How much milk is produced from pasture? Comparison of two calculation methods

Bijeenkomst: EGF2015
Auteur: Cleven M., Verhoeven A., Pries M., Berendonk C. and Wrage-Mönnig N.
ISBN: 978-9090-289-61-8
Jaar van uitgifte: 2015
Producttype: Paper
The sustainable use of grassland resources is a good way to produce cheap fodder of adequate quality with usually short transportation pathways. However, many farmers do not know how much fodder they produce on grassland and how much milk is produced from this fodder, especially on pastures. The commonly used calculation method attributes milk production mainly to the energy taken up in the stable and only the remainder (plus the complete energy expenditure for maintenance) to pasture, probably leading to an underestimation of the contribution from pasture. Here, we compared this conventional method to another one attributing the energy expenditure for maintenance and milk according to the energy contributed by each fodder type. As a database, six years of data from a pasture trial carried out at House Riswick, Germany, have been used, with three years of full grazing and three years of half-day grazing plus silage and concentrates provided in the stable. In contrast to the alternative method, the conventional method underestimated pasture performance, especially at small shares of pasture in the ration. Adapting the alternative method in extension services may lead to a better appraisal of grass as a basis for milk production.