TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction ................................................................................................................................................... 1
Farm Characteristics...................................................................................................................................... 1
Number of Cows and Milk Production per Cow.............................................................................2
Number of cows per farm.....................................................................................................................2
Milk per cow.........................................................................................................................................3
Land Use..........................................................................................................................................3
Acres of corn per cow...........................................................................................................................3
Acres of hay per cow............................................................................................................................4
Acres of hay/pasture per cow...............................................................................................................4
Acres of permanent pasture per cow....................................................................................................4
Technology and Management Practices ..........................................................................................4
Milking parlor and automatic takeoffs use ..........................................................................................4
Use of total mixed rations (TMR)........................................................................................................5
DHIA records ....................................................................................................................................... 5
Bovine Somatotropin (BsT) use...........................................................................................................5
Written farm plans/goals......................................................................................................................5
Computer use........................................................................................................................................5
Nutrient management plans..................................................................................................................5
Farm Ownership AND Personal Characteristics .......................................................................................... 6
Farm ownership....................................................................................................................................6
Age of farmers......................................................................................................................................6
Experience as key decision maker........................................................................................................6
Education..............................................................................................................................................7
Farm debt.............................................................................................................................................. 8
Off-farm income................................................................................................................................... 8
Characteristics of Grazing-Only Farms........................................................................................................ 8
Daily Forage Requirements Provided by Pasture............................................................................ 8
Ration Adjustments during the Grazing Season ............................................................................. 9
Adjustments to energy..........................................................................................................................9
Adjustments to protein......................................................................................................................... 9
Adjustments to stored forages..............................................................................................................9
Experiences with Current Grazing System......................................................................................9
Satisfaction with Dairy Farming ................................................................................................................. 10
Satisfaction by group.......................................................................................................................... 10
Dairy Producers’ Plans................................................................................................................................ 11
Cows to be milked.............................................................................................................................. 11
Acres to be farmed ............................................................................................................................. 12
Reliance on grazing pastures.............................................................................................................. 12
Summary and Conclusions.......................................................................................................................... 12
References....................................................................................................................................................14
Appendix: Cover Letter and Survey Instrument........................................................................................ 15