FEEDING PRACTICES AND INCOME OVER FEED COST ON PASTURE-ORIENTED DAIRYFARMS IN LOUISIANA

Monthly summary reports (n = 15,568) of Holstein herds enrolled in the Louisiana DHIA program from February 1984 through April 1990 were ana lyzed using multiple regression techniques to determine the relationsh ips between feeding practices and income over feed cost on predominant ly pasture-oriented dairy farms. Income over feed cost increased as si lage and pasture quality score increased and decreased as hay and conc entrate increased. Milk yield increased as silage and concentrate incr eased. Increased hay was associated with lower milk yield, but the ove rall difference was small. Comparison of feeding practices overall wit h the top 10% of herds based on income over feed cost indicated that m ost dairy farmers were not adjusting amount of concentrate to nutritio nal needs. Additional silage fed during late summer and fall, when per manent pastures were at lowest quality and winter pastures were not pr oductive, improved income over feed cost and herd reproductive perform ance. Better utilization of concentrate by adjustment of amounts fed f or milk yield, stage of lactation, and forage component of ration woul d increase milk yield and income over feed cost. Increased utilization of silage is suggested for better financial and productive performanc e of the pasture-oriented dairy farms studied.