How Forage Quality Impacts Herd Health (Beyond Milk Production)
When most people think about forage quality, their minds immediately go to milk production — higher starch, better digestibility, more energy, more milk. But the impact of forage quality extends far beyond the parlor. It affects the health, longevity, and performance of every cow in the herd.
At Prairie Estates Genetics (PEG), we see it every day in the field and in the feed bunk: when forage is consistent and highly digestible, the herd stays healthier, calmer, and more efficient.
The Foundation of Herd Health Starts in the Field
Good forage starts long before a ration is mixed. It begins with hybrid selection, agronomic management, and the ability to grow a plant that provides balanced nutrition — not just yield.
The wrong hybrid or poor forage quality can upset the balance in the rumen. The rumen is a finely tuned fermentation system, and consistency is everything. Sudden changes in starch levels, moisture, or fiber digestibility can lead to acidosis, feed refusal, or production slumps.
When the forage is stable — nutritionally and physically — cows respond with stronger appetites, better feed conversion, and fewer metabolic problems.
As PEG Sales Director Mike Kabat often says, “Cows like to be bored.” The less variation in their feed, the more consistent their performance and health will be.
Digestibility: The Link Between Feed and Health
One of the biggest factors influencing herd health is fiber and starch digestibility.
Fiber Digestibility (NDFD) determines how quickly forage moves through the digestive system. Highly digestible fiber improves dry matter intake and reduces gut stress.
Starch Digestibility provides the rumen microbes with a steady supply of energy. Softer starch (from PEG hybrids) breaks down more evenly, minimizing spikes and dips in rumen pH.
Low digestibility for either fiber or starch means slower feed passage, less nutrient absorption, and greater risk for subacute rumen acidosis (SARA).
When cows experience SARA, the downstream effects can include laminitis, reduced milk fat, lower fertility, and immune suppression — all problems that cost far more than any short-term feed savings.
That’s why PEG’s breeding program doesn’t just chase starch percentage; it focuses on the availability of that starch and fiber in the rumen.
Consistency = Cow Comfort
Consistency in forage quality is directly tied to cow comfort and, by extension, herd health.
Every time a cow’s ration changes — whether because of new silage, moisture differences, or variable fiber digestibility — her rumen microbes have to adapt. That adaptation can take days, during which feed intake and performance often drop.
PEG’s hybrids are designed to reduce those fluctuations. From 90-day to 115-day maturities, every hybrid is tested to ensure uniform fiber and starch characteristics so that the feed going into the bunk remains predictable.
That consistency keeps rumen function steady, milk solids stable, and cows calm — which in turn reduces stress-related disorders like displaced abomasum or ketosis.
Simply put: less variability in forage equals fewer health problems across the herd.
The Role of Fiber in Rumen Health
Fiber isn’t just filler — it’s the structural foundation of rumen function.
Good fiber provides the scratch factor that stimulates chewing and saliva production, which buffers rumen pH. When forage is overly fine or low in effective fiber, chewing time drops, saliva decreases, and rumen acidity rises.
PEG’s focus on balanced hybrids means more effective fiber per bite. By maintaining both fiber digestibility and physical fiber length, PEG helps cows maintain a healthy rumen environment without compromising intake or energy density.
In other words, the cow’s digestive engine runs smoother and cleaner when the forage is right.
Beyond the Rumen: Forage Quality and Immune Function
Forage quality also influences immune health through its impact on energy balance and inflammation.
High-quality forage supports steady energy supply, reducing metabolic stress during early lactation — a critical period when cows are most vulnerable to disease. Research from the University of Wisconsin Dairy Forage Research Center shows that cows fed higher-quality forages experience fewer cases of retained placenta, metritis, and mastitis, and recover faster postpartum.
Additionally, consistent forage intake helps maintain mineral balance. Fluctuating feed intake can throw off calcium, phosphorus, and trace mineral absorption, making cows more susceptible to milk fever and immune challenges.
By stabilizing the ration and reducing nutritional swings, PEG hybrids indirectly support stronger immune systems and overall herd resilience.
Soil Health, Plant Health, Cow Health
Healthy forage begins with healthy soil — and that connection can’t be overstated.
Farmers like Patty Dolf of Dolf Dairy emphasize the importance of soil microbiology in building herd health: “Healthy soil, healthy plants, healthy cows, healthy people.”
PEG hybrids are bred to thrive in well-managed soils with strong root development and disease resistance. The result is healthier plants that stay green longer, hold moisture better, and deliver more nutrients per acre — ultimately feeding healthier cows.
That’s the full-circle benefit of good forage management: when the soil is balanced, the plants stay vigorous, and the cows stay healthier and more productive.
Forage Quality and Longevity
Herd longevity — the number of productive lactations a cow completes — is directly tied to forage quality and consistency.
Cows fed high-quality, digestible forage maintain better body condition and experience fewer digestive upsets. This means fewer culls for metabolic or health-related reasons and lower replacement costs.
In a time when margins are tight, keeping cows in the herd for an extra lactation can make a significant difference in profitability. PEG’s consistent forage quality helps producers sustain healthier cows that last longer — delivering returns far beyond a single milk check.
PEG’s Commitment to Dairy Health
At Prairie Estates Genetics, we’ve built our entire approach around the idea that better forage leads to better cows — not just higher milk yield.
By selecting hybrids specifically for dairy, focusing on digestibility, and supporting farmers year-round through our Forage Manager program, PEG ensures that every acre of silage contributes to the health and performance of the herd.
Our hybrids are tested across 22+ locations for three years before release, ensuring not only high performance but also the consistency that supports long-term animal health.
From soil to silo to cow, our mission is simple: help dairy farmers grow feed that fuels both productivity and wellness.
The Takeaway
Milk yield is the visible outcome of good forage. Herd health is the foundation that makes it possible.
When cows are fed consistently digestible, nutrient-rich forage, everything improves — energy levels, immunity, reproduction, and longevity.
That’s why PEG doesn’t just sell seed. We build systems of forage management designed to keep herds healthier and dairies more profitable, one acre at a time.