A26-lancastsr Farming, Saturday, Fabruary 11, 1995
For Virginia Dairyman, Grazing The Way To
Greater Profitability, Improved Herd Health
ANDY ANDREWS
Lancaster Fanning Staff
PARADISE (Lancaster Co.)
For Crimora, Virginia dairyman
Bill Patterson, the work was simp
ly too hard. Milking the cows
became a relentless chore. There
was no joy in dairying the con
stant drive to put high production
over everything else (hours work
ed, herd health, and happiness of
his own family) simply became too
much to bear.
So nearly three years ago, he
opted out Instead of relying on
confinement housing, feeding
truckloads of dry matter to get the
milk production up, worrying
about veterinarian bills and watch
ing his cull rate skyrocket, he
switched to grazing and a better
lifestyle.
In April 1992, after nearly a year
session that followed, Dave
Forgey emphasized the
importance of selecting a
plant species that works well
with your soil types.
PATTERSON BROTHERS DAIRY
INCOME AND EXPENSES (Annul Cuh Flow) 1»W -1194
INCOME:
Milk Stint
Crap * Livestock Slid
Dividends ft Refunds
Other
CROSS FARM INCOME
EXPENSES:
Breeding Fees
Hired Labor
Purchased feed:
Deny
Livestock
Hogs
FertUizcr, Lime
Freight, Trucking
OtsoHne, Fuel, Oil
Insurance
Machine Hire
Rent of Farm, Pasture
Repair!, Maintenance
Seeds, Plants Purchases
DHIA
Supplies Purchased
Taxes
Utilities
Veterinary, Medicine
Assessments
Miscellaneous Expenses
TOTAL FARM EXPENSES
NET FARM INCOME
FINANCIAL RATIOS AND STATISTICS
Avg. * Com on Toot
Pounds of Milk Shipped
Pounds Milk Shippud/Cow
Pnou of Milk/CWT
Tot Cash Ino/CWT Milk Sold
Total Cush Ineomn/Cow
Cush Exp/CWT Milk Sold
Cash ExpmusCow
Nut Inc/CWT Milk Sold
Nut locomu/Cow
Operitm* Expunsu Ratio
Patterson reviewed the financial figures on his farm, dated from December 1989 to
December 1994. Nat income per cow went from $921.49 In 1989 with 61 cows to a net
income per cow of $1,290.36 in 1994 with 91 cows.
11.
Joel Salatin, Staunton, Va.
grazer who operates Polyface
Tree Farms, has worked out a
system that Is healthy for the
environment and farm
profitable.
of preparation, planning, and orga
nizing. Patterson let the first group
of his Red Mill Farm 91-cow Hols
tein and Jersey herd out on pasture
ground, a combination of orchard
grass and alfalfa, for the first time.
Since that time, every dollar he has
obtained from milk sales has left
him with 30 cents in his pocket, he
said.
Patterson told the 330 dairy far
mers at Tuesday's Second Annual
Southeast Pennsylvania Grazing
Conference at the Dutch Town and
Country Inn that the key was to
make his business less reliable on
spending money for increased pro
duction. Instead, using grazing,
reduced materials and labor costs
has produced a healthier herd, with
a little less production but with
more money in his pocket.
Patterson farms about 400 acres
in Augusta County, Va., along
with his family, a few miles away
from the Blue Ridge Mountains.
The land, once set up for high grain
production, was converted to
mostly pasture land with a combi-
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70.04 67.11 62.33 66.62 62.90 31.46 32.69
Dr. Dave Zartman, professor at Ohio State University, holding microphone, spoke
about the results of five years of research done on seasonal dairying. Bill Patterson,
far left, reviewed the financial figures on his farm, dated from December 1989 to
December 1994 (reprinted this Issue of Lancaster Farming). In center is Dm Fritz,
Montgomery County extension agent, who shared his grazing Ideas from Pennsylva
nia farms. Seated, foreground, Is Roman StoltzfOos.
nation of alfalfa/grass mixes and
some other pasture grasses, includ
ing matua.
Patterson spoke about the his
tory of the herd. In 1991, when the
herd stood at 65 cows (about half
Jerseys), average production was
23,850 pounds. The herd was
milked twice a day. That was the
highest producing 2x herd in the
state at the time. "It was a real
high-producing herd," said Patter
son. "But where do you go from
there?
“Why start grazing?” he said.
Well, he explained that cows.
$1,623
$2,162
$2,659
9*4
4,65*
5453
2,630
147
under the conventional system,
were “really wearing out” with an
average yearly cull rate of 41 per
cent (state average was about 38
percent). There wasn’t one big
problem, but "a little bit of every
thing” which led them to choose
grazing.
Patterson said the cows had
more mastitis because of the con
finement They stood on tradition
al concrete floors, so heel warts
was a problem. Ketosis was some
thing they had to deal with. Pro-
Amazing grazing, too simple it seems
To use the grass that's free.
But costs were up, and profits down
So now the light I've seen.
Dividing land around the barn
Into paddocks large, then small
The object is to keep the cows
On grass six inches tall.
With several rubber water tanks
And some plastic pipe we've laid,
We've found fresh water availability
To be more important than shade.
We move the cows at intervals,
No longer than a day;
If paddocks get over twelve inches tall,
Make them into hay.
Amazing grazing, too simple it seems,
But I know it works for me.
And I would rather move a little fence
Than give shots of BST.
If you'd like to help with what you've heard
Here's what I would suggest
Get in touch with the Grassland Committee,
Your County Extension, or SCS.
$1,654
1,(29
$2,45*
5,111
47,175
51.591
14.31*
11,109
4,532
3,142
This poem about grazing’s benefits was included In the
Information packet at the conference.
duction was increased from 14,000
pounds to 22,000 pounds over an
11-year period, but the higher level
of production forced more man
agement and “more work.”
If we worked hard, it was impor
tant to be rewarded for it, said Pat
terson. The whole system was
wearing them out, working longer
hours. “It just got to the
point... where I didn’t want to
milk the cows anymore,” he said.
Patterson wanted to spend more
(Turn to Pag* A 27)
&ma?mg (drains