Getting the Most out of Your Forage Acres - MU …extension.missouri.edu/ozark/documents/Getting the...
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Getting the Most out of Your Forage Acres
Robert Kallenbach
University of Missouri
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Forage-Livestock Systems are Complex
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So…Is 365 Days ofGrazing Possible?
• Perhaps, but it takes substantial management
• Variations in weather make it more difficult
some years
• Might not always be the most cost effective
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Getting the Most out of Forage
• Avoid over stocking
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Stocking Rates
• Prepare a pasture
growth budget
• Monitor forage
production
• Overstocking can
be costlyApr Jun Aug Oct Dec Feb
8
16
20
NE
(Mca
l d-1
)
Fall-calving
Spring-calving
12
• Understand what nutrients your stock need and when
they need them
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Pasture Budgeting
• What do you expect from your pasture?
– When do you expect to get it?
– How do you plan to deal with deficits in forage production?
– How are you going to deal with excess forage production?
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Tall Fescue MonocultureFeed Budget for a Stocker Operation
Number of stockers 400.0 % of Farm Acres
Number of acres 400.0 100% 400
Beginning weight of stocker calves (lb) 450.0
Expected average daily gain (lb/d) 2.0
Start date of grazing 4/1/2005
End date of grazing 9/1/2005
Total 100% 400
GRAZING WEDGE Lbs. of Dry Matter Grown Per Day Per Acre (Conservative Estimate)
1-Apr 15-Apr 1-May 15-May 1-Jun 15-Jun 1-Jul 15-Jul 1-Aug 15-Aug
Tall Fescue 20 50 80 70 60 50 40 15 5 5
TOTAL FOR DAY 8,000 20,000 32,000 28,000 24,000 20,000 16,000 6,000 2,000 2,000
TOTAL FOR PERIOD 120,000 300,000 480,000 420,000 360,000 300,000 240,000 90,000 30,000 30,000
Expected Dry Matter Intake/Calf/Day 18.9 20.1 21.4 22.6 24.0 25.2 26.5 27.7 29.1 30.3
Lbs. Dry Matter Needed for calves daily 7560 8030 8568 9038 9610 10080 10618 11088 11659 12130
Lbs. Dry Matter Needed for calves/period 113400 120456 128520 135576 144144 151200 159264 166320 174888 181944
Grass Surplus/Deficit (daily) 440 11970 23432 18962 14390 9920 5382 -5088 -9659 -10130
Grass Surplus/Deficit (period) 6600 179544 351480 284424 215856 148800 80736 -76320 -144888 -151944
Forage
Tall Fescue
Forage balance = 447 tonsExcess to be harvested = 634 tonsExcess to be fed back = 187 tons
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Monitor Pasture Growth
• Look at the entire system weekly
– Does pasture growth meet your expectations?
• Some folks even measure it.
– How do current weather forecasts alter growth for the next week to two weeks?
– How has your system responded historically at this time of year?
