The Relevancy of Forage Quality to Dairy Production.

Forage quality is as relevant to the dairy industry today as it has ever been. Forage was the main ingredient of dairy cow diets until it was discovered that cows responded to increased concentrate feeding with very high milk production. In addition grain surpluses and low grain prices of the past often dictated that milk be produced with as little forage as possible. Welcome to the present. Diversion of grain to ethanol has eliminated grain surpluses. A growing population that demands higher protein diets has increased demand for grains world wide. Impact of animal wastes on the environment has called for more sustainable systems to be developed, which will result in fewer imported nutrients being allowed onto the farm. Detailed attention to all aspects of the dairy operation has become critical, and forage quality and use have become more important than ever. Managing for high quality forage with proper harvesting and fertilization is one way of mitigating rising costs of doing business and as a potential solution to environmental management challenges now encountered on intensively managed dairy farms. Higher milk production placed an emphasis on ration balancing and the use of forage and feed testing. Fortunately forage quality evaluation techniques and tools have improved along with higher milk production. Feeding trials have demonstrated that cows can produce relatively large volumes of milk on diets with a high proportion of quality forage. Forage quality definitely has a relevant role in the future of the dairy industry.