Life Sciences Commons^™

The Agronomics Of Organically Managed Legume-Grass Mixtures For Ensiled Forage Production, Allen Wilder

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

Legume-grass mixtures are commonly grown on livestock farms in northern New England that feed high forage diets. Such farms typically ferment stored feed into silage that can be fed throughout the year. Many legumes and grass species are available for use in temperate climates and information on the yield, forage quality, and fermentation characteristics of various legume-grass combinations would help farmers make informed decisions about species selection and optimum management for their forage programs.

One obstacle to evaluating numerous forage treatments in agronomic research is the high variability in silage dry matter content. We hypothesized that a method of artificial …

Feeding Strategies For Grazing Organic Dairy Cows And The Impact On Milk Production., Ariel Ayers

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

Organic dairy producers rely on pasture-based diets during the grazing season to provide their lactating herd with the nutrients to support lactation. This can present challenges for producers in the Northeast US, as pasture nutrients can vary with season and weather, ultimately impacting milk productivity and animal health. There is currently limited literature outlining feeding guidelines for producers to meet dairy cattle nutrient requirements on pasture-based systems. This thesis outlines an investigation of the nutritional strategies that are utilized on organic dairy farms in Vermont, as well as a case study utilizing a modified supplement to identify the implications of …

Effects Of Forage Quality And Management Decisions On Feed Intake Of Lactating Dairy Cows, Michael Miller

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

Dry matter intake (DMI) is one of the most important factors affecting lactational performance and health of dairy cows. Control of DMI in dairy cattle is complicated and multifactorial, but we have chosen to prioritize the two main components that primarily drive farm profitability: forage quality and cow comfort. Brown midrib-3 (BM3) genetics in corn silage typically result in greater fiber digestibility and less indigestible fiber, which result in greater DMI and milk production compared to conventional, non-BM (CON) corn silage. Trace minerals may negatively affect fiber digestion by solubilizing in the rumen. Importantly, hydroxy trace minerals (HTM) are less …