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Pasture Monitoring Website
http://plantsci.missouri.edu/grazingwedge/
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Provides:• Daily forage growth rate
• Forage available on farm for grazing
• Real-time feedback on grazing management
Helps producers manage:• Pasture rotation
• Hay or silage making operations
• Supplemental feed
• Fertilizer
Pasture Monitoring Website Reports
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Getting the Most out of Forage
• Avoid over stocking
• Choose the right species
• 70 to 85% of grazing area in cool-season
grass/legume mixture
• 15 to 30% of grazing area in warm-season species
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Cool Season Grasses
Apr Aug OctJun
Fora
ge Y
ield
Feb Dec
Tall Fescue
Orchardgrass
Smooth Bromegrass
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50/50 Tall Fescue/Smooth BromegrassFeed Budget for a Stocker Operation
Number of stockers 400.0 % of Farm Acres
Number of acres 400.0 50% 200
Beginning weight of stocker calves (lb) 450.0 50% 200
Expected average daily gain (lb/d) 2.0
Start date of grazing 4/1/2005
End date of grazing 9/1/2005
Total 100% 400
GRAZING WEDGE Lbs. of Dry Matter Grown Per Day Per Acre (Conservative Estimate)
1-Apr 15-Apr 1-May 15-May 1-Jun 15-Jun 1-Jul 15-Jul 1-Aug 15-Aug
Tall Fescue 20 50 80 70 60 50 40 15 5 5
Smooth Bromegrass 20 50 80 80 50 30 20 15 5 5
TOTAL FOR DAY 8,000 20,000 32,000 30,000 22,000 16,000 12,000 6,000 2,000 2,000
TOTAL FOR PERIOD 120,000 300,000 480,000 450,000 330,000 240,000 180,000 90,000 30,000 30,000
Expected Dry Matter Intake/Calf/Day 18.9 20.1 21.4 22.6 24.0 25.2 26.5 27.7 29.1 30.3
Lbs. Dry Matter Needed for calves daily 7560 8030 8568 9038 9610 10080 10618 11088 11659 12130
Lbs. Dry Matter Needed for calves/period 113400 120456 128520 135576 144144 151200 159264 166320 174888 181944
Grass Surplus/Deficit (daily) 440 11970 23432 20962 12390 5920 1382 -5088 -9659 -10130
Grass Surplus/Deficit (period) 6600 179544 351480 314424 185856 88800 20736 -76320 -144888 -151944
Forage
Tall Fescue
Smooth Bromegrass
Forage balance = 387 tonsExcess to be harvested = 574 tonsExcess to be fed back = 187 tons
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Nitrogen for Cool-season grasses
April August OctoberJune
Fora
ge Y
ield
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100% Tall Fescue + 60 lb/acre N in SpringFeed Budget for a Stocker Operation
Number of stockers 400.0 % of Farm Acres
Number of acres 400.0 100% 400
Beginning weight of stocker calves (lb) 450.0
Expected average daily gain (lb/d) 2.0
Start date of grazing 4/1/2005
End date of grazing 9/1/2005
Total 100% 400
GRAZING WEDGE Lbs. of Dry Matter Grown Per Day Per Acre (Conservative Estimate)
1-Apr 15-Apr 1-May 15-May 1-Jun 15-Jun 1-Jul 15-Jul 1-Aug 15-Aug
Tall Fescue + 60 lb N 70 110 125 110 95 70 40 15 5 5
TOTAL FOR DAY 28,000 44,000 50,000 44,000 38,000 28,000 16,000 6,000 2,000 2,000
TOTAL FOR PERIOD 420,000 660,000 750,000 660,000 570,000 420,000 240,000 90,000 30,000 30,000
Expected Dry Matter Intake/Calf/Day 18.9 20.1 21.4 22.6 24.0 25.2 26.5 27.7 29.1 30.3
Lbs. Dry Matter Needed for calves daily 7560 8030 8568 9038 9610 10080 10618 11088 11659 12130
Lbs. Dry Matter Needed for calves/period 113400 120456 128520 135576 144144 151200 159264 166320 174888 181944
Grass Surplus/Deficit (daily) 20440 35970 41432 34962 28390 17920 5382 -5088 -9659 -10130
Grass Surplus/Deficit (period) 306600 539544 621480 524424 425856 268800 80736 -76320 -144888 -151944
Forage
Tall Fescue + 60 lb N
Forage balance = 1197 tonsExcess to be harvested = 1384 tonsExcess to be fed back = 187 tons
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Cool Season Grass with Legumes
Apr Aug OctJun
Fora
ge Y
ield
Feb Dec
Tall Fescue Red Clover
