Ideas On Hay Use During Difficult Economic Times

Brian PughOklahoma State University

Feeding hay during periods of reduced forage production dates to 750 BC in Great Britain.

Producing High Quality Hay

High Quality = Timely Management

For cow hay, we want enough quality to maintain the cow during the winter feeding period with the least amount of supplemental grain.

8+ protein, 54%+ TDN

Quantity:Rainfall, Temp.VarietyTime of HarvestFertility #1Storage

Quality:Rainfall, Temp.VarietyTime of Harvest #1Fertility #2Storage

The #2 most controllable factor affecting quality, and the #1 factor affecting yield is…???

Soil Fertility!

Phases of Maturity

Reprint from MSU Forage News. May 2009

For Bermudagrass, this is going to be 4

to 6 weeks.

Effects of Age on the Quality of Fertilized Bermudagrass.

Weeks of Regrowth CP TDN .

2 16.0 56.34 13.6 57.16 9.0 52.6 8 7.5 47.9 10 8.3 46.1

Source: University of Florida extension Publication #SS-AGR-60

Things to consider! Timing of nutrient Applications Utilizing commercial N in our fertility

system: Trading Resources! Nitrogen: Effects on Protein and TDN! Weed Control: Effects on fertility! Cost of Inputs: $ per extra ton of

production!

Effect of Nitrogen on Crude Protein in Bermudagrass

Nitrogen/acre Growth (weeks) Crude protein (%)

4 7.0

0 6 6.0

8 5.0

4 9.0

50 6 7.0

8 5.0

Source: Dr. Darren Redfern, Extension Forage Specialist, OSU

This effect is not limited to spring.

Nitrogen applications in summer can improve the yield and Quality of the forages grown in late summer.

Requires rainfall!

Indianola

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

Grass yield total August

Am NitrateUreaUrea + At

June 14 application of 100 units N – 294 lb/ac ammonium nitrate, 217 #/ac urea, or 217 lb/ac of urea+Agrotain.

Harvest August 30, 2005

LSD = 702

ABB

02

468

101214

Protien Content August DryBasis

Am NitrateUreaUrea + Atcheck

No statistics were run: These are just sample means.

Indianola

5757.5

5858.5

5959.5

6060.5

61

TDN Content August Dry Basis

Am NitrateUreaUrea + Atcheck

Indianola

No statistics were run: These are just sample means.

Fertility and weed control! Weeds like fertilizer!!!! Grass does not grow well

in low fertility soils!!!! Integrated management

of weeds and fertility can pay off big in grass production!

Cost of Inputs!! Fertilizer is

Expensive! Weed control:

Seems to be the cheapest thing we can do.

Or is it? Both depend on the

grass response we get!

Do Nothing Herbicide only

100#N + P + K 100#N + P + K and 2,4-D

Rainfall: April=5.8, May= 3, June= 6.5 Total = 15.3 inches

Hartshorne2003

PH-5.3

N-4

P-10(65)

K-200

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

D+Fert Fert 2,4-D Nothing D+NTreatment

Yie

ld (l

bs/a

cre)

Grass Broadleaf Legumes

Costs per acre and cost of increased production.

Cost per Extra

Cost/ac Treatment Ton of Prod.

$36 100 units N$34.90

$46.49 100 N + P$33.47

$ 0 Do nothing no extra

$44.50 100 N + grazon$31.24

$54.99 N+P + grazon$25.77

$52.99 N+P + 2,4-D$30.30

$8.50 Grazon 1 pt. $98.84Can you buy a ton of hay for this price?

No Statistical analysis. These are just numbers!

Cost analysis by J.J. Jones, S.E. District Ag. Econ.

What does hay actually cost???

What does hay actually cost? Many producers claim hay can be baled

cheaper than you can buy it.

This makes sense…or does it?

The truth is, it depends. Usually hay is not cheap to bale.

Forage Production Costs

Forage production costs depend on› Cost of establishment› Years of stand life› Maintenance costs

agecon.okstate.edu/budgets

Example AGMACH$Input and Report Windows

Custom Costs Most custom harvesters are charging

from $18 to $25 per round bale. True, but what if we baled it ourselves?

Would we save money? Personal harvest does allow you to get

the hay rolled at the ideal stage of production, this is worth something!

