June 3, 2016
CapitalPress.com
Pasture
CONTINUED from Page 4
NRCS (Natural Resources
Conservation Service) con-
servationist,” she said. “He
had statistics showing it is 50
cents cheaper per head per day
to raise heifers on grass than in
confinement.”
Abel also cited a Univer-
sity of Minnesota study that
showed pastured heifers have
50 percent fewer displaced
abomasums, 60 percent less
calving difficulty and 33 per-
cent fewer cases of milk fever.
Also, there were no skeletal
injuries compared with 10 per-
cent of confined heifers that
suffered injuries.
Pastured heifers also are
more fertile and have fewer
respiratory problems.
“These things affect profit
and also sets the tone for the
rest of their lactation and their
productive life,” Blazek said.
She wants to get data
from several counties and
extend the research that has
5
already been done.
“Studies from Minnesota
and from our research stations
on heifer health are from 2007
and outdated. We need some-
thing more recent and timely,”
she said. “We need some good
demonstration farms to show
that it works. Then the neigh-
bors pay more attention.”
If custom heifer raisers
make a case for it because it’s
cheaper, and if owners get over
their fear of what they’ll get
back, it will catch on, she said.
“Owners are the challenge;
most custom heifer raisers al-
ready want to do it,” she said.
“There is plenty of experience
and knowledge out there about
how to do it, but the heifer
owners have to take that step.”
With improved pasture and
good management, you can
get just as much yield as from
an alfalfa field, with less in-
vestment.
“The heifers harvest and
fertilize it,” she said. “Instead
of storing manure in the dairy
facility, the heifers are spread-
ing it out on the field.”
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