Some Americans do graze their dairy cattle

[Dead Rabbits]

I have been reading through this forum and have enjoyed learning about U.K agricultural so I thought I would contribute a bit.
So not all U.S dairy farms are full confinement feeding a TMR, there are a few who graze. The vast majority of American milk does come from large confinement herds, but the less mentally stable dairymen graze a few cows.
Some info on the farm where I work.
- Block calved in spring (March)but have started a small fall calving herd this year (I am not enthusiastic about it)
- Cows are milked in a basic swing 12 herringbone, believe you guys would say 12:24 at 8:30am and 7:30 pm.

-No housing, cows calved outside, replacements reared outside.

- Fed a flat 10lbs of 7-10% protein grain each day for duration of lactation. We also have started grinding all grain on farm. The goal is to be able to grow all grain and Forage needs on farm, not there yet.

-All supplemental Forage is fed as unrolled hay/baleage in pasture, no hay feeders or feed pad

-All replacements reared on farm

-Most calves raised on nurse cows

-Farm totals 600 acres but is not contiguous. Milking platform is 340 acres with ~50 acres in brush/ravines/rocks.

I will be adding pics and more info as I have time, any questions just ask and I will reply as I have time.

Thanks, DeadRabbits

 

[Will Blackburn]

Whereabouts are you farming?

 

[Great In Grass]

Looking forward to your future posts.

 

[Dead Rabbits]

 

[Dead Rabbits]

Whereabouts are you farming?

Southern Missouri

 

[Wee Willy]

How many cows? What breeds? Yields,butterfat,protein? Thanks for sharing.

 

[Cows 'n grass]

Is this something you've always done or are you part of the new wave of Missouri grazers we read about in kiwi press.

 

[Headless chicken]

Why do you favour milking late in morning and late at night as apposed to more common over here an earlier start and earlier finish.

 

[Friesianfan]

Thinking about any British friesian genetics?

 

[More to life]

Thinking about any British friesian genetics?

Ho you are a tart

 

[Beef farmer]

Tidy looking cows @Dead Rabbits

Are rabbits a problem?

 

[More to life]

Tidy looking cows @Dead Rabbits

Are rabbits a problem?

I was thinking Gangs of New York

 

[Beef farmer]

I was thinking Gangs of New York

Never seen it

 

[More to life]

Never seen it

It's got to be twenty years old so due in Cornwall soon

 

[Cows 'n grass]

It's got to be twenty years old so due in Cornwall soon

Not that soon.

 

[Buford T. Justice]

Tidy looking cows @Dead Rabbits

Are rabbits a problem?

Going by his username, I'm guessing not any longer

I'm looking forward to more pics too.

 

[Dead Rabbits]

Is this something you've always done or are you part of the new wave of Missouri grazers we read about in kiwi press.

I am an employee/apprentice on this farm. I did not grow up grazing cows, I grew up on a regular dairy. My employer started grazing 20 years ago or so, that's a new wave I think?

 

[Dead Rabbits]

I was thinking Gangs of New York

Good call

 

[Dead Rabbits]

Tidy looking cows @Dead Rabbits

Are rabbits a problem?

Yeah only if you want to grow a garden. Really need a dog

 

[Dead Rabbits]

Why do you favour milking late in morning and late at night as apposed to more common over here an earlier start and earlier finish.

Not my call on milking times, I am just glad that it has been dialed back from 10am and 10pm. My ideal time would be 6:30 6:30