Milk Production and Economic Measures in Confinement or Pasture Systems Using Seasonally Calved Holstein and Jersey Cows

¹ Department of Animal Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27695
² Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27695
³ Department of Crop Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27695

This 4-yr study examined total lactation performance of dairy cows in two feeding systems: pasture-based and confinement. Spring and fall calving herds were used and each seasonal herd had 36 cows on pasture and 36 cows in confinement with 282 Holstein and 222 Jersey cows included over seven seasonal replicates. Pasture-fed cows received variable amounts of grain and baled haylage depending upon pasture availability. Confinement cows received a total mixed ration with corn silage as the primary forage. Data were collected on milk production, feed costs, and other costs. Pasture-fed cows produced 11.1% less milk than confinement cows. Across treatments, Jerseys produced 23.3% less milk than Holsteins, but calving season and various interactions were not significant. Feed costs averaged $0.95/cow per day lower for pastured cows than confinement cows. Feed costs were lower for Jerseys than Holsteins and for cows calving in spring. Income over feed costs averaged $7.05 ± 0.34 for confinement Holsteins, $6.89 ± 0.34 for pastured Holsteins, $5.68 ± 0.34 for confinement Jerseys, and $5.36 ± 0.34 for pastured Jerseys; effects of breed were significant but treatment, season, and interactions were not. Economic factors such as labor for animal care, manure handling, forage management, and cow culling rates favored pastured cows. Higher fertility and lower mastitis among Jerseys partially offsets lower income over feed cost compared with Holsteins. Milk production was lower in this study for pasture-based systems but lower feed costs, lower culling costs, and other economic factors indicate that pasture-based systems can be competitive with confinement systems.

Key Words: pasture • total mixed ration • production • economics

Submitted on June 25, 2001
Accepted on October 1, 2001

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. W. McDowell, Z. Dou, J. D. Toth, B. J. Cade-Menun, P. J. A. Kleinman, K. Soder, and L. Saporito A Comparison of Phosphorus Speciation and Potential Bioavailability in Feed and Feces of Different Dairy Herds Using 31P Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy J. Environ. Qual., May 1, 2008; 37(3): 741 - 752. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. E. Croissant, S. P. Washburn, L. L. Dean, and M. A. Drake Chemical Properties and Consumer Perception of Fluid Milk from Conventional and Pasture-Based Production Systems J Dairy Sci, November 1, 2007; 90(11): 4942 - 4953. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. W. Tauer and A. K. Mishra Dairy Farm Cost Efficiency J Dairy Sci, December 1, 2006; 89(12): 4937 - 4943. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Hare, H. D. Norman, and J. R. Wright Survival rates and productive herd life of dairy cattle in the United States. J Dairy Sci, September 1, 2006; 89(9): 3713 - 3720. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. S. Fontaneli, L. E. Sollenberger, R. C. Littell, and C. R. Staples Performance of Lactating Dairy Cows Managed on Pasture-Based or in Freestall Barn-Feeding Systems J Dairy Sci, March 1, 2005; 88(3): 1264 - 1276. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. R. Tozer, F. Bargo, and L. D. Muller Economic Analyses of Feeding Systems Combining Pasture and Total Mixed Ration J Dairy Sci, March 1, 2003; 86(3): 808 - 818. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. Bargo, L. D. Muller, J. E. Delahoy, and T. W. Cassidy Performance of High Producing Dairy Cows with Three Different Feeding Systems Combining Pasture and Total Mixed Rations J Dairy Sci, November 1, 2002; 85(11): 2948 - 2963. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. A. Gloy, L. W. Tauer, and W. Knoblauch Profitability of Grazing Versus Mechanical Forage Harvesting on New York Dairy Farms J Dairy Sci, September 1, 2002; 85(9): 2215 - 2222. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]