Growing High-Quality Forage for Dairy Cows
High energy forages should be the backbone of a good dairy ration. This is true for all farms, but especially grass-based dairies where grains cannot be supplemented to make up for poor quality forages.
While I will be using forages as an example, many of these concepts hold true for other crops as well. The goal is not simply producing tonnage. The goal is producing energy-dense, biologically balanced forages that support healthier livestock, higher butterfat levels, and greater farm profitability.
Why High Fat Content Forages Matter
What are the implications of growing high quality, high energy forages? Why should dairy farmers care?
Once you actually produce high quality forages with very high fat content, it literally changes the way you look at dairy farming because:
- High energy forages greatly reduce the need for additional energy sources such as corn and grains
- Butterfat numbers increase
- Cows do not get sick as readily
- Herd health management becomes easier
- Profitability increases substantially
The concept itself is simple. When plants, cows, or any living species have a surplus of energy, they store that energy in the form of fat for later use.
The goal is to feed plants in an energy-efficient way so they develop an abundance of energy that becomes stored as fat. Visually, this is often expressed through dark green, glossy, waxy leaves.
Critical Minerals for High Quality Forages
Boron, sulfur, humus, and available calcium applications such as gypsum are usually quite effective at enhancing forage quality when applied at spring green-up.
These are good starting points. Boron and sulfur are anions that tend to leach and therefore usually need to be applied annually until soil organic matter levels have been restored.
Boron for Calcium Availability in Forage
Calcium is an important mineral that is almost completely misunderstood. We really do not understand calcium well because it does so many things and is foundationally important to make almost everything else work. Most farms are low in calcium availability, and calcium is extremely important for high quality plant growth.
Boron is critical for good calcium availability. One strategy that has produced excellent results is using higher rates of boron than are common in the industry.
A good rule of thumb is to dry broadcast 2.5 pounds actual boron per 1000 ppm soil calcium, although more can be used when high rates of available calcium are applied at the same time.
When applied as a slow-release form using 10% boron products only, and used in proper ratio to calcium, I do not believe I have ever seen a negative response. Usually the calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium numbers on forage tests all increase substantially as a result of boron applications, especially when combined with elemental sulfur in high pH situations.
This is commonly done as a spring green-up application, although fall applications have merit as well.
Achieving Higher Brix Forages for Energy Production
To grow high fat content forages, the volume of photosynthesis needs to be adequate. Brix levels need to be high because everything hinges on this.
Proteins are only made if enough sugars and carbohydrates are present, which are produced through the photosynthesis process.
The key is finding the limiting factor and addressing it. Quite often, dry broadcast applications make a significant difference, however, even more can be gained by focusing specifically on the limiting factors of photosynthesis, usually related to sunlight, water, carbon dioxide, chlorophyll, or a combination of these.
Sunlight and Photosynthesis Efficiency
Without sunlight, sugars simply will not be produced. However, the bigger question is whether we are optimizing photosynthesis when adequate sunlight is available.
Water Management and Manganese
Many forage growers are not irrigating, but the water cycle can still be managed much better.
Water cannot be used for photosynthesis until it goes through the water hydrolysis process, which is completely dependent on manganese. When manganese levels become deficient enough, the entire photosynthesis process can stop for the remainder of the day.
Managing manganese levels is therefore critical.
Good soil management also increases moisture absorption and conservation. Structured soils absorb more water, and soils with adequate coverage will not dry out as quickly.
For this reason, we do not recommend cutting alfalfa stubble shorter than 3 inches, especially during the summer months.
Carbon Dioxide and Soil Biology
Most plants are critically deficient in carbon dioxide.
The important principle to remember is that the more active soil biology becomes, the more carbon dioxide is available because microbes inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide. Soil biology directly influences photosynthesis efficiency.
Treat the microbes well because they truly make a difference.
Chlorophyll Production and Dark Green Forages
Chlorophyll is the dark green color all healthy plants should have.
Critical nutrients involved in chlorophyll production include:
- Nitrogen
- Magnesium
- Iron
- Phosphorus
Unless another mineral is exceptionally deficient, these are the primary nutrients to focus on when trying to increase brix levels and photosynthesis efficiency.
Increasing Protein Content in Forages
Once the photosynthesis engine is running well, increasing protein becomes much easier.
All proteins are essentially sugar plus nitrogen, assembled together through the help of magnesium, sulfur, boron, and molybdenum. When brix levels are high and these minerals are present in adequate supply, protein production becomes much easier to accomplish.
An interesting side effect that often occurs at this stage is that plants become significantly more resistant to aphids, leaf hoppers, and other sucking or chewing insects that commonly attack low quality forages.
Understanding Crude Protein Numbers
Some growers have noticed that applying nitrogen shortly before harvesting increases crude protein numbers on forage tests.
It is important to understand that crude protein is essentially just a nitrogen calculation. When nitrogen is applied, the number rises and can make the forage appear higher quality than it actually is. Livestock often will not respond as positively as expected because the proteins are incomplete.
However, when photosynthesis is adequately addressed and magnesium, sulfur, and molybdenum levels are sufficient, nitrogen applications can make a very meaningful difference in both forage quality and true protein content.
Actionable Steps for Growing Better Forages
Now that we explained the science and reasoning behind growing better quality forage, and the nutrients needed to do so, let’s give some actionable guidance you can put into practice.
Apply Microbial Inoculants
Soil applications of microbial inoculants can greatly improve the soil’s capacity to deliver nutrients in balanced packages.
At Keystone Bio-Ag, we commonly recommend applying:
Apply these at spring green-up, although applications after first cutting can also work well when adequate moisture is present.
Use Strategic Foliar Applications
Well-designed foliar applications are also very useful.
The first goal is increasing photosynthesis and brix levels. The second goal is increasing protein production. Often these goals can be accomplished in the same tank mix.
The key is identifying limiting factors first.
Some growers take sap or forage tests monthly and then foliar feed a general plant food along with the two lowest minerals shown on the test.
A conventional grower, for example, might apply:
- 5 to 10 pounds of urea per acre
- 2 quarts of MicroForce per acre
Several weeks later, another forage test is taken. After harvest, another foliar application is made using MicroForce as a base along with the two lowest nutrients identified in the forage test.
Building Toward Higher Fat Percentages
When this process is done well, plant performance steadily improves.
Eventually, as plants become healthier and nitrates are rapidly converted into complete proteins, plants no longer need to work as hard metabolically. The result is a surplus of energy that becomes stored in the form of high quality fats.
The fat content on forage tests begins increasing: 5%, 6%, 7%, 8%
Achieving this is very difficult when only one foliar application is made annually or when excessive soluble fertilizers are used.
Nitrogen is important, but by itself it will not perform well. Trace minerals are needed to properly balance it. In addition, applying large amounts of soluble nitrogen directly to the soil is generally not ideal from a long-term biological standpoint.
Foliar applications of urea for conventional systems or Conductor 10 for organic systems are often much more effective long-term strategies.
Need Help Growing Healthier Forage?
Achieving high fat forages is really about maximizing plant energy efficiency.
At Keystone Bio-Ag, we have a team of soil health consultants ready to help you turn your soil into nutrient rich fuel for your crops. Contact us today to learn more about our consulting services and our regenerative agriculture products.
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