Researchers at Oklahoma State Univ. investigated the influence of milk production potential on forage dry matter intake (DMI) of Brangus cows during late gestation (avg. 48 days prepartum), early lactation (avg. 60 days postpartum), and late lactation (avg. 162 days postpartum). One-half of the cows were sired by high-milk EPD bulls and one-half by low-milk EPD bulls. Average EPDs for milk were approximately +10.2 for the high bulls and -12.2 for the low bulls. The diet consisted of ad libitum access to low-quality hay (5.3% CP) plus supplemental cottonseed meal to ensure adequate degradable intake protein. Actual milk production was estimated during each of the two lactation periods.

• During late gestation, forage DMI was not influenced by milk EPD.
• During early lactation, high-milk EPD cows produced significantly more milk and consumed 8% more forage DM than low-milk EPD cows.
• During late lactation, high-milk EPD cows produced more milk than low-milk EPD cows, but the difference was not statistically significant. The same was true for forage DMI.
• Each pound increase in milk was associated with a 0.33- and 0.37-lb increase in forage DMI during early and late lactation, respectively.