Alfalfa-grass mixes increase forage quality to support high-producing dairy cows

Abstract

Seeding alfalfa with a grass produces a mixed forage with higher neutral detergent fiber digestibility (NDFD), important for high-producing dairy cows. Meadow fescue (MF) grass varieties originated in Europe and North Africa and over the past decade our lab has been investigating opportunities to seed alfalfa with meadow fescue grass varieties to improve the quality of alfalfa-grass mixtures for high-producing dairy cows. Given its hardy nature, persistency during the harsh winters in the Northeast is not typically an issue. Relative competitiveness and qualities of varieties, however, is largely unknown in the region.