STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE REPRODUCTION AND MANAGEMENT OF DAIRY CATTLE IN PASTURE-BASED AND ORGANIC DAIRY PRODUCTION SYSTEMS.

• Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Project Status: COMPLETE
• Funding Source: HATCH
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 1001826
• Project Start Date: May 1, 2014
• Project End Date: Sep 30, 2018
• Program Code: [(N/A)]- (N/A)

Recipient Organization
NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIV
(N/A)
RALEIGH,NC 27695

Performing Department
ANIMAL SCIENCE

Non Technical Summary
Our pasture-based dairy research herd was established in 1998 to include various Jersey-Holstein crosses in comparison to Holsteins or Jerseys in measures of production and reproduction.The proposed project will continue a focus on selection within a seasonal calving, pasture-based research herd to include three long-term breeding strategies using Jerseys, crosses of Holstein & Jersey, or three-breed crosses of Jersey, Holstein, & Norwegian Red.Starting with the 2014 breeding season, the pure Holsteins will be slowly phased out and the three long-term breeding strategies indicated above will be implemented. The herd will continue be bred to calve seasonally with late fall/early winter calving and winter/early spring breeding. Records will be kept on health, weight changes, production, mastitis, body condition, and reproduction of the various crosses and purebred cows and an economic evaluation of the relative efficiencies of those cows in a pasture-based seasonal breeding system will be done.Within the established pasture-based system, we plan to include multiple complementary studies that contribute to the overall success and efficiency of pasture-based and organic dairy production systems. Such studies include opportunities for small field plots and field scale observations of various forage crop mixtures and forage crop rotations to optimize grazing. We also plan examine alternative approaches to minimize effects of internal and external parasites, possible use of multi species grazing to reduce both parasites and weed species. Maintaining cow comfort in pasture-based dairy systems is important and strategies in this area will include studies of a portable irrigation system to cool cows as well as silvopasture work to include forested shade paddocks with warm season forages available between rows of trees. Because of the growing demand for organic milk in the Southeast and throughout the US, studies outlined above will be done as much as feasible within the rules of organic dairy production.

Animal Health Component

90%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

10%

Applied

90%

Developmental

(N/A)

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
307	3410	1060	50%
301	3410	1081	15%
306	3410	1020	15%
303	3410	1080	20%

Knowledge Area
303 - Genetic Improvement of Animals; 307 - Animal Management Systems; 306 - Environmental Stress in Animals; 301 - Reproductive Performance of Animals;

Subject Of Investigation
3410 - Dairy cattle, live animal;

Field Of Science
1060 - Biology (whole systems); 1081 - Breeding; 1080 - Genetics; 1020 - Physiology;

Keywords

dairy

pasture

crossbreeding

seasonal breeding

organic management

Goals / Objectives
1. Investigate production and reproduction efficiencies of crossbred dairy cattle in a pasture-based production system.2. Investigate innovative strategies to improve pasture systems including improved forage combinations, innovative approaches to internal and external parasite control, and effective ways of maintaining cow comfort within a pasture-based system without housing.

