WHAT'S HAPPENING ON
PENNSYLVANIA DAIRY FARMS?
A mail survey conducted in 1997 by Penn
State obtained responses from 874 dairy
farms from across Pennsylvania (60.8%
return). The purpose of the survey was
to provide updated information on dairy
production practices, use of technology,
level of satisfaction with certain aspects
of the operation, and grazing practices.
Some of the survey results will be
published in future issues of Udder
News. This month, information on
grazing management practices will be
summarized. These results apply only to
ihr milking cows.
Did you graze milking cows m 1996?
More than half (57.7%) of Pennsylvania
dany farmers said they grazed milking
cows at some time during 1996 (Table
1) The results indicated that only 12 5%
of the larniers moved their milking cows
to an area of fresh grass at least every 3
days. On the other extreme, 30.2%
percent of the farmers grazed their milk
cows on the same pasture lor more than
30 days or all season.
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especially for grazing.
It is TIME to make a change!
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w Udder News
What’s Happening On PA Dairy Farms
MILK
Where's your mustache?
College of Agricultural Sciences • Cooperative Extension
Table 1. Grazini
cows.
Rotation Period
One Day or Less
2 to 3 Days
4 to 7 Days
8 to 14 Days
15 to 30 Days
More than 30 Days
Same Field All
Season
Do Not Graze Milk
Cows
*May not
DECEMBER 1998
IN TIP!
rotation
Pecent of All
Farmers*
7.3
5.1
5.4
4.7
4.7
4.2
26.0
42.3
add to 100 due to rounding.
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Two-thirds of farmers used pasture for
less than 25% of forage needs.
Furthermore, only 18.3% of the farmers
relied on pasture for more than 50% of
the forage needs during periods of good
forage availability. Two-thirds (67.4%) o:
the farmers relied on pasture for Jess
than 25% of the forage for milking cows.
This group includes the 42.3% who did
not graze milking cows.
Over 30% of farmers who used pasture
did not reduce stored forages fed to
dairy cows. The data showed that of the
farmers who grazed their cows, 23.3%
reduced energy and 49% reduced
protein during periods of good forage
(Turn to Page 17)
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