Cost per Harvested Acre for Owning Haying Equipment

Size Capacity Initial Total Acres Harvested Per YearMachine Feet Acres/hr Cost ($) 100 200 400 800

Sickle bar mower9 4.4

4,000

$9 $7 $6 $5

Pull-type swather16 7.0

20,000 $27 $15 $10 $8

Self-propelled swather16 7.8

60,000 $73 $37 $20 $11

Side delivery rake9 5.2

4,500 $9 $6 $5 $4

Wheel rake30 17.4

8,000 $10 $6 $3 $2

Large round baler30 11.8

24,000 $32 $18 $11 $7

Small square baler18 6.6

16,000 $24 $14 $10 $8

Large square baler30 20.4

67,000 $83 $43 $23 $13

*Assumptions: Labor @ $9 per hour, fuel @ $1 per gallon.Source: Huhnke, http://www.dasnr.okstate.edu/agmach/index.html

$31 per Acre

Custom Costs On average bermuda produces 2

tons/acre or 3-1300 lb bales. This is $11 per bale (at $1 fuel costs)

This 200 acres @ 2 ton production produces enough hay for 270 cows over 150 days, that’s 5 months!

Most OK producers don’t need that quantity of hay! Meaning they bale less acreage and bale cost goes up accordingly.

Custom Costs OK average owner harvest costs (100

acres harvested) are about $60 per acre, or $20 per 1300 lb. round bale.

Honestly, compare this to custom harvesters at $18 to $25 per round bale, is it worth the difference for the headache?

Don’t forget the cost of nutrients removed, herbicide used, and loss after baling!

Cost of feeding hay in 2012?1200 lb round bale example

N-P-K replacement cost$36.90

Herbicide (2,4-D) $1.17Harvesting

$19.00Stacking and feeding $

2.32Storage loss $ ?Feeding loss $ ?Total $ 59.39Even if you assume $10 harvest,

it’s easy to see you may be better buying hay.

Minimizing Dry Matter Losses

Hay Production & DM Losses

Field lossesMowing - 0%Respiration – 2% to 16%Raking – 5% to 20%Weather – 0% to 35%

(3-50% for 2 winter storage)

We will concentrate on losses due to weathering.

Amount of Dry Matter in Outer Layers of Large Round Bales

Outer Layer Depth

Bale Diameter, ft 2” 4” 6” 8”

------------------ % dry matter loss ------------------

4 16 31 44 56

5 13 25 36 46

6 11 21 31 40

7 9 18 27 34

8 8 16 23 31

The outside 4” on a 6 ft. bale is 21% of the weight!!! The outside 6” comprises 1/3 of that bale!!

Percent Dry Matter Loss of Round Hay Bales

Storage PeriodStorage Method Up to 9 monthsa 12 to 18 months

Exposed NW OK – SE OK NW OK – SE OK

Ground 5-20 15-50Elevated 3-15 12-35

CoveredGround 5-10 10-15Elevated 2-4 5-10

Under roof 2-5 3-10Enclosed barn Less than 2 2-5a If used before spring warm-up.Source: Huhnke.

We can lose this outside 4” on exposed hay before winter is over!!!

Value of Hay Lost in Storage Hay Price (per ton)

Storage Loss $40 $60 $80 $100 $120(%) -------------------------------- $ per ton ------------------------------

52 3

45 6

104 6

8 10 12

156 9

12 15 18

208 12

16 20 24

25 1015

20 25 30

30 1218

24 30 36

35 1421

28 35 42

40 1624

32 40 48Does not include losses associated with shrinkage or reduced quality.Source: Huhnke.

With 100 acres mowed, 200 tons x $20 = $4000 x 10 yrs = $40,000 loss This would easily build a 50x75 metal barn with a life of 30 years plus!

Assuming our $59 bale cost, $100 per ton.

Weather damage to hay stored outside depends on:Bale density/shape (ability to shed rain)

This bale is coarse stemmed, lumpy, and squattedThese are recipes for disaster!Note dark areas of water infiltration

Weather damage to hay stored outside depends on:Bale density/shape (ability to shed rain)

This bale is FINE stemmed, smooth, tight and roundThese are recipes for success!Net wrap removed showing no signs of rot after 6 months

Weather damage to hay stored outside depends on:Storing method and location

Bales are not butted together on ends, are on a flat, poorly drained site, rows are too close together and run east/west

Weather damage to hay stored outside depends on:Storing method and location

Bales are tightly butted together on ends to shed rainStored on a south exposure slope that is well drained North/south Rows are 3-4 feet apart to allow wind/south sun to enter

Note beginning water marks on west side of this baleBaled in June 2009

These rows were baled in Aug. 2008Notice the outer deterioration, but net-wrap holding a nice tight circle.

