D4-Lincftster Farming, Saturday, June 22, 1996
pennState
GRAIN FEEDING FOR
PASTURE-BASED SYSTEMS
Larry Miller
Penn State University
In a recent issue of Grazing
Gazette, we discussed the supple
mentation of energy and grain for
lactating cows on a grazing sys
tem.
The sharply higher feed costs
and relatively stable milk prices
have dairy producers asking ques
tions: How much can grain feed
ing be reduced? What feed in
gredients can be used to reduce
purchased feed costs? What feed
ingredients can be eliminated?
The purpose of this article is to
address some of these questions
and to present some strategies to
cope with the current situation.
Pasture Quality
And Management
Maintaining high quality pas
ture through proper grazing man
agement offers the best
opportunity to reduce total feed
cost. A system with several pad
docks and a well-planned rotation
provides the opportunity to have
high quality forage available to
cows at the correct time. Daily ob
servations of pasture availability
and planning on which paddocks
to graze and which paddocks to
harvest is needed. Daily observa
tions of cows and their milk pro
duction is also needed.
With good grazing manage
ment which keeps pastures in a ve
getative growth stage, pasture
quality and quantity can be high
during the entire growing season.
The nutrient composition of an or
chard grass-based pasture during a
grazing season from a Penn State
study is shown in Figure 1.
These results are from well
managed pastures that were
grazed at a stocking rate of 1.3
cows pre acre and had nine graz
ing rotations with a 14-day rest
period in the spring to a 28-day
rest period in the summer. This
quality should be typical for a well
managed pasture in Pennsylvania.
Total protein remained above
20 percent for the entire grazing
season. Neutral detergent fiber
(NDF) ranged from 45 to 55 per
cent, and in vitro dry matter
digestibility (IVDMD) estimated
in the laboratory averaged about
70 percent.
In general pastures containing
some legumes will be higher in
nutrient value (lower fiber and
higher digestibility) than pure
grass pastures. In some of our stu
dies, including alfagraze with a
grass pasture decreased NDF
about 7 percent compared to the
grass pasture. These high quality
pastures will have an estimated
net energy of lactation (NEL) val
ue of .70 to .78 Mcal/lb of DM.
Clearly, this high quality pas
ture has a higher nutritive value
than most of our stored forages
which are usually harvested when
the forage is more mature. We
need to maximize the utilization
and intake of this high quality, low
cost forage, particularly during
this time of high feed prices.
The dry matter intake (DMI)
potential needs to be maximized.
With high-quality pasture as the
only forage, we expect dairy cows
to consume about 3 percent of
body weight from pasture DM.
For a 1,300-pound cow, this is
Grazing
Gazette
College of Agricultural Sciences
in cooperation with USDA/ARS
about 40 pounds of DMI per day.
Some Irish research and a recent
study at Penn State reports DMI
greater than 40 pounds/day when
grazing management is optimized.
We can expect Holstein cows
on only high quality pasture diets
to produce about 40-45 pounds of
4 percent milk per day and main
tain adequate body condition.
Higher production levels will
usually be at the cost of body
weight and condition loss.
We can minimize the amount of
supplemental grain fed in the later
part of lactation when Holstein
cows are below 40 to 45 pounds of
milk per day and have a body con
dition score of 3.0 to 3.25. How
ever, we still recommend feeding
some grain, perhaps 4 to 6 pounds/
cow/day in late lactation as a mini
mum.
Cows that are grazing require 2
to 4 pounds of grain/day just to
meet the extra energy needs for
walking to and from pastures
twice daily. In addition, some
grain or rumen available non
structural carbohydrates (NSC) in
the grain mix are beneficial to the
rumen fermentation and as a car
rier for needed minerals.
Nutritional
Limitations To Pasture
Well-managed pastures pro
duce a high quality but not perfect
feed for high producing dairy
cows. Some of the major nutrient
deficiencies or limitations for high
producing cows are:
• Inadequate total DMI and nu
trient intake.to support high levels
of milk production.
