Pasture Walk

On March 27^th twenty five dairymen met with University of Kentucky specialist Ray Smith and Donna Phillips to have a pasture walk.  Why out walking pastures you might ask.  Pasture walks provide an opportunity for producers to see the newest and latest forage varieties that are being tested by the University on actual farms and in production.

The pasture walk held on the John Stoltzfus farm in Trenton, KY provided a unique opportunity for organic dairy farmers to expand their forage toolbox.  Many producers rely on conventional fescue and alfalfa production to get their cows through the milking season.  Organic farmers have a special challenge that conventional dairymen do not.  They have a grazing requirement that they must maintain a minimum of 20% of forage intake from grazed forages.  This limits the amount of grain and silage that can be fed.

During the pasture walk plots were observed with clover, alfalfa, chicory, brassicas, and small grains.The plots ranged from a large 10 acre plot to multiple smaller paddocks that were being rotationally grazed.  By incorporating mixtures of all the forages the producer felt he was better able to meet the nutrient demands of his heavy lactating cows.

After walking the pastures multiple presentations were given by the specialist and the Dairy Development Council on new and upcoming challenges in the dairy industry.  Of the 25 producers at the pasture walk 100% felt that they had increased their knowledge of forage varieties; and 80% indicated that they would take practices that they had learned during the pasture walk back to their homes and implement them on their farm.  After a lite lunch the specialist entertained the producers with a question and answer session that lead to good conversation and discussion on topics from forages to ruminant nutrition.