Feed your low quality, old, and exposed hay first before bad weather arrives!!

Picture: JAN 2010

REMEMBER:The larger the bale, the lower the spoilage ring loss.A 3 to 4” spoilage layer on a 5’ bale equals 18 to 22% hay loss.

Weather damage to hay stored outside depends on:Bale storage method

stored on ground: 43% handling+storage wastestored on wooden rack: 31% handling+storage waste

Moisture distribution of twine wrapped alfalfa/grass round bales stored on the ground or pallets

Images courtesy of Dr. Kevin Shinners, U of Wisconsin

Soil Contact Pallet

Weather damage to hay stored outside depends on:Bale wrap (mesh vs. sisal twine) after 9 months

Fescue hay wrapped: 2” weathered layerFescue hay unwrapped: 4.4” weathered layer On a 6ft. Bale that is a 10% difference in hay lossIf the hay values @ $59, then wrap saved $5.90!

Net Wrapping costs $1.50-2/bale & 8-10 secondsTwine Costs $0.75/bale & ~2 minutes (~30% slower baling)

Moisture distribution of net wrapped vs. twine wrapped alfalfa/grass round bales stored on the ground

Images courtesy of Dr. Kevin Shinners, University of Wisconsin

Net Wrapped Twine Wrapped

Hay should not be stored outside for more than a yearIf carry-over is required, use net-wrap!This bale is almost a 3 year oldIdeally your cattle should be older than your hay

Storage and handling lossesHay stored on wooden racks: 31%Hay stored on wooden racks w/ tarp: 12%Hay stored in a pole barn: 2%

Often difficult to keep hay covered plus disposal of worn out tarps

Sheltering hay reduces spoilage lossesMust consider the cost of losses vs. cost of building a pole barnHay baled wet + pole barns = hot fire

It is more economical to shelter high quality hayas opposed to low quality hay.

Hay sheds allow you the option to carryover more hay.To the left of the green line is fert. Bermuda hay from 2007To the right is Ryegrass and Berm from 2008.Quality and DM loss is minimal.

Since the hay was not used up last winter, the producer only cut one 10 acre field of fert. Berm in 2009. Similar hay barns would allow you to select ideal rainfall (years), and condense resources without the fear of running out of hay. This saves money in the long run.

Picture: JAN 2010

Hay Barns

For More Information on Round Bale Storage see OSU factsheet: BAE 1716 @ Extension Office.

FSA now has low interest loans for commodity sheds which includes the use of barns for hay storage.

Hay Feeding Strategies

Feeding unprotected hay results in excessive losses.Losses from protecting vs. not protecting

1974 study comparing rack vs. no rack: 23 to 39%, University of Tennessee, 1978: 28%

Cone FeederHay Waste – 4%Not a common feeder

Image source: D. Buskirk, Michigan State University, JAS

Ring FeederHay Waste – 6%

Cradle FeederHay Waste – 15%

Image source: D. Buskirk, Michigan State University, JAS

Wagon hay feederHay waste 11%

Image source: D. Buskirk, Michigan State University, JAS

Losses from unrolling exist and will vary with feeding situation.Excessive unrolled hay is exposed to defecation, urination, trampling and bedding.

Don’t unroll multiple days worth of hay!!!

1250 lb cow – last 1/3 pregnancy needs:12.4 Mcals energy/day = 1.4 Mcal shortage

2 lbs. of byproduct (0.85-1.0)3.5 lbs stockpiled bermuda (0.39 Jan/Feb)5.25 lbs stockpiled fescue (0.27 Jan/Feb)

1 – 1200 lb bale per day60 head of 1250 lb cows = 20 lbs / cowHigh quality veg. bermuda hay (0.55)11.0 Mcal / day supplied

Hay is expensive, treat it as such! You don’t pour a weeks worth of cubes on the ground!?

Questions?

Minimizing Winter Feed Costs:Year Round Grazing

Feeding Cows in the winter is normally the #1 variable cost associated with owning that cow.

