How can Tom Trantham’s cows graze alfalfa and not be susceptible to bloat? The short answer: feed the cows a total mix ration (TMR) each evening when they come in from the fields. The key, according to Trantham, is to make sure the rumen continues to work over the nighttime hours so that it is already active when they start grazing the next day. View this video to learn more about Trantham’s strategy and the ingredients in his TMR.

View the longer video to learn about Tom Trantham’s Sustainable 12 Aprils Dairy Grazing Program.

The Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program’s mission is to advance—to the whole of American agriculture—innovations that improve profitability, stewardship and quality of life by investing in groundbreaking research and education. SARE is proud of its connections to farming communities across the country. To learn more about our grants program; see more videos; read hundreds of fact sheets, books and other information about SARE-funded research; or search the projects database, visit www.SARE.org. SARE is funded by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA.