gets cleaned in the spring. Note: Over‐ wintering and out‐wintering are synonymous terms are synonymous terms.

Out‐Wintering

• While the perennial sod cover provided by MIG
• perations protects soil and water quality areas
• perations protects soil and water quality, areas

where cattle are out – wintered have potential risk for negative environmental impacts. g p

• To better understand these areas UW Discovery
• To better understand these areas, UW Discovery

Farms worked with two farms using MIG systems along with concentrated out‐wintering sites. along with concentrated out wintering sites.

Breneman On‐farm Research

• On‐farm research was conducted on the Breneman

farm to investigate environmental challenges and

• pportunities for grass based dairies on the
• pportunities for grass‐based dairies on the

Wisconsin landscape, 2002‐2007.

• Surface water quality monitoring was conducted to

measure sediment and nutrient loads in runoff t f dd k th t d f l water from paddocks that were used for regular rotational grazing, then again used to seasonally

• ut‐winter the dairy herd.

y

Breneman Farms

Grazing‐based dairy. 42 paddocks. 80 crossbred dairy cows + young stock cows + young stock. (1.6 acres / AU) Coarse textured soil Out‐winter cows and

• lder heifers

Columbia County, WI

Information Available

• Specific projects that measured and analyzed water quality on this

farm include:

• Crowe, A., Thompson, A., Radatz, T. 2006. Surface Water Quality

Impacts of Management Intensive Rotational Grazing. M.S. Thesis, Biological Systems Engineering, University of Wisconsin‐Madison. Biological Systems Engineering, University of Wisconsin Madison.

• Turyk, N., McGinley, P., Homan, K. 2007. Phosphorus in

Groundwater Below Over‐wintering Areas and Seasonally Used g y Paddocks, University of Wisconsin‐Stevens Point.

• Turyk, N., Browne, B., Russelle, M. 2004. Does Management

Intensive Grazing Protect Groundwater Quality by Denitrification? SARE Project LNC01‐181, University of Wisconsin‐Stevens Point and USDA Agricultural Research Station, St. Paul, MN.

Information Available

• Projects where this farm’s information was used within a larger pool of other

statewide farm information include:

• Kriegel T 2007 WI Grazing Dairy Profitability Analysis Center for Dairy
• Kriegel, T. 2007. WI Grazing Dairy Profitability Analysis. Center for Dairy

profitability, University of Wisconsin‐Madison.

• Popple, T. and Klingberg, K. 2008. A Wisconsin Comprehensive Nutrient

Management Plan Development Protocol University of Wisconsin Discovery Farms Management Plan Development Protocol. University of Wisconsin‐Discovery Farms Program.

• Leverich, J. 2003. On‐Farm Energy Usage and Opportunities. University of

Wisconsin Discovery Farms Program Wisconsin‐Discovery Farms Program.

• Towns, B. 2004. Evaluation of Three Farm Nitrogen Balancing Spreadsheets with

Wisconsin Dairy Farm Data. M.S. Thesis, Dairy Science, University of Wisconsin‐ M di Madison

• Cosgrove, D. 2008. Nutrient Management Planning for Dairy Farms Practicing

Management Intensive Rotational Grazing, SARE Project LNC03‐237, University of Wi i Ri F ll Wisconsin – River Falls.

Information Available

• Other projects:

Other projects:

• Randy Jackson UW‐Madison Agronomy; Claudio

Randy Jackson, UW Madison Agronomy; Claudio Gratton, UW‐Madison Entomology; Michael Bell, UW‐Madison Rural Sociology: Grass Based Livestock gy Systems Effect on Ecosystem Structure and Function.

Information Available

• This presentation is the first in a series of

seven developed to provide the data and seven developed to provide the data and information collected at Breneman Farms.

• All of the presentations, factsheets and briefs

are available on the UW ‐ Discovery Farms are available on the UW Discovery Farms website.

• http://www.uwdiscoveryfarms.org

Information Available

• There are seven factsheets available for

Breneman Farms.

• There are eight briefs available for Breneman

Farms (2 page summaries of the factsheets) Farms (2 page summaries of the factsheets). Th t ti il bl f

• There are seven presentations available for

Breneman Farms.

For Additional Information http //www uwdiscoveryfarms org http://www.uwdiscoveryfarms.org

UW Discovery Farms UW Discovery Farms 40195 Winsand Drive PO Box 429 PO Box 429 Pigeon Falls, WI 54760 1‐715‐983‐5668 1 715 983 5668

jgoplin@wisc edu or drframe@wisc edu jgoplin@wisc.edu or drframe@wisc.edu