Project Methods
Objective 1: The proposed project will continue a focus on selection within a seasonal calving, pasture-based research herd to include three long-term breeding strategies: A). 100 % Jerseys; B). A two breed criss-cross of Holsteins and Jerseys, and C). A 3-breed rotational cross using Jerseys, Holsteins, and "Scandinavian" Red cattle (Norwegian Red and Swedish Red). At equilibrium after a few years, we expect to have the following genetic subgroups: A = Jerseys; B1 = 2/3 J , 1/3 H and B2 = 2/3 H, 1/3 J; C1 = 57% H, 28% J, 14% N; C2 = 57% J, 28% N, 14% H; C3 = 57% N, 28% H, 14% J; C4 = 57% H, 28% N, 14% J; C5 = 57% J, 28% H, 14% N; C6 = 57% N, 28% J, 14% H.A pasture-based dairy research herd was established in 1998 to include Jersey-Holstein crosses in comparison to Holsteins in measures of production and reproduction. By 2003, Jerseys were added and breeding strategies included maintaining both pure Jerseys and Holsteins as well as crossbred animals as F1s and others with various percentages of those breeds ranging from 25% Holstein to 75% Holstein. Starting with the 2014 breeding season, the pure Holsteins will be slowly phased out and the three long-term breeding strategies indicated above will be implemented. The herd will continue be bred to calve seasonally with late fall/early winter calving and winter/early spring breeding.Records will be kept on health, weight changes, production, mastitis, body condition, and reproduction of the various crosses and purebred cows and an economic evaluation of the relative efficiencies of those cows in a pasture-based seasonal breeding system will be done.Additional data on crossbreeding can be accessed through the Dairy Records Management Services with records on nearly two million cows annually. Such data can be examined for production and reproduction tendencies of several crossbred combinations under various environmental and managerial conditions.Objective 2: This objective is aimed to include multiple complementary studies that contribute to the overall success and efficiency of pasture-based and organic dairy production systems. All the studies associated with Objective 2 as outlined below involve collaborators in various departments with differing areas of specialization.Such studies include opportunities for small field plots and field scale observations of various forage crop mixtures and forage crop rotations to optimize grazing opportunities for calves, heifers, and cows for as much of the year as possible.Also, efforts will continue to examine alternative approaches to minimize effects of internal and external parasites. Further refinement of strategies to reduce horn fly populations to sub economic levels for both lactating cows and growing heifers will be done through various studies. Those strategies would include use of a vacuum system to remove flies, optimizing populations of dung beetles to reduce fly breeding habitat and recycle nutrients, and the possibility of multi species grazing to reduce both parasites and weed species.Maintaining cow comfort in pasture-based dairy systems is important and strategies in this area will include studies of a portable irrigation system to cool cows as well as silvopasture work to include forested shade paddocks with warm season forages available between rows of trees.Because of the growing demand for organic milk in the Southeast and throughout the US, studies outlined above will be done as much as feasible within the rules of organic dairy production. Those will include continued observations and data collection on alternative approaches for udder health and reproductive management.

