You can access a PDF version of the Southeast Research Station Profile below.
2010 Louisiana Dairy, Beef and Hay Industry Facts
In 2010, 145 Louisiana dairy farms generated milk valued at $48.3 million. The total contribution of dairying including milk sales, animal sales and additional processing was valued at $126 million. Three parishes in the southeastern part of the state (Tangipahoa, Washington and St. Helena) and one parish (DeSoto) in the northwestern part of the state accounted for 93% of milk produced in the state.
In 2010 a total of 558,000 beef cattle were owned by 11,000 Louisiana beef producers. Gross farm value of the beef cattle industry was $377 million plus $37.4 million value-added.
In 2010 hay was commercially grown on 377,061 acres in Louisiana and sold by 3,545 producers. Total value of all hay sold was $142.5 million. Another 380,000 acres of hay was grown noncommercially.
Data from the 2010 Louisiana AgSummary
Research focus:
Dairy
- All aspects of dairy nutrition
- Nutrient/waste management
- Dairy genetics/reproduction/heat stress management
- Grazing systems and pasture supplementation
Forages
- Species and variety evaluation
- Legume management
- Forages for biofuel
- Nutritive value assessments
Clientele Services:
Research Highlights at the Southeast Research Station
Forage Management and Varietal Evaluations
Cool-season annual forages such as annual ryegrass, forage oats and rye are evaluated each winter. Small plots are also used to evaluate new summer forage crops such as Bermuda grass, Bahia grass, millets, sorghum and corn. Clover management studies have identified new red and berseem clovers that have potential to reduce nitrogen fertilizer costs and enhance nutritive value of summer perennial forages.
Dairy Nutrition
Studies on supplementing cows on pasture established unique protein sources and levels that maximize milk production while maintaining high reproductive efficiency of dairy cattle. Forage conservation and nutrition research has proven that wrapping bales in stretch plastic (bale silage) will allow farmers to store difficult-to-dry forage crops at optimum quality with minimal storage losses. Phosphorus nutrition studies suggest that high-producing dairy cows may require little if any supplemental P in their diets for optimum lactation performance, a cost-saving opportunity for Louisiana dairy producers.
Dairy Waste Management
The Southeast Research Station is engaged in basic and applied research to reduce the potential environmental footprint of Louisiana dairy farms. The experimental Dairy Wastewater Treatment Evaluation System consisting of replicated anaerobic lagoons, aerobic lagoons and constructed wetlands was constructed in 2005 to treat dairy parlor wastewater. Numerous studies evaluating alternative management practices comparing raw wastewater influent with the system’s effluent have shown consistent abatement of potential pollutants such as organic compounds (90% reduction), phosphorus (50% reduction), nitrogen (80% reduction) and E. coli counts (>99% reduction).
Significance of Forage and Dairy Research
Evaluation of new forage varieties developed by LSU AgCenter plant breeders and others provides unbiased scientific information to assist farmers in Louisiana and neighboring states in selecting well-adapted forages. Recent findings have supported increased use of forage oats and the more digestible brown mid rib sorghum types by local dairy and beef farmers.
Future Plans
Forage research will continue to be a primary focus at the LSU AgCenter’s Southeast Research Station. Assessing production potential and nutritive value of new forages is important for successful production of all ruminant livestock (dairy cattle, beef cattle, sheep, deer, etc.) and horses. Particular emphasis will be placed on legumes that are well-adapted to the region and spare nitrogen fertilizer requirements in grass-legume systems. In addition, a new initiative is under way in cooperation with the Audubon Sugar Institute to evaluate the potential of sweet sorghum for the biofuel (ethanol) industry.
Pasture supplementation research has identified optimal milk urea nitrogen (MUN) levels for grazing dairy cattle, thereby lowering protein supplement costs and enhancing reproduction of high-producing dairy cows. Bale silage technology has been adopted by nearly 1/3 of local dairymen and has led to enhanced forage quality and milk production.
Feeding adequate dietary phosphorus levels in dairy cows’ diets can represent significant economic savings to Louisiana producers and will reduce phosphorus entering the environment. Improved waste treatment system designs will assure high water quality standards in Louisiana.
Dairy nutrition research will continue to emphasize feeding strategies that maximize profitability while maintaining a high level of environmental stewardship. Due to elevated costs for dietary nitrogen, the current effort will turn from phosphorus to protein nutrition of dairy cattle. New feeding studies using local agricultural byproducts such as rice bran and dried distillers grains are being initiated with growing Holstein steers.
A new dairy waste-management project was recently begun to evaluate the use of “floating islands” to remove excess nutrients from dairy lagoons. This research will be expanded and funded by grants from the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation/NOAA and USDA to assess the ability of various summer and winter plants to abate pollutants from dairy wastewater.
Southeast Research Station Office
Address:
PO Box 569
41217 Bethel Road
Franklinton, LA 70438
Location: The station is located off Hwy 16 in Franklinton. From Hwy 16 take CC Road (20.4 miles from I-55 Amite and 3.3 miles from Hwy 25 Franklinton) and then left on Bethel Road.
Size: 844 acres, including approximately 500 tillable acres with the remainder in timber and facilities.
Phone: 985-839-2322
Fax: 985-839-3202
Website: www.lsuagcenter.com/southeaststation
Office Hours:
8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Monday - Friday
Contact:
Michael E. McCormick
Research Station Coordinator/Professor
email