White Clover
Lespedeza
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70/30 Tall Fescue/Red Clover Feed Budget for a Stocker Operation
Number of stockers 400.0 % of Farm Acres
Number of acres 400.0 70% 280
Beginning weight of stocker calves (lb) 450.0 30% 120
Expected average daily gain (lb/d) 2.0
Start date of grazing 4/1/2005
End date of grazing 9/1/2005
Total 100% 400
GRAZING WEDGE Lbs. of Dry Matter Grown Per Day Per Acre (Conservative Estimate)
1-Apr 15-Apr 1-May 15-May 1-Jun 15-Jun 1-Jul 15-Jul 1-Aug 15-Aug
Tall Fescue 20 50 80 70 60 50 40 15 5 5
Red Clover 5 30 70 80 75 60 30 15 5 5
TOTAL FOR DAY 6,200 17,600 30,800 29,200 25,800 21,200 14,800 6,000 2,000 2,000
TOTAL FOR PERIOD 93,000 264,000 462,000 438,000 387,000 318,000 222,000 90,000 30,000 30,000
Expected Dry Matter Intake/Calf/Day 18.9 20.1 21.4 22.6 24.0 25.2 26.5 27.7 29.1 30.3
Lbs. Dry Matter Needed for calves daily 7560 8030 8568 9038 9610 10080 10618 11088 11659 12130
Lbs. Dry Matter Needed for calves/period 113400 120456 128520 135576 144144 151200 159264 166320 174888 181944
Grass Surplus/Deficit (daily) -1360 9570 22232 20162 16190 11120 4182 -5088 -9659 -10130
Grass Surplus/Deficit (period) -20400 143544 333480 302424 242856 166800 62736 -76320 -144888 -151944
Forage
Tall Fescue
Red Clover
Forage balance = 429 tonsExcess to be harvested = 626 tonsExcess to be fed back = 197 tons
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Introduced WarmSeason Grasses
Apr Aug OctJun
Fora
ge Y
ield
Feb Dec
Tall FescueCaucasianBluestem
Bermudagrass
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Native WarmSeason Grasses
Apr Aug OctJun
Fora
ge Y
ield
Feb Dec
Tall Fescue
IndiangrassSwitchgrass
Big Bluestem
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Indiangrass Monoculture
Forage balance = 1047 tonsExcess to be harvested = 1164 tonsExcess to be fed back = 117 tons
Feed Budget for a Stocker Operation
Number of stockers 400.0 % of Farm Acres
Number of acres 400.0 100% 400
Beginning weight of stocker calves (lb) 450.0
Expected average daily gain (lb/d) 2.0
Start date of grazing 4/1/2005
End date of grazing 9/1/2005
Total 100% 400
GRAZING WEDGE Lbs. of Dry Matter Grown Per Day Per Acre (Conservative Estimate)
1-Apr 15-Apr 1-May 15-May 1-Jun 15-Jun 1-Jul 15-Jul 1-Aug 15-Aug
Indiangrass 0 0 10 25 50 75 80 80 70 60
TOTAL FOR DAY 0 0 4,000 10,000 20,000 30,000 32,000 32,000 28,000 24,000
TOTAL FOR PERIOD 0 0 60,000 150,000 300,000 450,000 480,000 480,000 420,000 360,000
Expected Dry Matter Intake/Calf/Day 18.9 20.1 21.4 22.6 24.0 25.2 26.5 27.7 29.1 30.3
Lbs. Dry Matter Needed for calves daily 7560 8030 8568 9038 9610 10080 10618 11088 11659 12130
Lbs. Dry Matter Needed for calves/period 113400 120456 128520 135576 144144 151200 159264 166320 174888 181944
Grass Surplus/Deficit (daily) -7560 -8030 -4568 962 10390 19920 21382 20912 16341 11870
Grass Surplus/Deficit (period) -113400 -120456 -68520 14424 155856 298800 320736 313680 245112 178056
Forage
Indiangrass
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75/25 Tall Fescue/IndiangrassFeed Budget for a Stocker Operation
Number of stockers 400.0 % of Farm Acres
Number of acres 400.0 75% 300
Beginning weight of stocker calves (lb) 450.0 25% 100
Expected average daily gain (lb/d) 2.0
Start date of grazing 4/1/2005
End date of grazing 9/1/2005
Total 100% 400
GRAZING WEDGE Lbs. of Dry Matter Grown Per Day Per Acre (Conservative Estimate)
1-Apr 15-Apr 1-May 15-May 1-Jun 15-Jun 1-Jul 15-Jul 1-Aug 15-Aug
Tall Fescue 20 50 80 70 60 50 40 15 5 5
Indiangrass 0 0 10 25 50 75 80 80 70 60
TOTAL FOR DAY 6,000 15,000 25,000 23,500 23,000 22,500 20,000 12,500 8,500 7,500
TOTAL FOR PERIOD 90,000 225,000 375,000 352,500 345,000 337,500 300,000 187,500 127,500 112,500
Expected Dry Matter Intake/Calf/Day 18.9 20.1 21.4 22.6 24.0 25.2 26.5 27.7 29.1 30.3
