Farmers, UW Researchers Examining Grasses To Improve Quality, Quantity Of Dairy Products

Wisconsin is home to largest number of organic dairy farms in the country and cows on each of those farms get part of their diet from grazing grass and other plants. Now, University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers are trying to find ways to improve those pastures.

Cows on organic dairy farms are federally required to get about one-third of their diet from grazing on a pasture. Many of Wisconsin’s conventional dairy farmers follow the practice, too.

Dr. Erin Silva and her team are researching how to make those pastures even better. She’s an assistant professor of plant pathology at UW-Madison and a UW-Extension organic production systems specialist and she’s looking for the best management practices to improve the productivity and quality of the pastures.

“As well as looking at what varieties of various pasture grasses and pasture legume species lead to the highest and most consistent productivity throughout the grazing season,” she said.

Silva said this helps cows produce more and better quality milk.

Officials at Organic Valley Farm, the country’s largest organic farming cooperative, is working with the researchers.

Resources manager Logan Peterman said they want to help farmers figure out which grasses and legumes are the best for cows and how to manage those pastures.

“We’re trying to advise farmer members on how to improve their pastures. We know they need to improve them. We know the improvement may have an impact on milk nutrition. We don’t necessarily right off the bat know what management techniques are going to lead to that improvement,” he said.

The researchers are in the process of finalizing recommendations for farmers to improve the quality and productivity of pastures. Peterman said Organic Valley will work with its members on incorporating the recommendations.

Silva said they plan on educating farmers on the pasture recommendations beginning this summer.