• Total protein is high, but is
highly degradable in the rumen
and not efficiently utilized in the
rumen unless NSC is provided to
“capture” this protein. Rumen un
degradable protein intake may be
inadequate.
• The NSC content, which is the
major source of energy for rumen
microbes, is low compared to
needs.
• The total fiber in high quality
pasture is often too low in its abili
ty to stimulate adequate cud chew
ing and rumination, or is low in
“effective fiber.”
• The amount of minerals in
cluding Ca, P,'Mg, S, Cu, Zn, Se,
and salt are usually inadequate.
These limitations or deficien
cies in high quality pasture for
high producing cows indicate that
we need to:
• Supplement pasture with a
properly formulated grain mixture
in order to get more total DMI and
energy intake. Providing a grain
mixture at the rate of 1:4
grain:milk ratio is still profitable
with today’s feed prices for early
lactation, high producing cows. A
1 pound milk response to 1 pound
of grain fed is profitable with a
milk price of 130/pound and grain
at 9 or 100/pound.
• The grain mixture needs to
contain economical grain sources
that provide adequate NSC to
maximize the utilization of the
highly degradable pasture nitro
gen in order to maximize rumen
microbial protein production.
Rica'S HEALTH K/CK
Feeding a grain mixture that is
high in NSC and at a rate of 1:4
graimmilk ratio will get the total
ration (pasture & supplement) to
about 33 percent NSC. Grains
such as com and barley, and by
products high in starch are the best
sources of NSC. Com gluten feed,
hominy, and wheat mids are eco
nomical sources. Supplemental
com silage is a good forage to pro
vide NSC and some needed fiber.
• Addition of a small amount of
rumen undegradable protein
(RUP) or bypass protein to the
grain ration should be considered
for high producing cows. If we are
unable to fully utilize the highly
degradable protein in high quality
pasture with the NSC provided in
grain mixture, then the high pro
ducing cow will likely have inade
quate protein available to the
small intestine. Research at Penn
State and other locations indicate
that 1 to 1.5 pounds of added RUP
may be beneficial for high produc
ing cows. Protein sources such as
animal protein, brewers, distillers,
and roasted/cooked soybeans are
good sources of RUP. Costs need
to be considered.
• The low “effective fiber” in
pasture, which likely contributes
to the low milk fat percent some
times seen with grazing, suggests
a benefit to additional fiber. A few
pounds of long hay can help but
will not increase the energy den
sity of the total ration. Addition of
fermentable fiber sources to the
grain ration, such as soyhulls, beet
pulp, brewers, distillers, and some
by-products is often beneficial.
Again, costs of these ingredients
must be considered.
Other Considerations
As feed prices and availability
change, it is more critical than
ever to work closely with a quali
fied nutritionist. The current rela
tionships of milk prices and feed
costs do not call for much reduc
tion in grain feeding for early lac
tation, high producing cows on
most Pennsylvania farms. A se
parate grain ration or feeding pro
gram may be needed for early lac
tation, high producing cows from
those in later lactation. We need to
minimize wastage of expensive
grain rations. Producers and nutri
tionists need to more critically
look at feed additives that may not
be cost effective, particularly for
cows in the later part of lactation.
Pastures are generally high in vita
mins A (beta carotene), D, and E,
and cows may do well on consid
erably less supplementation than
is often practiced.
Grazing Calendar
Pasture Walks:
• June 26, John and Julie May
er, Taneytown, Md. (contact Stan
Fultz, 301-694-1594).
• June 27, Daniel Stoltzfus,
Lancaster Co. (contact Leon We
ber, 610-683-1476).
• June 28, Sam and Larry Fry,
Lycoming Co. (contact Dave
Hartman. 717-784-6660.)
The 1997 Pennsylvania Graz
ing Conference is scheduled
March 6 and 7 at Carlisle.
Shonsey To Head Merger
GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn.
Ed Shonsey, president and CEO of
Northrup King Co., has been
named president and CEO of the
Novartis Seeds sector’s field crops
business in the U.S., Canada, and
Mexico.
