Management Intensive Grazing Does it Pay

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Southwest Research Center Pasture-Based Seasonal
Dairy
Joint effort of MU, allied industries
and commercial producers
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Insanity Doing the same thing the same way
overand over again,and expecting to
getdifferent results

• - Albert Einstein

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The Situation

• Permits Issued to Grade A and Manufacturing
  Dairies in Missouri

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The Reasons
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Dairying is 24/7/365
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Dairying is 24/7/365 Is seasonal dairying
for YOU?
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Standard Lactation Curve
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Non-Seasonal Dairy
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Seasonal Dairy
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Pros and Cons of Seasonal Dairying
Some of the Pros are also Cons and some of
the Cons are Pros
Concentration of Calving Calf Rearing Breeding
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Seasonal Dairying
Pros Grouping of calves calving
concentrated to 2 mo period
Cons Grouping of calves many calves in
short time period
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Seasonal Dairying
Pros Grouping of calves calving
concentrated to 2 mo period no
year-round bottle feeding
Cons Grouping of calves many calves in
short time period feeding many more
at a time
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Mob Fed
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Seasonal Dairying
Pros Grouping of calves calving
concentrated to 2 mo period no
year-round bottle feeding can group
bull calves
Cons Grouping of calves many calves in
short time period feeding many more
at a time need more facilities
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Seasonal Dairying
Pros Grouping of calves calving
concentrated to 2 mo period no
year-round bottle feeding can group
bull calves replacements all similar
size and age
Cons Grouping of calves many calves in
short time period feeding many more
at a time need more facilities need
larger facilities
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Seasonal Dairying
Pros Group breeding no year-round heat
detection and breeding
Cons Group breeding very intensive heat
detection and breeding
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Seasonal Dairying
Pros Group breeding no year-round heat
detection and breeding bull needed
only 45-60 days
Cons Group breeding very intensive heat
detection and breeding maintaining
idle bull for 10 mo
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Seasonal Dairying
Pros Group breeding no year-round heat
detection and breeding bull needed
only 45-60 days
Cons Group breeding very intensive heat
detection and breeding maintaining
idle bull for 10 mo late breeders
must be culled
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Timely, efficient breeding is essential to the
success of a seasonal dairy
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Timely, efficient breeding is essential to the
success of a seasonal dairy
Synchronization and AI
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Timely, efficient breeding is essential to the
success of a seasonal dairy
Synchronization and AI Clean-up bull
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Timely, efficient breeding is essential to the
success of a seasonal dairy
Synchronization and AI Clean-up bull HEAT
DETECTION
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Heat Detection Aids
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Heat Detection Aids
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Heat Detection Aids
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Heat Detection Aids
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Seasonal Dairying
Pros Cows all dry for 2 mo
Cons No milk check for 2 mo
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Seasonal Dairying
Pros Cows all dry for 2 mo Time for
repairs/ renovations
Cons No milk check for 2 mo Milk permit
may need renewal or re-inspection
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Seasonal Dairying
Pros Cows all dry for 2 mo Time for
repairs/ renovations Time for vacation
Cons No milk check for 2 mo Milk permit
may need renewal or re-inspection
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Seasonal Dairying
Pros Cows all dry for 2 mo Time for
repairs/ renovations Time for vacation
Time off to think and plan for the future

Cons No milk check for 2 mo Milk permit
may need renewal or re-inspection
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Seasonal Dairying
Pros Herd health needs are more uniform
Cons
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Seasonal Dairying
Pros Herd health needs are more uniform
Forage availability more uniform to cows
at similar stage of lactation
Cons
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Seasonal Dairying
Pros Herd health needs are more uniform
Forage availability more uniform to cows
at similar stage of lactation Decreased
wear-and- tear on equipment
Cons
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When should I calve? Spring vs Fall calving
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Fall calving Advantages Milk prices
historically higher
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Fall calving Advantages Milk prices
historically higher Cows dry during hot summer
months (also when kids out of school)
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Fall calving Advantages Milk prices
historically higher Cows dry during hot summer
months (also when kids out of school)
Breeding during cooler weather
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Fall calving Disadvantages Cows nutritional
requirements are highest at time when forage
availability and quality is at its lowest
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Fall calving Disadvantages Cows nutritional
requirements are highest at time when forage
availability and quality is at its lowest
Milking through coldest months
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Spring calving Advantages Peak forage
availability and quality coincides with peak
milk production and nutritional requirements
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Spring calving Advantages Peak forage
availability and quality coincides with peak
milk production and nutritional requirements
Cows are dry when forage is low
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Spring calving Advantages Peak forage
availability and quality coincides with peak
milk production and nutritional requirements
Cows are dry when forage is low Not milking
during coldest months
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February 22, 2001
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Spring calving Advantages Peak forage
availability and quality coincides with peak
milk production and nutritional requirements
Cows are dry when forage is low Not milking
during coldest months Can have Christmas and
New Years off, take a winter vacation to
warmer climates
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Spring calving Disadvantages Breeding as
weather starts to turn hot
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Spring calving Disadvantages Breeding as
weather starts to turn hot Lower milk price in
spring
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But what will happen to our nations milk supply
if everyone goes seasonal?
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But what will happen to our nations milk supply
if everyone goes seasonal?
Beef is seasonal Not everyone who goes seasonal
will choose the same season
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Two critical factors Financial planning
declining milk check after peak, then NO milk
check for 2 months some lenders are willing to
pro-rate payments based on milk check Must
get cows bred in window
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So Is seasonal dairying for you?
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Double 10 Modified New Zealand Parabone
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Why Choose a NZ Style Parabone Milking Parlor

• Milk in 1.5 hours or less
• High through-put
• 3-4 turns per hour
• 1 person per 14 milking clusters
• Low maintenance
• Low-cost, readily available used equipment

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Double 10 parabone
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Double 27 parabone
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Capital Investments

• 1.11 tractor/loader
• .61 tractor
• 1.08 brush hog
• .22 skidsteer
• 1.05 truck
• .64 manure spreader
• .28 blade
• .25 post hole digger
• .58 mower/haybine

• .5 rake
• .38 baler
• .64 ATV
• .25 seeder
• .08 bale wrapper
• .47 wagon
• .42 trailer
• .22 bale grabber
• .33 tillage equipment

Investment less than 50,000
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Water Available in Each Paddock
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250 Portable Shade
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Portable Shade
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Doubles as Windbreak!
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Winter Position