from the Department of Dairy amt Animal Science
This regular column from Penn State’s Department of Dairy and Ani
mal Science features the research findings, student opportunities, and
reports on other important topics generated in the Department. The back
issues of the column are archived on Lancaster Farming’s Internet
www.tancastetfarming.com home page. Look for them.
Grazing Dairy Cows Requires
Close Management Input
Peter Tozer
Assistant Professor
Grazing of dairy cows for six
to seven months of the year is
becoming a profitable alternative
management strategy for some
dairy producers in the United
States, approximately 15 percent
of the producers in Pennsylvania
Trusted Borden® Brand Positions DFA
In Booming Cheese Markets
In American retail
markets gone mad for
cheese (76 percent of all
American households
consume cheese, accord
ing to a USDA study),
the Borden® brand and
Elsie™ the Cow are
household names to mil
lions. To Dairy Farmers
of America (DFA) mem
bers, they are an impor-
are now grazing farmers,
The management input to
manage a grazing-based dairy
system successfully is higher than
for a confinement fed dairy
operation because the manager is
balancing two complex biological
systems that are both competitive
and complementary - the cows
tant entree to grocer
dairy cases and con
sumer loyalty across
the country.
Through the acquisi
tion of the Borden brand
in late 1997, DFA
demonstrated a strategic
commitment to helping
dairy farmers capture a
larger share in highly
competitive ' food mar
and the available forages and
pastures. Managers cannot simply
put the cows out to graze.
The impact of the change
in diet and nutrition management
is huge, and needs to be given
serious consideration when
moving dairy cow diets from total
mixed rations (TMR) to a pasture
based system. Feeding some
supplements allows for greater
flexibility in managing both the
cows and pastures Supplemental
feeding, in most cases, can also
increase the profitability of the
dairy system.
The “cow” factor in
grazing systems is critical “Cow
factor” means the breed of cow,
the cow’s genetics, and the
capacity of the cow to eat
sufficient feed to produce milk
Work in Canada and New
Zealand has shown that cows of
equivalent genetics have vastly
different milk production and
composition due to the types of
feeding and management systems.
For example, the production of
cows in New Zealand on a
PAID ADVERTISEMENT
kets. For nearly 70 years,
Borden and Elsie have
become icons for great
taste, wholesome quality
and value to cheese-lov
ing Americans a mar
ket in which milk pro
ducers have traditionally
struggled to directly
compete for profits.
“As we look to the
future of our cheese
pasture-based
system
approximately 49 per cent lower
than Canadian cows under an
intensive feeding system
Generally, cows do not consume
sufficient pasture of high quality
to produce milk to their genetic
potential Quality is measured as
the ability of the pasture to
provide all essential nutrients
required to produce milk.
In making the change to
grazing, there is a second
biological system to manage - the
pastures. The pasture resource
will depend on the geographical
location and the predominant
pasture species of the region
However, since the productivity
of most pastures will vary with
seasonal weather changes, it is
important to consider the
availability of forage over the
whole grazing season and plan
herd management accordingly.
Conserving feed in the form of
hay or silage, and feeding
supplements can reduce the
impact of seasonal forage
business, we are excited
by the acquisition of the
Borden label,” says
Lonnie Spurgeon, senior
vice president and chief
operating officer for the
DFA Dairy Foods
Group. “It gives us
access to an established
and highly regarded
name in the retail mar
ket, where we see oppor
tunity for future growth
and product expansion.”
In light of a 1996
USDA study that
shows domestic per
capita cheese consump
tion climbing by 2 per
cent annually up a
total of 27 percent since
1980 the acquisition
provides an important
foothold for DFA in
cheese product develop
ment and marketing.
“Research has shown
that, in the United
States, Borden is the
most recognized natur
al dairy brand, with
an unaided consumer
awareness score of
15 percent,” Spurgeon
explains. “That’s a
solid foundation upon
which we can continue
to build and grow
Borden product suc
cess and reputation.
“The report also indi
cates that consumers
identify convenience as
the No. 1 reason to pur
chase single-wrapped
cheese,” Spurgeon adds.
“That’s where the
Borden label comes in.
Borden is one of the
country’s leading man
ufacturers of cheese
singles in regular, low
fat and no-fat choices.
“Our vision is to
expand Borden product
lines while capitalizing
on its brand name
identity and product
reputation,” Spurgeon
says. “When consumers
buy cheese, we want
them to think Borden.”
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, June 5, 199Q-A2l
shortages. It is highly unlikely
that a dairy farm can be
financially successful on a fully
pastured-based feeding regime
unless the pastures and forages
are well managed, some feed is
conserved, and proper
supplementation is practiced.
Pasture and forage
management require the farm
manager or herdsman to observe
pasture conditions daily, if
possible, since pasture quality and
quantity can change rapidly This
is especially important m the
spring, and during periods of hot
dry weather when pastures dry
out quickly Very wet conditions
can also adversely affect pasture
growth, so good management is
critical in these periods.
Knowing the quality and
quantity of the forages available
allows the manager to plan how
much and what types of
additional feed may be required to
maintain milk production at a
desirable and profitable level.
Variability in the quality of
forages has been shown to change
the composition of milk, at times
adversely. Therefore, to maintain
consistent milk production and
composition, good pasture
management is essential.
Finally, the interactions of the
cows and the pastures systems
need to be considered These
interactions are important, since
cows are more selective in their
grazing if allowed free choice
grazing rather than some type of
controlled grazing, such as strip
or rotational grazing Another
factor to consider in a grazing
system is the intensity of grazing
because most forages or pastures
require a rest period to regenerate
or persist over a long period of
time. This is especially important
for perennial forages, such as
alfalfa
The use of supplementary feed
is encouraged because it allows
the dairy farmer more flexibility
in the management of both
pastures and cows
Supplementary or complementary
feeds can also provide essential
nutrients that may not be present
in sufficient quantities in the
pastures. Most dairy producers in
the United States feed some type
of supplement Producers do this
to enhance the milk production of
the cows or improve body
condition, while increasing the
profitability of the dairy system
Purchasing or conserving some
supplemental feed gives the daily
(Turn to Page A 22)
HAY, STRAW
& GRAIN
SALE
Every Thursday
at 12 NOON
Vintage Sales
Stables. Inc.
(Rt. 30,10 miles east
of Lancaster
in Paradise, PA)
For info.
(717)442-4181 bus.
(610) 458-8518 home