The headquarters of the new
company will be in the Minneapo
lis suburb of Golden Valley. The
name of the company and its
brand logo will be decided after a
worldwide branding team com
pletes its work this summer.
Sugarbeet activity will continue to
be based at Hilleshog Mono-Hy in
Longmont, Colo.
The joint announcement from
Sandoz Ltd. and Ciba-Geigy Ltd.
included appointments to key
global management positions,
including several others in the
U.S. seeds and field crops
businesses.
Fred Fuller, president and CEO
of Ciba Seeds, will become presi-
/Tl[¥|ers-Hou’iie earned
SiuJ our support
lisl Wz kM I d -M- 1
PHONE: 717-626-1164 or 717-394-3047
FAX 717-733-6058
Mon., Tubs.. Wed.. Fri. 8 AM to 5 PM; Thurs. 7 AM to 5 PM
FARM
EQUIPMENT
110 Int. Silage wagon, 3
beaters, 12-ton gear, good
condition. Chester Co.
610/932-5873.
12' Pittsburgh disc, all new
bearings, $BOO.
(717)922-3365.
13' Brillion cultimulcher,
Brillion 10-tooth chisel.
800/919-3322.
1825 Case Skid loader w/
Kubota diesel, 48‘ bucket,
good condition, $4BOO.
717/354-6706.
1835 C Case Skid Loader,
1200 hours, $lO,OOO.
717/524-7954. .
1947 JD B, excellent tin,
good rubber, $l6OO firm.
717/744-2495.
1948 Ford 9N tractor, good
tires and sheet metal,
needs paint, not presently
running, many new parts,
$B5O. 201-839-9053.
1948 JD A, sheet metal,
decent $lBOO. Call even.
(717)626-9536.
1968 IH 2404 backhoe
loader, recently tuned.
New tires, new battery.
Used for light construction,
$6,000. Carlisle.
(717)249-7677.
1971 Int. Cub Tractor w/5’
belly mower, excellent con
dition, $2500; Woods 5'
belly mower, complete for
8N Ford w/13.6-28 turf
tires, $BOO. 410/655-7094
after 6pm.
1976 Steiger 350 hp, 4WD,
good condition, $16,000.
330-898-5381 evenings.
1979 Great Dane refer 48'
Thermo King, new brakes,
good rubber trailer and unit
in very good condition.
Phone (302)335-3835.
1980 7720, 30.5 tires,
showing 1,950 hrs., nice,
just off farm. Trade &
Finance. $24,750. Larry
Stalter, “The Combine
Man*. 1-800-248-2151
1980 Int. tractor model
284, 3pt. hitch, live PTO,
28HP, ex. shape, 1200 hrs,
$4,500. (610)932-0779.
1981 JD 4040 tractor,
sound guard cab, air condi
tioning, quad range, 1300
hours, excellent shape,
(607)369-9454. After 6 PM,
(607)369-5509.
dent and CEO of Vaughan’s Seed
Company, Chicago. Vaughan’s,
currently part of Sandoz Seeds,
provides flower seeds, plugs,
plants and supplies to the com
mercial greenhouse grower
market.
Jerry Hoeh, chief financial
officer (CFO) of Sandoz Agro
worldwide, was named CFO of
the new U.S. field crop seeds com
pany. In addition, Bob Pryce, head
of Ciba Seeds - Canada, will
become the head of the new com
pany’s field crop operations in
Canada, reporting to Shonsey.
Tom Francis, who has been
heading up Canadian operations
for Northrup King, will remain as
head of research and will share
responsibility for Canadian mark
eting with Pryce.
These appointments will offi
cially take place when Novartis
receives all regulatory approvals
in key countries.
1982 Deere 6620, low hrs.,
Indiana machine, emma
culate, 90% tires, $26,650.
Call Sam. 717-630-2736
1982 FKS Gleaner. 13',
4-30', very good, $6,950.
plus Freight. Financing
Available. Larry Stalter
'The Combine Man*
1-800-248-2151
1982 MF 850 hydro com
bine, w/9115 float head,
1163 corn head, $18,500.
