PhD from University of Florida
Graduate fields: Animal Science
Area(s) of interest: Forage utilization and quality, Animal bioethics
Teaching: Professional Organizations:
- American Dairy Science Association
- American Society of Animal Science
- American Forage and Grassland Council
- Crop Science Society of America
- Agronomy Society of America
Current Research:
Our forage program aims to improve the profitability of New York State forage/livestock operations, while at the same time minimizing any negative effects of forage crops on the environment. With the expected rise in corn grain prices due to the massive expansion of ethanol production, high forage quality will become even more critical to the profitability of livestock operations. Approximately 60% of the total NY hay and haylage acreage is grass, while over 85% of NY “alfalfa” acreage is actually mixed alfalfa-grass. These facts have led to a forage program more focused on grasses and alfalfa-grass.
In recent years, studies have focused on identifying appropriate forage management, particularly for perennial grasses, to produce high quality dairy feed while at the same time allowing for an environmentally and economically sustainable farm system. Another long-term effort has been to clarify and refine standard methods used to determine forage quality. The use of modeling to predict animal performance will continue to increase. Many of these models will rely heavily on chemical characterization, because of the speed, repeatability, and generally low cost of chemical characterization. With the advent of new methodologies and a better understanding of factors limiting animal performance, the chemical characterization of forages will continue to be a worthwhile field of endeavor.
Methods to improve forage quality (digestibility) may alter composition of meat and milk components. Enzymatic treatment of forages to improve digestibility can release substances, such as ferulic acid (FA). Ferulic acid decreases forage digestibility when bound to other components in forages. When FA is released, forage digestibility is increased. Little is known concerning the fate of this FA once released from the forage. A graduate student in my lab (Melanie Soberon) is conducting studies that investigate the influence of FA metabolism of FA in the body, as well as any potential sensory impacts FA may have in the milk of lactating ruminants.
Selected publications:
Cherney, D.J., Cherney, J.H, and L. Chase. 2008. Forage quality assessment of spring forages. Pages 93-98. Rising feed, fuel, and fertilizer costs: can managing for quality forage ease the pain? In: Proc. Cornell Nutr. Conf. Feed Manufacturers, Syracuse, New York.
Cherney, D.J.R., J.H. Cherney and W.J. Cox. 2007. Forage quality differences of corn hybrids as influenced by ensiling. Forage and Grazinglands doi:10.1094/FG-2007-0918-01-RS.
Cherney, D J.R., and Cherney, J.H. 2006. Split Application of Nitrogen on Temperate Perennial Grasses in the Northeast. Forage and Grazinglands. doi:10.1094/FG-2006-1211-01-RS.
Cherney, D.J.R., J.H. Cherney and L.E. Chase. 2004. Lactation performance of Holstein cows fed fescue, orchardgrass or alfalfa silage. J. Dairy Sci. 87:2268-2276.
Cherney, J.H. and D.J.R. Cherney. 2003. Assessing silage quality. Pages 141-198. In: (Buxton, D.R., R. Muck, and J. Harrison, ed.) Silage Science and Technology. ASA, CSSA, and SSSA, Madison, WI.