Tall fescue, meadow fescue and festulolium have potential value as forages for grazing operations in the northern USA. Meadow fescue is the most cold tolerant of these grasses, with excellent forage quality and palatability, and relatively high drought tolerance. Tall fescue has the highest yield potential, good palatability for soft-leaf varieties and excellent heat and [...more]

Finishing beef animals on pasture can potentially reduce the overhead costs of facilities and equipment compared to confinement finishing. Researchers at UW-Madison set out to learn if beef animals finished on pasture can make the Select and Choice quality grades for conventional meat markets. [...more]

Do orchardgrass, fescue or legume/grass combinations produce more meat on growing, pastured beef animals? Do beef steers, beef heifers or dairy steers show the most gain on pastures? Researchers in the departments of Animal Sciences and Agronomy at UW-Madison recently finished a three-year study to answer these questions. [...more]

In Wisconsin, the prevalence of livestock and dairy farming has led to questions about how animal agriculture affects the environment. Many farmers who practice managed grazing have observed environmental benefits resulting from this management system. What have scientific studies shown about the effects of managed grazing on the environment? This report presents results from papers which [...more]

This survey explored the views, opinions and perceptions of Wisconsin dairy producers about custom grazing heifers. Findings included: All types of Wisconsin dairy producers perceive that grazing has positive implications for the health and productivity of dairy heifers. In order to appeal to Wisconsin dairy producers, potential custom grazing heifer operations must be cost competitive. Confinement operations are [...more]

Grass Clippings features grazing research from the University of Wisconsin and beyond. In this issue: Orchardgrass, tall fescue, and meadow fescue response to nitrogen rate Meadow fescue in the Driftless Region, part two Influence of fertility on pasture species diversity, yield and quality, part two From the files of yesteryear: Making reed canarygrass seed more available in Wisconsin Read this [...more]

Grass Clippings is a newsletter that features grazing-related research from the University of Wisconsin and beyond. The April issue features: Pure live seed Meadow fescue Different dairy farm systems yield similar satisfaction Fertility and pastures Wisconsin’s beef industry Custom heifers on pasture Read this newsletter (pdf file) [...more]

Beginning in 2003, Wisconsin apple and cherry growers and the University of Wisconsin worked with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to address orchard pest management resource concerns through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). As a result, in 2005 Wisconsin’s EQIP Pest Management Standard was changed to provide orchardists with extended technical assistance and [...more]

While Wisconsin is known as America’s Dairyland, the state’s beef industry is also thriving. Beef cows, beef heifers over 500 pounds, steers and other heifers (excluding dairy heifers) account for nearly 23% of the total cattle population in the state. Wisconsin’s beef farmers and livestock specialists understand the overall characteristics of the beef industry in Wisconsin, but [...more]

Printer-friendly version (PDF) Many Wisconsin dairy farmers choose to have their young stock custom raised by someone else. This lets them concentrate on what they do best-manage the cows that produce milk-and frees up land and facilities for their milking herds. But dairy farmers are concerned about the price of custom heifer raising, and some transport [...more]