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Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 31 No. 5 353-359
© 1948 by American Dairy Science Association ®
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Estimating the Amount of Feed Derived from Pasture by Cows in the Connecticut Dairy Herd Improvement Association

G. E. Frick and H. D. Eaton1

Departments of Agricultural Economies and of Animal Industries, University of Connecticut, Storrs

ABSTRACT

The residual method was used in order to determine the contribution of pasture to total feed supply for a sample of 1,200 Holstein cows from 10 D.H.I.A. farms in Connecticut. One of Brody's measures of dairy merit was combined with the input-output records of the 1,200 cows. Dairy-merit indices were computed for each month of lactation on the basis of winter feed and production records. Pasture contributions then were determined by month of lactation for cows freshening in the various months. Pasture accounted for 38 per cent of the total feed for a cow freshening in March and 33 per cent of the feed for a cow freshening in August, on an annual basis. These were the highest and the lowest percentages, respectively.

On a yearly herd basis, using an equal number of cows freshening in each month, pasture accounted for 36 per cent of the total T.D.N. intake, grain for 27 per cent, hay for 21 per cent, and ensilage for 16 per cent of the total nutrients.

While there are limitations, this method may be used in computing pasture yield on a seasonal per acre basis. This would provide an additional check on pasture studies in which clipping and grazing methods are used.

FOOTNOTES

1 The authors are indebted to Dr. S. Johnson and Dr. R. G. Bressler, Jr., for their helpful suggestions.






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Copyright © 1948 by the American Dairy Science Association ®.