Forage Types

Forage quality is one of the key driving factors that determine milk production, rumen health and profitability on dairy farms. The benefits of high-quality, highly digestible forages for use in dairy cattle rations is widely accepted by both dairy producers and the nutrition advisors that work with them.

Forages are the foundation for building diets for dairy cattle. The quality of these forages directly impacts forage intake, animal performance and ultimately profitability. As the quality of forages decline, consumption of that forage decreases and the amount of grain or byproducts which must be fed increases. The cost for a unit of performance increases or the animal cannot perform (i.e., milk or gain) to the optimum level, lowering profitability to the animal owner. These relationships are especially true with young and high-performance ruminants, such as high-producing dairy cows.

Forage testing assesses the nutrient composition of forages and permits a producer to develop feeding and marketing strategies. This [article] has been developed to inform livestock or cash-crop hay producers of the benefits of forage testing. Information on different analytical procedures, terminology, sampling procedures and the application of results are presented.

Numerous alfalfa fields, especially in south central and southeast Nebraska, are severely infected with multiple fungal leaf diseases.

Silage is the feedstuff produced by the fermentation of a crop, forage or agricultural byproduct of generally greater than 50 percent moisture content. Ensiling is the name given to the process, and the container (if used) is called a silo.

Forages have always been an important source of nutrients to the dairy cow. Producing high-quality forages can increase dairy efficiency and help reduce the feed costs associated with purchasing added supplements and concentrates. In addition, with the constant influx of new technology and innovations, forage management has become more sophisticated and provides a greater economic significance to dairy herd profitability.