Progress 10/01/15 to 09/30/16

Outputs
Target Audience:Worked with 2 undergraduate students on preparing presentations related to genetics in pasture-based dairy systems. One student presented at the Southern ADSA-SAD meeting in GA in February, 2016 and the other presented a poster at a research symposium on campus and an oral presentation at the national ADSA-SAD meeting in Salt Lake City in July, 2016. Dairy grazier farm visits (4) in NC and SC in January, 2016 with 9 dairy-interest students participating in SC. Gave guest lectures in Agroecology class and two Dairy Management laboratories in March, 2016. Served as Section Editor on dairy herd systems for a Large Dairy Herd Management (LDHM) conference and moderated a conference session in Chicago in May, 2016 that featured talks on both pasture-based and organic dairy production sytems for which I was a contributor. Each presentation will become a book chapter in an electronic book on LDHM to be published in 2017. Helped plan and conduct NRCS training for Pastureland Ecology II in May, 2016 in Maine and assisted with NRCS training for Pastureland Ecology I in NC in June, 2016. Provided information and moderated a pasture walk for 60 organic dairy producers on an organic dairy in WV in September, 2016. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?One undergraduate student was directly involved in an undergraduate research project related to the crossbreeding study. Data from the project has been shared with NRCS, students, and others at various workshops and field days. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Continued to serve as the research and education coordinator for the CEFS Dairy Unit in Goldsboro. In that role, I participated in regular meetings of the CEFS coordinators of various units as well as assisting in hosting tours of various visitors to CEFS. Helped train NRCS personnel at the Pastureland Ecology Workshop I hosted in NC and at Pastureland Ecology II in Freeport Maine. Facilitated discussion at an organic dairy pasture walk in West Virginia on September 27th for about 60 dairy graziers, students, and dairy industry profesionals from 4 states. Included two CEFS apprentices, Maggie Creamer and Teresa Middleton, as well as post-doctoral fellow, Keena Mullen, in the event. Made a visit to another pasture-based dairy in VA on the return trip. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Publish data from long-term crossbreeding study in our pasture-based research system. Complete duties as a Section Editor of Large Dairy Herd Management e-book and contribute as co-author to two chapters on pasture systems and organic dairying in that book.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Top 5 research publications have a total of 988 citations which is indicative of the relevance of the research work done over the past several years. Collectively, my publications have nearly 1,700 citations with 138 citations in 2016 alone. I was very active in 2016 in working with Postdoctoral Fellow, Keena Mullen, and with collaborators at the NCSU CVM and Campbell University to conduct studies under the OREI grant: "Evaluation of the Milk and Meat Residues of Organic Therapies for Mastitis" which was awarded in 2014. One manuscript has been published, a second manuscript is in press, and a third manuscript is in review from that project. This grant will continue into 2017 and should result in additional publications and further grant opportunities. A summary of over 12 years of production, reproduction, and health data on the dairy crossbreeding project at CEFS in Goldsboro was presented at the Joint Annual Meeting of ADSA/ASAS in Utah in July and a manuscript is nearing completion for submission in 2017.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Armorini, Sara, James Yeatts, Keena Mullen, Sharon Mason, Elmiri Mehmeti, Kevin Anderson, Steve Washburn, and Ronald Baynes. 2016. Development of HS-SPME-GC/MS/MS method for the quantification of thymol and carvacrol in bovine matrices and to determine residue depletion in milk and tissues. J. Agric. Food Chem. 64 (41), pp 78567865 - Epub ahead of print: Oct 11, 2016.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Royal, S.M., K. A. E. Mullen, and S.P. Washburn, 2016. Comparison of calving data among Jersey, Jersey x Holstein crosses, and Norwegian Red x Holstein x Jersey crosses. J. Dairy Sci. Vol. 99, E- Suppl. 1: p 30 (Abstr.) http://www.jtmtg.org/JAM/2016/abstracts/JAM16-Abstracts.pdf
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Mullen, K. A. E., and S.P. Washburn. 2016. Production, reproduction, and health of Holstein, Jersey, and crossbred cattle in a seasonal calving pasture-based dairy. J. Dairy Sci. Vol. 99, E- Suppl. 1: p 185 (Abstr.) http://www.jtmtg.org/JAM/2016/abstracts/JAM16-Abstracts.pdf

Progress 10/01/14 to 09/30/15

Outputs
Target Audience:Provided information about our dairy project at the 10th Mid-Atlantic Dairy Grazing Conference held in Moultrie, Ga in November, 2014 and on nearby dairy grazing farms. Included a published review about genetic considerations on pasture-based dairy farms as part of the conference proceedings. Those proceedings were also included in the searchable database of proceedings of agricultural conferences -S-PAC, which is managed through the American Dairy Science Association. Included relevant information about dairy grazing systems as part of a dairy management lab in March, 2015 and participated in a 4-session training for pasture-based dairy producers in March and April, 2015. Provided information about dairy grazing systems at Pastureland Ecology I in NC in June for 30 NRCS and Extension workers and at Pastureland Ecology II for 25 NRCS workers in Durham, NH in June, 2015. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The overall project and research site have been used for training various agricultural groups with dairy interest as well as providing opportunities to train interns and provide data for undergraduate research projects. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Training for NRCS workers, student interns, undergraduate research projects, and as a source of infomation for dairy producers and others working with pasture-based dairy production systems. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Summarize and analyze multiple years of data for the long-term grazing project. Begin preparation of a manuscript for publication as a refereed journal article. Summarize 2 years of calving data as part of an undergraduate research project.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? We began the process of summarizing data for a multiple year study comparing Holsteins and Jerseys to various crosses of those breeds for lifetime reproduction and production performance. We expect to present data at a national dairy science meeting and prepare a manuscript for publication. An undergraduate research project was initiated to summarize two years of calving data examining Jersey, crosses of Jersey and Holstein, and 3-way crosses of Norwegian Red, Jersey, and Holstein. Those data will be presented at future events on campus and at regional and national meeting. We have worked with student interns and undergraduate ag engineering students to provide a portable irrigation system to provide cow cooling on pastures during hot summer months.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Glosson, K. M., B. A. Hopkins, S. P. Washburn, S. Davidson, G. Smith, T. Earleywine, and C. Ma. 2015. Effect of supplementing pasteurized milk balancer products to heat-treated whole milk on the growth and health of dairy calves. J.Dairy Sci. 98:1127-1135 Mullen, K. A. E., E. H. A. Dings, R. R. Kearns, and S. P. Washburn. 2015. Case Study: A comparison of production, reproduction and animal health for pastured dairy cows managed either conventionally or with use of organic principles. Professional Animal Scientist 31: 167-174.

