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Greenchopping potentially decreases feed costs through the incorporation of locally grown forages into the dairy ration. It provides a highly palatable, fresh forage source to dairy cattle.
The high palatability stimulates feed intake of lactating cows, potentially increasing milk production.
Due to the high palatability, greenchop minimizes declines in intake associated with heat stress.
The quality of TMR may vary between days (in relation to inputs and mixing), within days (due to sorting by cows or environmental exposure) and along the feedbunk (due to improper mixing or uneven feed distribution and usage). Recent research at UBC has shown that this variability can have profound effects on dairy cattle feeding behavior.
With rising feed costs and unstable milk prices becoming more and more normal in today’s dairying scene, what do producers have to do to help protect themselves from these seemingly increasing gaps?
I am mom to a 5-year-old, a 4-year-old and an 18-month-old. All day long I am bombarded with “why” questions and silly preschooler tales. I have to be honest, sometimes I just tune them out and smile and nod. A person can only take so many “he is smelly” jokes.
This article was #5 of the Top 25 most well-read articles on www.progressivedairy.com in 2013. It was published in the Feb. 11, 2013 print issue.
Click here for the full list of the Top 25.
When I was a child, time seemed to move like cooling taffy. There was plenty of time to play. There was time for long conversations on the front porch and around the dinner table. There was time to make a quilt and time to embroider. There was time to visit with a friend and take a long walk in the forest.
Before you know it, the sun will be shining and hay will be lying in the field ready to be baled. Does your normal spring round baler start-up procedure go something like this? Connect round baler to tractor. Turn on the PTO and hope something doesn’t break.
Age: 47
Location: Hawthorne, Florida
My dairy’s history: This is the 20th year on our farm for my wife Linda and me. We moved from northern Vermont in January of 1993 when the opportunity of owning a dairy in Florida presented itself. We started with just shy of 200 cows and have grown to 650 milking. Plus, we are now a closed herd as we raise all our replacements.
Age: 59
Location: Pacific City, Oregon
My dairy’s history: My great grandpa came here from Switzerland. My older brother farms that land today and my wife, Vonnie, and I bought the farm next door. We’re members of the Tillamook County Creamery Association and milk 85 Holstein-Friesian cross on 187 acres of hills, pasture and seasonal grazing land. Our three sons are now grown, with the youngest wanting to take over the family farm.