814-364-1349.
1984 JD 2350, 2WD,
w/146 loader, 1650 hrs.,
very nice. 609-451-2727.
1988 7720 Titan 11, 2,016
engine hrs., about 1,400
sep. hrs., big rubber, chop
per, heavy adjustable axle,
sharp, $39,500. Trade &
Finance. Larry Stalter “The
Combine Man'
1-800-248-2151
1995 Deere 6810 cutter,
759 hrs., $123,500. Trade
& Finance. Larry Stalter
“The Chopper Man'
1-800-248-2151
1995 JO 6710 forage
harvester, 4-30“ head, 252
hrs., $134,900. Trade &
Finance. Larry Stalter “The
Chopper Man*
1-800-248-2151
1995 Kubota tractor,
B2ISOHSD, 40hrs, bucket
and 4' York rake, $16,500.
(908)496-4668.
1R FMC pull-type sweet
corn harvester, older ma
chine, good condition.
(610)258-9818.
200 gallon 3pt field
sprayer, good condition,
$5OO. (717)445-6976
(2) 1931 JD GP's, (1) re
stored on steel w/plow; (1)
for parts or restore on rub
ber, $4BOO all. NY
518-392-4096 evenings.
21 EXHAUST FANS- 36"
S.S. w/V4 H.P. motors in
cluding shutters. $lOO ea.
(717)768-7166.
(2) 300 galjon steel fuel
tanks, electric pump, $55;
Hand pump $4O.
215-675-8137.
258 NH rake, dolly wheels,
reconditioned, new tires
and paint. $2,500
(914)373-9443
259 hay rake 273 NH baler
with thrower hay wagon.
Berks Co. (610)562-2090.
28' grain/hay elevator,
$275. #420 IH all twine
baler w/#lO thrower, $650.
Evenings, call
(410)795-7247.
28' Hay elevator w/mota
and transport, good condi
tion, $350. Pequea win
drow inverter, $750
717-534-1253.
(2) Firestone 16.9x34 tirei
on 15* lims. (2) 10.00x16
front tractor tires and
wheels. Both in good con
dition, approx. 60% tread
Make offer
(717)445-6976.
2-stage snowblower for JD
750, $2000; hyd. blade for
JD 750, $750; both 5’
717/469-7110.
(2) Wide Front Oliver 77
row crop tractors: #1 Re
built diesel engine, inj
pump, injectors. New
clutch, brakes & tires,
$2850. #2 Gas, new 12V
generator, $2200.
410/239-0579.
3309 Case IH Discbme,
Like New, $9500. Staunton
Tractor, 540/885-7261
3930 Ford tractor w/loader,
excellent condition, 4 years
old, 330+ hrs., asking
$21,500; Caretree 3pt
hitch, 24“ tree spade w/2
sets of spades, like new,
$4500 firm. 717-386-4137
(3) Brillion SS 10' packers/
seeders- Clearancel
Working shape $1975, As
is $1575. JD #8 backhoe
off 850 JD $3900; Nichol
son tedders, $B5O-$lO5O,
IHC 1100 FH or 3pth, like
new. $850; NH 451 mower,
$850; IHC balance head
mower trailer type, $650,
Danuser post hole w/12"
auger, like new, $6OO, NH
30' elevator, 3 years old,
$lB5O. Thom Wheary Jr.,
717-687-0102.
(3) Gehl forage wagons,
good condition,
(609)259-7494.
3pt. conversion hitches for
Farmall tractors and used
Farmall parts
(814)275-1204.
3-pth forklift, $B5O. Int 205
combine w/10‘ home reel,
on steel, $1,500
(717)532-5918.
3pth HD rotary mowers.
s'& 6' in stock. Cuts rub
bish up to 2' in diameter.
Pre-season 3pth snow
blower sale. Order now get
12% off ‘gs &'96 list price.
(717)286-7851.
(3) White tractors. 4-210
$9,500; 2-155 $7,500;
4-150 $6,300.
(717)867-4896.