Alfalfa Grazing Management

Grazing alfalfa with dairy or beef animals is not a common practice in California or even in the United States. Although a limited number of alfalfa acres are grazed in the humid Midwest and East, it is rare in the West, and the ruminant alfalfa forage systems throughout the United States consist of hayand haylage-based harvest methods. However, there is increased interest in grazing in North America due to harvest cost issues, environmental benefits, and interest in organic, natural, or grass-fed products in the market, and animal welfare. Since some component of grazing is required for organic certification, grazing of alfalfa has received increased interest. Grazing alfalfa is a more common practice in Australia, New Zealand, and Argentina. Argentina grazes more alfalfa than any country. Milk and meat production systems are based primarily on grazing alfalfa, especially in the rainfed regions of the Pampas. Producers in the Pampas use more than 5 million hectares (12 million acres) of alfalfa for grazing. Alfalfa varieties and growing conditions in the Pampas are remarkably similar to California. Here we discuss important concepts of alfalfa grazing management for efficient milk and meat production, based Chapter 18 Corresponding Author: Carlos Cangiano ([email protected])