As dairy producers plan cropping strategies for the upcoming season, many are looking beyond traditional forage programs. Rising feed costs, weather variability, and the need to maintain reliable feed inventories are driving interest in alternative forage crops.
Corn silage and alfalfa remain the backbone of most dairy rations. However, additional forage species can provide flexibility when managing feed inventories, crop rotations, and soil health.
For many farms, alternative forages are not meant to replace conventional feeds. Instead, they offer another tool to help manage forage supply and support cow performance.
What Are Alternative Forages?
Alternative forages generally refer to crops outside the typical corn silage and alfalfa system. What counts as “alternative” can vary by region. On some dairies, small grain silages already play a major role, while on others they are still considered secondary forage options.
Producers often explore alternative crops to:
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Extend forage inventories
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Improve soil health through cover cropping
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Reduce feed costs
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Add flexibility to cropping systems
These crops can sometimes partially replace traditional forages in a ration, but they rarely substitute for them on a one-to-one basis.
Legume Options
Clover
Red and white clover can provide highly digestible forage with relatively high protein levels compared to many grasses. Because clover fixes nitrogen, it also contributes to soil fertility and nutrient cycling within pasture systems.
Including clover in forage stands may improve nitrogen use efficiency in dairy diets and reduce reliance on purchased protein sources, depending on forage quality.
However, grazing management is important. Immature clover can increase the risk of bloat, particularly when grazed aggressively. Mixing clover with grasses and managing pasture maturity can help reduce this risk.
Birdsfoot Trefoil
Birdsfoot trefoil is another perennial legume gaining attention, particularly in grazing systems. It performs well in poorly drained soils and tends to resist many pests and diseases that affect alfalfa.
One unique characteristic of trefoil is its natural tannin content. These compounds can influence how protein is utilized in the rumen and may improve protein efficiency in some situations.
Trefoil generally maintains forage quality as it matures and does not typically cause bloat. However, establishment can be challenging and yields may be lower than alfalfa in some environments.
Field Peas
Field peas are a cool-season legume often included in forage blends or cover crop mixes. They offer highly digestible forage and contribute both protein and energy to dairy diets.
Peas also return nitrogen to the soil relatively quickly after harvest. However, they can be sensitive to heat and humidity and may be susceptible to disease under certain growing conditions.
Warm-Season Grass Options
BMR Sorghum
Brown midrib (BMR) sorghum hybrids have gained attention as a potential alternative forage in hot growing conditions. These varieties contain lower lignin levels, which can improve fiber digestibility.
Sorghum generally tolerates heat and drought well, making it an option in areas where corn silage production is more challenging. With proper hybrid selection and management, it can produce high forage yields while requiring fewer crop protection inputs.
Sudangrass and Sorghum-Sudan Hybrids
Sudangrass and sorghum-sudan hybrids are fast-growing summer annual grasses that perform well in hot weather. They are often used for grazing, silage, or emergency forage production.
These crops can generate large amounts of biomass and contribute organic matter to the soil. However, producers should monitor for nitrate accumulation and prussic acid risks, particularly when crops experience drought stress or frost.
Small Grain Forage
Triticale
Triticale, a wheat-rye hybrid, is one of the more familiar alternative forages used on dairy farms. It can serve as a forage crop, grain crop, or winter cover crop.
When harvested for silage, triticale can provide respectable protein and energy levels while offering flexibility within crop rotations. Its later maturity compared with some small grains can help maintain forage quality during harvest windows.
Digestibility Still Matters
Regardless of the forage species used, digestibility remains a key factor in dairy nutrition. Highly digestible fiber supports rumen function, encourages dry matter intake, and helps maintain milk production.
Poorly digestible forages can reduce feed intake and limit the energy available to the cow. For that reason, harvest timing and proper storage are just as important for alternative forages as they are for corn silage or alfalfa.
Managing Feed Risk
Many producers turn to alternative forages to manage feed shortages caused by weather challenges or limited land availability.
Some crops fit well as double crops after small grains, while others can provide emergency forage during the summer. In these situations, alternative forages can help stretch feed inventories without major changes to the farm’s cropping system.
However, because nutritional profiles vary widely, these feeds require careful ration balancing.
A Tool for Building Resilient Forage Systems
Alternative forages will not replace the role of corn silage and alfalfa on most dairy farms. But they can provide valuable flexibility when building a resilient forage system.
Before introducing new forages into a feeding program, producers should review forage analyses and discuss ration adjustments with their herd nutritionist. This helps ensure the diet continues to meet the energy, fiber, and protein requirements needed to support milk production and cow health.
With the right management, alternative forages can complement traditional crops while helping dairy operations adapt to changing production challenges.
