Grass hay makes milk too

Editor’s note: This article was written by Paul R. Peterson, Forage Agronomist with the University of Minnesota Extension.

Good quality grass hay can be a valuable feed for high producing dairy cows. In a recent feeding trial with 50 Holstein dairy cows at the University of Minnesota-St. Paul Campus, replacing corn and soybean meal with rates from 10 to 30 percent orchardgrass hay resulted in similar milk production compared to replacing them with alfalfa hay from rates of 15 to 35 percent of the diet dry matter (DM).

The eight-week feeding trial was conducted February through March 2009 with third cutting (2008) orchardgrass hay from the U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center Farm at Prairie du Sac, Wisc. It tested 16 percent crude protein (CP), 33 percent acid detergent fiber (ADF), 60 percent neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and 2.4 percent lignin. These test results were based on the average of weekly grab samples of chopped hay. For context, this might be considered 'good' but not 'great' quality grass hay. The alfalfa hay being compared in the trial tested 22 percent CP, 31 percent ADF, 41 percent NDF, and 4.7 percent lignin. Both hays were ground in a vertical mixer prior to feeding; five minutes for alfalfa and 30 minutes for orchardgrass.

The feeding trial had 10 treatments including alfalfa hay fed at 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 percent of diet DM; vs. orchardgrass hay fed at 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 percent of diet DM. These variable hay types/amounts replaced corn grain and soybean meal in TMRs that also included 35 percent corn silage.

For alfalfa-based TMRs, ground corn was decreased from 21 to 8 percent and soybean meal decreased from 7 to 0 percent as hay inclusion increased from 15 to 35 percent of diet DM. For orchardgrass-based TMRs, ground corn was decreased from 21 to 6 percent and soybean meal decreased from 10 to 6 percent as hay inclusion increased from 10 to 30 percent of diet DM. The TMR diets were fed once daily.

The 48-hour NDF digestibilities (NDFD) of the hays (measured 'in vitro' via 'wet chemistry') were 71 percent for orchardgrass and 52 percent for alfalfa. In addition, the orchardgrass hay had a similar rate (average 4.9 percent per hour) and greater extent (79 vs. 55 percent) of fiber (NDF) digestion compared to the alfalfa hay. Dry matter intake of the orchardgrass- vs. alfalfa-based TMRs behaved similarly, decreasing approximately 0.8 lb/cow/day per unit increase in hay inclusion from 10 to 35 percent of diet DM. Milk production (3.5 percent fat corrected) also behaved similarly, decreasing approximately 0.6 lb/cow/day per unit increase in hay inclusion percentage from 10 (98 lb/day) to 35 percent (82 lb/day) of the diet DM (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Milk yield (3.5 percent fat corrected) of Holstein dairy cows consuming alfalfa vs. orchardgrass hay at 10-35 percent TMR inclusion rates.

1. Ag markets diverge just before the long holiday weekend
2. Study suggests dairy herd water quality linked to milk production
3. Wis. lawmakers question challenges to large wells
4. Traders evening up positions ahead of the weekend Friday
5. Bio-Vet and Keller break ground on new facility
6. NOAA: Get ready for a busy hurricane season

1. Commentary: Milk faces branding dilemma
2. 4 rules for growing a business or industry
3. Chocolate milk a top post-workout food
4. Salma Hayek: Milk part of 'perfect' breakfast
5. Seven jobs more dangerous than farming
6. What do dairy exports mean for Minnesota?

1. Seven jobs more dangerous than farming
2. White House urges Senate to cut crop insurance in farm bill
3. Class III futures close out quietly last week
4. 4 rules for growing a business or industry
5. Drop in U.S. underground water levels has accelerated
6. Ongoing wave of Calif. metal theft prompts further legislation