Any thing you can do to reduce the number of days you have to hand feed those cows is going to end up as money in your pocket.

Having a balanced forage system will help reduce hay feeding days.

Stockpiling fall forage production as a standing hay crop.

Stockpiling native forage and supplementing protein.

Growing a cool season spring production forage – Ryegrass, Clover, Fescue

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Excess forage; harvest as hay

Forage requiredby livestock

Feed hay

Graze Ryegrass

Graze Bermuda Summer growth

Graze Stockpiled Bermuda

Move a portion of fertility resources and haying cost to different time of year.

Reducing Feeding Cost.

Graze Stockpiled

Fescue

Bale Ryegrass Bale Bermuda

Case Study: Pontotoc County 2005

Cut for Hay Aug. 25, 2005Fertilized Sept. 3, with 100 # of

34-0-0 and 150 # 18-46-0. POULTRY LITTER!!!

Standing forage, protein and TDN samples taken on Nov 14, Dec 2,

and Jan10.

History:

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

N field S. Field

Yield in Tons/Acre

14-Nov2-Dec10-Jan

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

%

N - pro S - Pro

Protien content Dry Basis

14-Nov2-Dec10-Jan

010203040506070

%

N- TDN S- TDN

TDN content Dry Basis

14-Nov2-Dec10-Jan

Notes:If cow needed 50# forage/day: 1 acre would provide 1 cow 60 days of grazing at this site.South field was grazed out by Jan.Cow needs 8% protein and 53% TDN when dry, 10% protein and 59% TDN when lactating.It was a dry winter!

What do I have to do if I want to stockpile pastures for fall grazing?

Forage productionExtremely variableDependent on late-summer rainfallRange from 25 to 50 lbs of forage per

lb of N (East)Range from 0 to 40 lbs of forage per lb

of N (West)

Fall Fertilized Bermudagrass

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

Stillwater Haskell

For

age

yiel

d (lb

s/ac

re)

1997 1998

$15.34/ton

How do I stockpile forages for fall and winter grazing?

Tall fescue Remove existing forage

by late AugustGraze, hay, or

mow Apply 75 to 100 lbs

of N Grazing can begin in

late-December and continue through February

Expect about 1 ton of forage per acre

1 acre = 45 grazing days for 1 animal

Bermudagrass Remove existing forage

by late AugustGraze, hay, or

mow Apply 50 to 75 lbs of

N Grazing usually

begins sometime during October through early January

Expect about 1 ton of forage per acre

1 acre = 45 grazing days for 1 animal

How Do I Over Seed Rye Grass in Bermuda Pasture.

Pasture should be grazed down to 3 inches. Plant 20 to 30 lb /ac broadcast in Late

September or early October. If pasture previously had rye grass, re-seed

with 10 lbs/ac with fall fertilizer. Dragging pasture with a chain harrow will

improve plant populations. Apply 60 units N in February. Expect most of the production in late March

–Early April, only 1000# in Fall.

Three-yr mean monthly yield for Marshall annual ryegrass

0500

1000150020002500300035004000

Fora

ge y

ield

(lbs

/acr

e)

0 N 186 lbs N

Eichhorn, 1991

Consider a February Application of Nitrogen on ryegrass Pastures.

A nitrogen application in February to ryegrass will increase yields significantly.

Harvested for hay, it may be a good method of removing P from the soil.

Ryegrass when fertilized and harvested properly can have protein and TDN levels similar to 10% bloom Alfalfa.

Getting it put up dry may be a concern! May inhibit bermuda grass growth in May!

Final Thoughts for Nitrogen Hay is one of the most expensive inputs

to the beef cattle production system

Reducing DM losses of hay will ultimately result in increased returns to the operation

Hay is not cheap, and hopefully we can all agree on this in order to manage those resources wisely.

Final Thoughts The round baler has been the best invention

for agriculture since the cotton gin, but it has also been the worst invention.

With the ease of creating round hay we also easily throw it away.

How many of our fathers or grandfathers would have wasted square hay as we do, leaving a weeks worth in the pasture unprotected?

The value of hay has not changed, just our mindset.

Basic Grazing Management Fit your cow herd to your resource! 1200 # cow eats 30 # dry matter/day At best, she is only about 60%

efficient when continuously grazing. Bugs, Trampling, Etc.

