The third Focus on Forage webinar in the 2026 series, Focus on Managed Grazing, features research updates on the economics of raising heifers on pastures, pasture species identification and selection, and soil carbon and soil health in pastures.
Presenters are Dr. David Jaramillo, USDA-ARS Dairy Forage Research Center research animal scientist; Jason Cavadini, UW–Madison Extension grazing outreach specialist; and Laura Paine, UW–Madison Extension grazing outreach coordinator.
Expand each section below for recordings of and resources related to each talk. To find more information about the Focus on Forage webinar series, visit the Focus on Forage website.
Economics of Heifers Raised on Pasture or In Confinement
Presented by: Dr. David Jaramillo, USDA-ARS Dairy Forage Research Center
In this video, Dr. David Jaramillo, USDA-ARS Dairy Forage Research Center research animal scientist, shares results from a multi-year study comparing the economics and performance of dairy heifers raised on pasture versus in confinement. The research followed heifers from birth through their first lactation, measuring growth, feed costs, and later milk production.
Findings showed that while growth rates were similar between systems by calving, pasture‑raised heifers produced more milk during their first lactation—over 2,700 pounds more—and had higher dry matter intake. Pasture systems also dramatically reduced feed costs during the rearing period, even in drought years. Dr. Jaramillo highlights how pasture‑based heifer development can improve profitability and discusses ongoing research to uncover the biological mechanisms behind these performance differences.
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Know Your Pasture: Select and Identify Forage Species that Work for Your Farm
Presented by: Jason Cavadini, University of Wisconsin–Madison
In this video, Jason Cavadini, UW–Madison Extension grazing outreach specialist, provides a practical, step‑by‑step guide to selecting and identifying pasture forage species that truly fit an individual farm’s goals, soils, and management capacity.
Rather than jumping straight to buying seed, Jason emphasizes understanding your existing forage base, evaluating what species are already present, and determining whether renovation—or simply better management—is the right first step. He shares how to assess compatibility and complementarity among species, explains why some common combinations fail, and offers a structured process for choosing species based on soil type, drainage, grazing pressure, and palatability. The presentation culminates in guidance for assembling custom pasture mixes and an overview of UW’s updated forage ID resources.
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Soil Carbon and Soil Health in Pasture Systems
Presented by: Laura Paine, University of Wisconsin–Madison
In this presentation, Laura Paine, UW–Madison Extension grazing outreach coordinator, explores how managed grazing systems influence soil carbon storage and overall soil health. She explains the science behind soil organic matter formation, the role of soil texture, and what producers can realistically expect from practices aimed at increasing soil carbon.
Laura reviews research showing major carbon gains when cropland is converted to perennial pasture, the benefits of species diversity, and the limits of manipulating grazing residuals or rest periods for carbon outcomes. She emphasizes that good grazing management—rotation, adequate residual, rest, and plant diversity—supports productive pastures and healthy soils, but that soil carbon changes happen slowly and require patience.
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About This Series
Focus on Forage is a free, annual spring webinar series highlighting researcher and farmer strategies to optimize forage yield, quality, and profitablity in Wisconsin. Watch recorded content, join our mailing list, and sign up for future webinars online.
Forage Production and Management Resources
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