1. Grass based Dairying All about harvesting high quality forage

2. Grass based dairying at MU Southwest Center, MT. Vernon  Less stressful way of life  Environmentally compatitable  Less health problems with cows.  Lower feed costs/ reduced milk yield

3. Intensive Managed Grazing

4. “If you are not dairying for profit we wish you well with your hobby”.

5. Peter West, North Island (peat soil)

6. New Zealand style D-10 parabone parlor

7. Grazing Concept  Let cows harvest high quality forage Sward– 1 1/2-12 inches tall Plant is vegetative Crude protein -16-24 % NE. lac. 0.65-0.74 MCal/lb.

8. Dairy feeding management Graze spring, summer, fall Supplement with hay/ silage when no grass Feed concentrate in the parlor ( 5-18 lbs/cow/day)

9. Cool Season Grasses 1. Perennial ryegrass 2.Orchardgrass 3.Small grains (wheat, rye) 4Kentucky bluegrass 5. Tall fescue( endophyte+) 6 Endophyte friendly fescue (Max Q) 7 Endophye free, soft leaf fescue (Advance)

10. Perennial rye grass

11. Alfalfa

12. Warm Season Grasses 1.Pearl millet 2 Sorghum-sudan 3.Bermuda grass 4.Red River crab grass 5.Corn 6.Eastern gamagrass

13. Summer Forages ryegrass crabgrass Sudan Caucasian bluestem Bermudaalfalfa

14. Other forages corn Pearl millet Tall Fescue Rape Grazed corn

15. Grazing management  Management Intensive Grazing (MIG) Dairy-- new paddock every 12 hours 35 paddocks Long rectangular pasture with electric cross fences Water available at paddocks ( walk max 600- 800 feet) Shade available in summer?? Construct lanes to prevent mud holes

17. Portable Shade

18. Data from North Carolina

19. Reproductive Management  Calve end February- April 1.  60-90 day window for breeding  Breed AI/ bull  Use synchronization programs  Dry off all cows end of December (280 day lactation)  Entire herd dry for 2 months.

20. Financial management  Land/cows/ fences/water  Low cost milking parlor  Own minimal equipment  Strive to harvest 3 ½-5 ton high quality forage/acre/year  Less labor  100 cows provide living for family farm

21. Structure and basic production data of southwest Missouri pasture-based dairy farms

23. A successful dairy business can be a good way of life