Can dairy cows be 100% grass fed?
Yes, but this typically requires a non-Holstein breed and sesonal breeding. Dual-purpose breeds such as the Milking Shorthorn, Milking Red Devon and the French dairy breeds are growing in popularity for this 100% grass feeding. The male calves from these breeds finish well on grass and are very tender. In addition, pigs and poultry can get a significant amount of their nutrition from leguminous pasture. All of these species are covered in The Stockman GrassFarmer. Why is initial pasture subdivision so important? A grass plant’s roots grow as deep as the grass grows high. If a grass plant is constantly subjected to close, continuous grazing it cannot develop the root mass needed to become a healthy, drought resistant grass plant. In high rainfall climates the amount of subdivision needed to accomplish this is relatively small, say eight to ten paddocks. What grasses should I plant? If you are starting out with clean tilled land, your local extension service will be able to provide you w
