Understanding Nutrient & Sediment Loss at Breneman Farms ‐ 1 Grass Based Dairy Systems 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 important and growing group of producers using d f d 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 • grazing and confined dairy systems can be profitable. i d fi d d i t b fit bl – 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 cycle. l
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 grazing cycle. l
UW ‐ Extension Pastures for Profit University of Wisconsin ‐ E t Extension publication A3529, i bli ti 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 and resources website: ebsite 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 frozen and/or snow ‐ covered, grass ‐ based dairies either d/ d b d d i i ith 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 out wintering cattle: out ‐ 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 operations protects soil and water quality areas operations 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 opportunities for grass based dairies on the opportunities for grass ‐ based dairies on the Wisconsin landscape, 2002 ‐ 2007. • Surface water quality monitoring was conducted to measure sediment and nutrient loads in runoff water from paddocks that were used for regular t f dd k th t d f l rotational grazing, then again used to seasonally out ‐ 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 older 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 Wisconsin – River Falls. i Ri F ll
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