A Comparison of Zero, Moderate, and Liberal Levels of Grain Feeding for Lactating Cows on Permanent, Improved, and Supplemental Pasture

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Abstract
The addition of grain to the ration of lactating dairy cows grazing excellent pasture caused a reduction in consumption of pasture herbage, resulting in only slight differences in total dry matter intake and milk production. Cows fed grain during a period of lower quality pasture produced more milk than controls, indicating that reduced pasture quality increases the response in milk production from grain supplementation. Improved orchard grass ladino clover pastures and Sudan grass pastures were significantly more digestible than a permanent Kentucky bluegrass white clover pasture.