Dairy Cows

pic_dairycowsgreengrass_090424 Management-intensive, rotational grazing systems can be used to raise beef or dairy cattle wholly or partially on pastures. These systems provide for on-site recycling of nutrients, reduce soil erosion by ensuring continuous soil cover, reduce feed costs, eliminate the need for most pesticides, reduce veterinary costs, and help preserve ecosystems. Producers using these systems report lower capital requirements, lower labor requirements, improved profitability, and enhanced quality of life.

For information on dairy grazing systems, contact Tom Trantham, Pelzer, S.C., tel: 803-243-4801, email trandair@gateway.net.

Resources

Forage and Grassland Improvement – Livestock Producers Explore Best Management Practices

Report about Missouri livestock producers and the benefits associated with rotational grazing. (US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water.)

The Forgey Files: How-to Advice from Indiana’s Pioneering Seasonal Dairy Grazier

David Forgey utilizes rotational grazing and seasonal breeding. He shares his experiences, from grazing basics to high-level management. (Sustainable Farming Connection, University of North Carolina, 1997.)

Frequently Asked Questions on Grazing and Grazing Management

Includes questions and answers about financial considerations, effects of grazing, pasture quality, and how to establish a rotational grazing system. (Pasture Land Management System, a venture between the USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service and Virginia Tech and State University.)

Grazing Menu

Links to a variety of publications, reports, and resources about rotational grazing. (Sustainable Farming Connection, University of North Carolina.)

Greener Pastures: How grass-fed beef and milk contribute to healthy eating

This is the first report to synthesize the findings of virtually every English-language study (25 were chosen for analysis) comparing the amounts of total fats, saturated fats, omega-3 fatty acids, and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in both pasture-raised and conventionally raised beef and dairy cattle. The report also includes analysis of the nutritional, environmental, and public health benefits of grass-based farming techniques. (Union of Concerned Scientists, April 2006.)

Udder Sense: A Search for Low-Cost Sustainable Strategies Of Resourceful Dairy Farmers

A collection of farmer interviews and on-farm research results that explore low-cost, sustainable dairy farming alternatives. This report is available for $10.00 in the US, $13.00 overseas from the Center for Rural Affairs. (Larry Krcil and Shawn Gralla, Center for Rural Affairs, 1995/30 pp.)

Pride and Joy Dairy

Looking for an alternative to pasteurized, homogenized milk that still retains shelf life? This dairy farmer in Washington state must have all of the biological systems on his farm working in high fashion to be able to offer raw milk with a five to six week shelf life.

Seasonal Dairy Grazing: A Viable Alternative for the 21st Century

Case studies of six dairy farms that successfully utilize seasonal calving and management-intensive grazing techniques. (American Farmland Trust, Center for Agriculture in the Environment, March 2002.)