Strategies to ensure quality forage for the entire dairy herd

Abstract

While weather is a constant challenge to maintaining forage supply, producers can control other threats to having enough feed. Mismatched storage capacity and lack of planning or design, incorrect estimates of feed quantity, inaccurate estimates of feed quality, and spoilage are four major areas where producers risk ensuring enough forage is available to feed the herd. Both harvest quality and management of feed in the silo have profound effects on silage quality at feeding. By harvesting feed at the appropriate quality and managing it carefully in the bunk, the risks of running out of feed are minimized.