Grazing Systems
Grazing Systems
Minimizing Hay Waste while Feeding
If hay is stored and fed properly, hay loss can be minimized. Total losses from hay storage and feeding are estimated to exceed $3 billion annually nationwide. This does not include additional economic losses associated with labor used to store and feed hay.
Grazing Methods: Which One Is for You?
The flexibility of a grazing enterprise is what makes it appealing to many different managerial approaches. From the part-time farmer who has a few head of stocker calves during the growing season to keep the grass short, to the full-time producer who has a large cow-calf herd maintained year-in and year-out, grazing is often the preferred way to harvest forage.
Why Use a Solar-Powered Watering System
First, using solar power for pumping water from springs, shallow wells, ponds or creeks to watering troughs results in environmental and conservation benefits. These include reduced erosion, less pond and creek bank damage, and cleaner water by reducing contamination from animal waste.
Forage Testing
Testing your forages can be a useful tool to minimize feeding costs while maximizing animal production. Forage testing provides the nutritional value of pasture, hay, or silage. It is important to know the quality and nutrient content of feed to calculate an efficient feed ration and mineral supplementation program.
Importance of Rest Periods between Grazing
One of the most important components of a successful rotational grazing system is allowing the forages an adequate rest period for plant recovery and regrowth. Allowing plants a sufficient rest period is vital to maximize forage quality, yield, and stand persistence.
Picking Apples Off the Grazing Tree: How Far Can We Extend the Grazing Season Profitably?
Will grazing more and feeding less hay always increase profitability? There are many cases where cattle farmers could graze more days profitably. I would guess that more than half the cattlemen in Kentucky and the region could find ways to do so.
Summer Grazing Tips
Depending on the species, 60 to 70% of the growth of cool-season grasses occurs early in the grazing season when temperatures are below 75°F with another increase in productivity seen in the fall. In the spring when the growth of grasses is rapid, cattle should be rotated rapidly between paddocks in an attempt to keep forages vegetative.
Use of Temporary Fence
The practice of rotational grazing allows forages a rest period that permits them to initiate regrowth, renew carbohydrate stores, and improves yield and persistency. A rotational grazing system divides a larger pasture into smaller paddocks allowing livestock to be moved from one paddock to another easily.
Planning Your Grazing System
Rotational grazing can help producers increase forage productivity, which can increase the profitability of an operation. Additional benefits to implementing a rotational grazing system include: reduced supplemental feed costs, improved animal distribution and forage utilization, improved manure distribution and nutrient use, and many more.
Multi-Species Grazing
Grazing two or more animal species in a pasture-based system can increase forage utilization and efficiency. This method can also be used to renovate pastures by controlling certain forages, weeds, and brush that one livestock species may not graze.
Assess Past Grazing Season and Plan Ahead
As the grazing season comes to an end, take time to reflect on and assess the past grazing season. It is important to continually make an effort to improve and advance a managed grazing system. When planning for the upcoming grazing season, decide on a purposed budget and time limitation.
What is Holistic Grazing Management?
A group of Kentucky producers and county agents had the opportunity to visit Greg Judy’s farm last month. Judy runs a unique cow/calf operation near Harrisburg, Missouri. He explained that he learned these methods from Allan Savory, who began holistic management while raising livestock in South Africa.
Suggested Grazing Heights
Grazing at too low of a height causes overgrazing and decreases stand productivity and longevity. The general recommendation is to remove livestock once pastures are grazed down to an average height of 3 to 4 inches.
Harvesting Excess Spring Growth
Cool season grasses are growing rapidly and producing large amounts of forages at this time of year. Livestock may not be able to keep up with grazing the excess growth during these times.
Rotational Grazing Practices Improve Soils
Implementing rotational grazing practices improves forage productivity. Plants often show an improvement not only in growth but rate of regrowth. Improvements in soils seen by rotationally grazing directly impact forage growth. These benefits are realized through reduced erosion, decreased soil compaction, and improved manure distribution.