You will need to provide 50#/cow per day.

For a year = 9 tons of forage/ cow 1 acre = 1 ton without fertilizer or 9

acres/cow 1 acre = 2 ton with 50 units N or 4.5

acres/cow Problem is, when is it grown, and how

nutritious is it during the time she is eating it?

Nitrogen/acre Growth (weeks) Crude protein (%)

4 7.0

0 6 6.0

8 5.0

4 9.0

50 6 7.0

8 5.0

What kind of protein content is grass grown in August going to have in January?What about TDN?

Protein Content as effected by age and fertility.

What it takes to make good bermuda grass hay.

Fertilize it. Spay it for weeds. Cut it. Rake it. Bale it. Haul and stack it. Haul it back out in

winter.

Storage DM losses

Animal refusal

Total Losses

---------------------------% ----------------------

Ground 28 22 50

Gravel 31 17 48

Tires 35 6 41

Rack 26 6 32

Rack/Cover

12 2 14

Barn 2 1 3

Traditional – Continuous Grazing

Individual animal performance usually highest.

Plants grazed in the spring, re-grazed all year.

Un-grazed plants in winter low protein & TDN.

Must make up for these deficiencies by hauling in feed, hay or grain, usually both!

Most of the time we are overstocked to take advantage of the fast summer growth, but run out of forage Dec.- April.

By shifting how we apply resources we may be able to reduce the amount of hay and feed we need.

160 acres – 35 cows and 2 bulls. (4.3 ac/animal)

Production with 50 units N to entire pasture applied in April = 320 tons of DM grass production.

13 tons short of needed forage for the year.

Forage quality for August to March would be low. (protein= 5, TDN= high 40s.)

Hay and supplementation would be needed from Nov.- March in order to keep cows from losing body condition score. (150 days)

Rotational Grazing!It doesn't’ have to be scary!

Rotational stocking-grazing two or more pastures with a rest period for forage re-growth and recovery.

The best thing about it is it allows you a chance to better manipulate a forage for forage Quality and

Season of production.

160 acres – 35 cows and 2 bulls.

Same inputs as Cont. Graze, Same prod. potential.

High quality forage grow in Sept.- Oct. grazed Nov. – Dec. = A standing hay crop without the baling cost.

Bermuda summer graze and fall stockpile:50 units N Applied in May + 50 units in August.Grazed: June, Aug., Nov., Dec, Jan., March

Bermuda rotational graze:No nitrogen applied.Grazed: May, July, Sept., Oct., Feb., April

We would still be 13 tons short of forage needed for the year.Stockpiled bermuda would have a protein content of 8 to 10% in December and TDN in upper 50s.We could nock off 60 days of Supplementation and hay when our cows are dry and in need of less protein and energy.

Bermuda Stockpiled Forage Production

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

Exp 1 Exp 2

Lbs

per a

cre

StillwaterHaskell

Location effect P < .05

Forage QualityCrude Protein

02468

10121416

Nov Dec Jan Feb

Crud

e Pr

otei

n, %

of D

M

Exp 1Exp 2Cow Req.

Forage QualityDigestibilitya, Exp 1

30

40

50

60

70

Nov Dec Jan Feb

TDN

, % o

f DM

Exp 1Cow Req.

aIn vitro dry matter disapearanceLinear decline P < .05

How will my cattle do?Using OSU Cowculator – Late Gest. Bcs 6Continuous graze: Period of Nov –DecOld Bermuda and 2 lb of 38’s per dayLoss .47 units of BCSCost = $1276 for 60 daysStockpiled Bermudagrass:Let cows graze all 30 lbsGain .75 units of BCSCost = $899

160 acres – 35 cows and 2 bulls.Three pasture rotation: Increased nitrogen application by 60 units on 53 acres. (370 T of potential production) Could add 4 more cows.Cattle would be eating high quality green forage for all months except Nov. and Dec when they would have High quality stockpiled bermuda.Bermuda summer graze and fall stockpile: 50 units N applied in May + 50 units in Aug.Grazed June, Aug., Nov., Dec.

Bermuda grass + Rye grass: 60 units N applied in Feb.Grazed: April, May, July, Sept., Oct.