Lbs. Dry Matter Needed for calves daily 7560 8030 8568 9038 9610 10080 10618 11088 11659 12130
Lbs. Dry Matter Needed for calves/period 113400 120456 128520 135576 144144 151200 159264 166320 174888 181944
Grass Surplus/Deficit (daily) -1560 6970 16432 14462 13390 12420 9382 1412 -3159 -4630
Grass Surplus/Deficit (period) -23400 104544 246480 216924 200856 186300 140736 21180 -47388 -69444
Forage
Tall Fescue
Indiangrass
Forage balance = 488 tonsExcess to be harvested = 559 tonsExcess to be fed back = 70 tons
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A System
Apr Aug OctJun
Fora
ge Y
ield
Feb Dec
Tall Fescue Red Clover StockpiledTall Fescue
Warm-season grass
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Getting the Most out of Forage
• Avoid over stocking
• Choose the right species
• 70 to 85% of grazing area in cool-season
grass/legume mixture
• 15 to 30% of grazing area in warm-season species
• Utilize pasture growth efficiently
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• Typically 65% utilization compared to less than 40%
• More important to utilize forage efficiently when pasture growth is limiting
Utilize Pasture Growth Efficiently
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Getting the Most out of Forage
• Avoid over stocking
• Choose the right species
• 70 to 85% of grazing area in cool-season
grass/legume mixture
• 15 to 30% of grazing area in warm-season species
• Utilize pasture growth efficiently
• Play winter smart
• Cycle cow weight, utilize winter pasture efficiently,
and minimize hay feeding losses
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Key Performance Indicators
Profitability of Producers
Low ¼ Average High ¼
Return - $cow -145 10 128
Feed cost - $cow 265 195 146
Stored feed – lb/cow 4388 3722 3509
Pasture cost - $/AUM 12.33 9.22 6.47
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Reducing Winter Feed Costs
Hay is expensive costing $1-1.50 hd-1 d-1
1. Equipment cost
2. Transportation cost
3. Storage cost (Horner, 2005)
Stockpiled tall fescue is inexpensive costing
$0.45 hd-1 d-1
1. Extends the grazing season (Fribourg and Bell, 1984)
2. Reduces winter labor cost (Van Keuren, 1970)
3. Almost eliminates the need for hay (Clark, 2003)
However, tall fescue is commonly infected with a fungal endophyte, known to caused animal health disorders
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Tall Fescue in Autumn• Almost entirely leaf
• Grows rapidly from early September until November – 1 to 2 tons per acre with good management
• More fall growth than other CSG’s
• Waxy layer on leaves slows deterioration
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Cuticle Layer of Tall Fescue
Bulliform Cells
Stomata
Vascular Bundles with
Bundle Sheath
Bottom Cuticle
Layer
Top Cuticle Layer
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Tall Fescue Qualityin Autumn and Winter
23
25
27
29
31
33
35
37
39
41
43
45
Dec Jan Feb Mar
AD
F (
%)
Typical Hay
Stockpile
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Choosing the Best Fields for Stockpiling
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The Recipe
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How Much N?
• Generally, 40 to 80 lb/acre
• Higher rate for fields with high water holding capacity, few weeds, little legume, low endophyte
• Lower rate for fields with low fertility, little soil depth, weedy, high legume content, high endophyte
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Strip Grazing
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Strip Grazing
Perimeter Fence
Winter Water
Temp Fence
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Allocation Utilization
days %
3 70
7 50
14 40
Utilization Rates ofStockpiled Tall Fescue
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Type Daily Req.