Progress 05/01/14 to 09/30/14

Outputs
Target Audience:Through our research program, we have shared information with extension agents, NRCS employees, university colleagues, dairy producers, and students. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?We have used the on-going research projects for professional development training of extension agents, NRCS workers, dairy producers, other faculty and students. These include tours of the facilities, presentations of completed and on-going research, as well as planned programs for student interns and apprentices. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Research publications, poster and oral presentations at various educational events, as well as responding to numerous individual inquiries for information. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?More submitted manuscripts for publication and continued collaborative efforts with faculty in Entomology, Agricultural Engineering, and Crop Science.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? We are in the process of summarizing multiple year study comparing Holsteins and Jerseys to various crosses of those breeds for lifetime performance. Data will be presented at summer Joint Annual Meeting of ADSA/ASAS in Utah and a manuscript will be submitted in 2016. An undergraduate research project summarized two years of calving data examining Jersey, crosses of Jersey and Holstein, and 3-way crosses of Norwegian Red, Jersey, and Holstein. Data will be presented at undergraduate research symposium in 2016 and at student affiliate division of American Dairy Science Association (ADSA-SAD) in Utah. We have continued to examine use of sprinkle irrigation to keep lactating dairy cows cool on pasture in Eastern NC. The successful documented use of a vacuum system to remove horn flies from lactating cows when used twice daily is being further studied to see if that technology can effectively reduce parasitic fly populations on dairy calves and heifers with passes through the device just a few times each week.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Washburn, S. P., and K. A. E. Mullen. 2014. Invited Review: Genetic considerations for various pasture-based dairy systems. J. Dairy Sci. 97: 59235938. Washburn, S. P. 2014. FORAGES AND PASTURES SYMPOSIUM: Forage systems adaptable to dry conditions. J. Anim. Sci. 92:2809-2810. Mullen, K. A. E., A. R. Lee, R. L. Lyman, S. E. Mason, S. P. Washburn, and K. L. Anderson. 2014. Short Communication: An in vitro assessment of the antibacterial activity of plant-derived oils. J. Dairy Sci. 97:55875591 Denning, S. S., S. P. Washburn, and D. W. Watson. 2014. Development of a novel walk-through fly trap for the control of horn flies and other pests on pastured Dairy Cows. J. Dairy Sci. 97:46244631 Mullen, K. A. E., K. L. Anderson, and S. P. Washburn. 2014. Effect of 2 herbal intramammary products on milk quantity and quality compared with conventional and no dry cow therapy. J. Dairy Sci. 97: 3509-3522. Wang, Y., W. X. Duan, C. Tu, S. Washburn, L. Cheng, and S. Hu. 2014. Soil carbon, nitrogen and microbial dynamics of pasturelands: Impacts of grazing intensity and planting systems. Pedosphere 24(3): 408-416.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Glosson, K. M., B. A. Hopkins, S. P. Washburn, S. Davidson, G. Smith, T. Earleywine, and C. Ma. 2015. Effect of supplementing pasteurized milk balancer products to heat-treated whole milk on the growth and health of dairy calves. J.Dairy Sci. 98:1127-1135 Mullen, K. A. E., E. H. A. Dings, R. R. Kearns, and S. P. Washburn. 2015. Case Study: A comparison of production, reproduction and animal health for pastured dairy cows managed either conventionally or with use of organic principles. Professional Animal Scientist 31: 167-174.
• Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Glosson, Kristen Michelle. 2014. Supplementing Pasteurized Milk Balancer Products to Pasteurized Whole Milk on the Health and Growth of Dairy Calves. M.S. Thesis. (co-chair). http://repository.lib.ncsu.edu/ir/bitstream/1840.16/9400/1/etd.pdf