Fescue or small grains (wheat or rye):60 units of N applied in late Aug.Grazed: Jan., Feb., March

• Thirty days of stored hay would be kept on hand and a grain based energy supplemented would be fed during periods of cold wet weather.

• The reduction of hay production cost and increased carrying capacity should more than make up for the additional cost of the increased nitrogen use.

Cattle would be rotated anytime forage is lacking or in abundance except when stockpiling forage.

E.R.S. - 1996 Fall Fescue

lb../A0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

lb../A

Fawn Triumph

Mart in

Endo

buster Dov

eyK31

Stargrazer

Phyter

Forager

Average

02468

1012141618

Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul

ControlFert + grazeFert + stockpile

Treatment effect on tall fescue crudeTreatment effect on tall fescue crudeprotein level in northeast Oklahoma,protein level in northeast Oklahoma,

1994-951994-95

Cru

de P

rote

in le

vel (

%)

Cru

de P

rote

in le

vel (

%)

Lactating cow

GrowingSteer

DryCow

Treatment effect on tall fescue TDN levelTreatment effect on tall fescue TDN levelin northeast Oklahoma, 1994-95in northeast Oklahoma, 1994-95

TDN

leve

l (%

)TD

N le

vel (

%)

Lactating cow

Dry cow

52

54

56

58

60

62

64

Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul

ControlFert + grazeFert + stockpile

Growing Steer

How will my cattle do?Using OSU Cowculator – Early Lact. BCS 6Continuous graze: Period of Jan –MarchOld Bermuda and 4 lb of 20’s per day +

20# good bermuda hayLoss .62 units of BCSCost = $3474 for 89 daysStockpiled Fescue:Let cows graze + 4 lb of 20’s per dayLoss .41 units of BCSCost = $2568

160 acres – 35 cows and 2 bulls.Three pasture rotation: Increased nitrogen application by 50 units on 53 acres. (370 T of potential production) Could add 4 more cows.Cattle would be eating high quality green forage except Nov., Dec., Jan., and ½ of Feb. They would have High quality stockpiled bermuda in Dec. and Jan.Bermuda summer and fall graze : 50 units N applied in May + 50 units in Aug.Grazed any time in rotation when forage is available.

Bermuda grass + Annual Rye grass: 60 units N applied in Feb.Grazed: Any time in rotation when forage is available.

Bermuda Fall Stockpile:50 units of N applied in late Aug.Grazed hard in Aug., Dec., Jan. In rotation the rest of the year except deferred for Sept., Oct., and Nov.

• Sixty days of stored hay would be kept on hand and a grain based protein and energy supplement would be fed during Jan., Feb. and periods of cold wet weather.

• The reduction of hay production cost and increased carrying capacity should more than make up for the additional cost of the increased nitrogen use.

Three-yr mean monthly yield for Marshall annual ryegrass

0500

1000150020002500300035004000

Fora

ge y

ield

(lbs

/acr

e)

0 N 186 lbs N

Eichhorn, 1991

160 acres – 35 cows and 2 bulls.Less N inputs than Cont. Graze, Same prod. potential.High quality forage grow in Sept.- Oct. grazed Nov. – Dec. = High quality ryegrass would be grazed hard during Mid. Feb. to mid May.Both examples of a high quality standing hay crop, no baling.

Bermuda summer graze:50 units N in May.Grazed: Any time in rotation that forage is available.

Bermuda + Clover:No nitrogen.Grazed: Any time in rotation that forage is available.

Bermuda Fall Stockpile:50 units N in August.Grazed: Hard in August., Dec., and Jan.Rotated the rest of year when forage available.

Bermuda + ryegrass:60 units N in Feb.Grazed: Hard in March, April and May.Rotated the rest of year when forage available.

• Sixty days of stored hay would be kept on hand and a grain based protein and energy supplemented would be fed during Jan., Feb. and periods of cold wet weather.

• The clover pasture would have to be managed specifically for clover production if the stand was expected to survive.

Summary! Any way you can reduce the amount of hay

and feed you provide your cattle is going to save you time and money.

By fall fertilizing and stockpiling bermuda grass you can increase its nutritious value and reduce the feeding period in the winter.

Growing Fescue and ryegrass is a good way of reducing winter feeding costs.

Do a forage budget (FS-2584), fit your cow herd to your forage production potential.

Each soil will react differently to fertility application. It may take some time to get your system running smoothly.