% of BW
Dry beef cow 1.75 to 2.0
Lactating cow/calf pair 2.25 to 2.5
Stocker calf ? 3.0
Allocating Stockpiled Tall Fescue
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Fall Calving Cows onStockpiled Tall Fescue
• Treatments– Four forage allowances
1. 2.25 % body weight day-1 in DM
2. 3.00
3. 3.75
4. 4.50
– One hay treatment
fed ad libitum – GOOD QUALITY
• Grazed from December through February in 2004-2005 and 2005-2006
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Stockpiled Tall Fescue After-grazing Appearance
2.25
3.75 4.50
3.00
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Pasture Utilization andCow Average Daily Gain
Summarized from Curtis et al., 2008, J. Anim. Sci. 86:780-789
AD
G, l
b
Pas
ture
Uti
lizat
ion
, %
y = -8.40x + 90.50 R² = 0.9630
50
70
90
-2.0
-1.5
-1.0
-0.5
0.02.25 3.00 3.75 4.50 Hay
Cow ADG
Pasture Utilization
-
-
-
-
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Conception Rate of Cows
Treatment Conception Rate
%
2.25 93
3.00 91
3.75 94
4.50 92
Hay 92
Summarized from Curtis et al., 2008, J. Anim. Sci. 86:780-789
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Cow Condition the Following July
Treatment Year 1 Year 2
-- Body Condition Score --
2.25 6.6 7.3
3.00 6.7 7.1
3.75 6.7 6.9
4.50 6.6 7.3
Hay 7.0 7.0
LSD (0.05) NS NS
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Calf Average Daily Gain
Treatment ADG Gain per acre
--------- lb/day --------- -- lb/a --
2.25 1.4b 138a
3.00 1.6a 118b
3.75 1.6a 96c
4.50 1.8a 87c
Hay 1.7a -
SE 0.1 8
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Uncontrolled Access
• Feeding losses run from 30 to 70%
• Typical feed costs run from $3 to $8 hd/day
• Feed quality and utilization falls throughout the season
• “Dead spots” in feeding areas
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Bale Rings or Feeders
• Feeding losses run from 5 to 8%
• Additional labor/cost depending on where hay is stored compared to where it is fed
• Daily feeding not necessary
• Need to ensure a slot for each cow
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Spaced Hay Bale Feeding
• Idea is to reduce labor during winter
• Bales “pre set” in feeding area
• Poly tape or ploy wire used to keep stock from unfed bales
• Feeding area a mess in spring
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Unrolling Bales
• Feeding losses about 12% if fed daily
• Over or under feeding a problem
• Mud can make feeding difficult
• Moves nutrients around the farm
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Losses from Feeding Hay
Bale Type With Rack or Ring Without Rack or Ring
1 day supply 7 day supply
1 day supply
7 day supply
Small Square 3.9 4.1 6.7
Large Round 4.9 5.4 12.3 43.0
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ItemHours per day cowsallowed to eat hay
4 8 24
Hay lb/d 22.5 32.2 35.7
% of 24-hr 63 90 -
Cow Wt. Change (lb.) -125 -62 -44
Limit Feeding Hay(mature cows)
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ItemHours per day heifers
allowed to eat hay
8 24
Hay lb/d 14.8 16.6
% of 24-hr 89 -
Heifer Wt. Change (lb.) 173 192
Limit Feeding Hay(developing heifers*)
* Heifers offered 4.4 lb/d distillers grain based supplement
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Limit Feeding Hay Rules
• Be sure to have plenty of bunk or ring space – timid cows can starve
• Works better with cows in good condition than those in poorer condition
• Heifers and thin cows should be fed separately and allowed more feed
• Limit feeding over a longer period is better than waiting until supplies are severely limited
• Works best with good – not poor – quality forage
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Reducing Hay Feeding Losses
• Feed hay in small amounts or in a feeder to minimize waste
• Feed hay in well-drained areas
• Feed hay stored outside before hay stored inside
• Sort hay by quality and match supplies accordingly to livestock
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Getting the Most out of Forage
• Avoid over stocking
• Choose the right species
• 70 to 85% of grazing area in cool-season
grass/legume mixture
• 15 to 30% of grazing area in warm-season species
• Utilize pasture growth efficiently
• Play winter smart
• Cycle cow weight, utilize winter pasture efficiently,
and minimize hay feeding losses