Project overview
Strong consumer demand for grass-fed organic dairy products has impelled some organic dairy farmers to attempt conversion to a 100% grass-fed system. However, these producers encounter tough challenges with pasture quality, herd health, milk production and quality, net economic returns, and a lack of science based practical information.
The goal of this project was to identify critical grass-fed dairy management practices to optimize herd and environmental health, economically viability, milk quality, and marketing success. Researchers addressed knowledge gaps through benchmarking surveys, on-farm studies of soil and nutrient management for forage quality, sensory analyses of grass-fed milk flavor components, and research into consumer expectations. The project has built a robust knowledge network among organic dairy farmers, processors, and service providers.
Farmer takeaways
- Converting to 100% grass-fed increases forage and pasture needs. Adjust herd size to provide ~7 acres/cow or purchase some forage.
- Track all production costs and milk sales to develop economically viable management strategies.
- Healthy soil, sound grazing management, and high-quality mixed-species forages are critical for animal health, milk production and quality, and environmental stewardship.
- Use whole-farm nutrient balancing and soil tests to identify and correct deficits or surpluses.
- Less frequent milking (once a day) reduces output but may improve animal health, reduce costs, and increase net returns
Project objectives and approach
Understand the economic and production metrics for grass-fed dairy systems through implementing benchmarking on farms throughout the U.S.
Researchers conducted a national survey of grass-fed organic dairy producers (164 respondents) to establish benchmarks for herd size, farm acreage, and milk production. A subset of 21 farms participated in a more detailed assessment of farm economics including production costs and gross and net proceeds from milk sales over a three year period.
Understand nutrient cycling dynamics and the subsequent impacts on crop, soil, and animal production and health
Whole-farm nutrient balances were calculated for two organic dairies that fed purchased grain and forage, two grass-fed dairies with purchased fertility (poultry litter), and two grass-fed dairies with no purchased fertility. Fertilizer trials were conducted on pasture and hayland.
Milk urea nitrogen (MUN), an index of protein use efficiency and N excretion into the environment, was measured monthly for one full year on five farms in Vermont and New York. MUN and herd health parameters were related to pasture species and management practices.
Investigate the impacts of soil and forage management on nutrient cycling, forage production, forage quality, and farm economics
Cultivars of various annual and perennial grass forages and red clover were grown and evaluated for yield, digestibility, and methane formation in laboratory rumen-simulation tests. Forages tested include orchard grass, meadow fescue, millet, and sudangrass. Binary (grass-clover) and multispecies forage mixes with and without an apple cider vinegar supplement were tested.
Develop an understanding of market demands and potential for grass-fed market growth and expansion
A panel of trained tasters evaluated flavor and aroma of 35 purchased grass-fed milk samples representing spring and fall, three major milk companies, and three regions, and additional samples taken directly from bulk tanks at 29 dairies in Vermont and New York.
Strengthen knowledge, skills, and networks among farmers, processors, and technical service providers
The project built collective knowledge and skills through farmer-driven research into soil fertility management for forage quality and animal nutrition, development of a virtual grassf-ed dairy farmer network, and educational materials including webinars, information bulletins, case studies, and an online course (see Resources).
Key findings
Organic grass-fed dairy farm benchmarking
The farmer survey found that the average grass-fed dairy in the U.S. manages 49 crossbred cows on 219 acres, producing an average of 9,305 lbs of milk per cow-year. Economic analysis showed that production costs averaged $49.95/cwt, which exceeded milk prices (average $38.43/cwt) for about two-thirds of respondents. Higher per-cow production, purchasing more forage (rather than growing it all on farm), not purchasing energy supplements, and raising fewer replacement animals helped to lower production costs.
Farm nutrient balance, forage quality, and enteric methane emissions
The organic grain-forage dairies gradually accrued surpluses of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K), with a risk of building up excessive levels over time. Grassfed dairies showed net nutrient deficits, especially when no poultry litter was purchased and applied. This can help draw down P excesses but also increases risks of nutrient depletion over time. Whole farm nutrient budgeting and soil testing can help farmers manage for optimum nutrient balance.
Lab studies suggest that Kentucky bluegrass may generate more enteric methane (CH4) than orchard grass or meadow fescue, and that pearl millet or sudangrass can sharply reduce CH4. All these forages showed similar digestibility and productivity. Mixtures of perennial and annual forages that include legumes give the best forage quality and animal health.
Milk quality and market potential
Milk quality (flavor and aroma) varied considerably among farms, regions, and seasons. Quality traits in farm-collected and supermarket-purchased covered similar ranges, which indicated potential to improve consumer satisfaction through management fine-tuning at the farm level.
Outreach, producer education, dissemination of findings, and project impacts
Project products include an online course, farmer research reports, factsheets, case studies, and a grass-fed dairy production guide. In a final project survey of farmer participants, 62 of the 79 respondents reported used project-generated information on production costs, soil fertility, and forage management to make management decisions. Half of respondents reported improved economic viability, 38% cited better milk quality, and 13% increased milk production.
Resources
eOrganic Webinar - Economics and Production Metrics
Read MoreeOrganic Webinar - Research Summary
Read MoreeOrganic Webinar - Taste Testing
Read MoreeOrganic Webinar - Grassfed Dairy Standards
Read MoreOnline Course - Grassfed Dairy Production
Read MoreFarmer's Guide to Grassfed Dairy Production
Read MoreUSDA - Project Report - OREI 2018-51300-28515
Read MoreLocation
VermontCollaborators
Andre Brito, University of New Hampshire
Kathy Soder, USDA-ARS
Sabrina Greenwood, University of Vermont
Sidney Bosworth, University of Vermont
Roy Desrochers, University of Vermont
Albert Robbat, Tufts University
Region
Northeast
Topic
Soil Health, Crop Nutrient Management, Cropping Systems, Business and Marketing, Livestock Feeding, Livestock Well-Being
Category
Hay and Pasture, Dairy
Date Range
2020 to present
