Frost Seeding Legumes and Grasses into Established Pastures by Mike Rankin1 University of Wisconsin-Extension Why frost seed? Frost seeding legumes and grasses is common means to improve forage yield or change the species composition of a pasture. Frost seeding offers several potential advantages: the ability to establish forage in an undisturbed sod, a reduced need for […]
Read More...
A Bright Future for Grasses by Michael Casler and Dan Undersander1 Introduction The grazing movement is, both literally and figuratively, a grass-roots movement. Many livestock producers in the northern USA have recently moved from predominantly confinement feeding systems to grazing systems. Most of them use some form of management-intensive rotational grazing in which livestock are periodically rotated from […]
Read More...
Forage Quality and Feeding Management for Eastern Gamagrass in Wisconsin by Wayne K. Coblentz1, Patrick C. Hoffman2, Nancy M. Esser3, and Michael G. Bertram4 1USDA-ARS, US Dairy Forage Research Center, Marshfield 2Department of Dairy Science, University of Wisconsin 3Superintendent, University of Wisconsin Marshfield Agricultural Research Station 4Superintendent, University of Wisconsin Arlington Agricultural Research Station Introduction Throughout Wisconsin, chopped straw […]
Read More...
Management and Production Potential for Eastern Gamagrass in Wisconsin by Wayne K. Coblentz1, Michael G. Bertram2, Patrick C. Hoffman3, and Nancy M. Esser4 1USDA-ARS, US Dairy Forage Research Center, Marshfield 2Superintendent, University of Wisconsin Arlington Agricultural Research Station 3Department of Dairy Science, University of Wisconsin 4Superintendent, University of Wisconsin Marshfield Agricultural Research Station Introduction Eastern gamagrass [Tripsacum dactyloides […]
Read More...
Alfalfa Grass Mixtures by Dan Undersander1 Research is developing new understanding of forage, fiber, and the animal’s ability to use them. We have also increased understanding of the genetics of alfalfa to allow improved variety selection methods and enhanced performance for the farmer. This paper will consider both topics. Growing Alfalfa/Grass Mixtures Generally dairymen have perceived […]
Read More...
Should Calcium Be Applied to Wisconsin Soils? by John Peters and Keith Kelling Introduction There is considerable debate about the value of applying calcium to Wisconsin soils used for forage production. Calcium is the dominant exchangeable cation in Wisconsin soils because it is held more tightly by the soil particles than most other cations including magnesium and potassium. […]
Read More...
Milk2016 (ALFALFA-GRASS): Index Combining Yield and Quality by Dan Undersander2,3, D. Combs1,2, and J. R. Shaver1,3 Department of Dairy Science1 and Agronomy2 University of Wisconsin-Madison University of Wisconsin-Extension3 Introduction Undersander et al. (1993) developed a method for estimating milk per ton of forage dry matter (DM) as an index of forage quality of alfalfa and grasses. […]
Read More...
Grass Forages and Magnesium Status of Dairy Cattle by Patrick Hoffman and John Peters Introduction Forage grasses are an important source of dry matter in dairy cattle diets. Agronomic practices associated with grass forage production however, can alter magnesium utilization by dairy cattle. Altered magnesium utilization induced when cattle graze lush forage grasses is referred to as grass […]
Read More...
Nitrate Poisoning in Cattle, Sheep and Goats by Dan Undersander, Dave Combs, Randy Shaver, Dan Schaefer and Dave Thomas12 Nitrate poisoning is a condition which may affect ruminants consuming certain forages or water that contains an excessive amount of nitrate. Horses are much less sensitive to nitrate toxicity since they are hindgut ferments and do not have a […]
Read More...
Interpretation and Use of Silage Fermentation Analysis Reports by Limin Kung and Randy Shaver Introduction Fermentation analyses have long been used in university and industry research trials to assess silage quality. These analyses are now available for evaluating silage quality on farms through commercial forage testing laboratories. Analyses commonly included in silage fermentation reports are pH, lactic, acetic, […]
Read More...
