“Improving whole farm forage utilization for sheep and goat

production”

Richard Ehrhardt

Small Ruminant Specialist

Michigan State University

Outline:

• Fundamentals of forage systems

Forage budgets

Annual forages to compliment a forage plan

• Annuals as part of a pasture improvement/rotation plan

• Annuals as part of a cover crop grazing program

How much forage do sheep and goats need each year?

Key factors:1. Size of animals (female base)2. Production state (growing, pregnant, lactating, etc.)3. Quality of forage:

• Determines intake• Determines waste

4. Feeding system: grazing or stored feed• Determines waste/utilization

5. How much concentrate is fed

Food intakeFood intake: expressed as pounds of dry matter consumed per pound of body weight

Adult sheep/goats:Maintenance: 1.8 -3.2% (2.4)Late pregnancy: 2.4-3.0% (2.8)Lactation: 2.5-5.5% (3.8)

Growing lambs/goats: 6% (early weaned) to 4% (finishing)

Forage intake: • Dependent on forage quality (digestibility) for all animals in

all feeding systems (stored or grazed forages)• Dependent on stand density and allocation (amount offered

and amount allowed to consume) in grazing systems

Summary on flock/herd forage needs:Forage estimates vary according to production program and female size (includes needs of lamb/kids <12 mo):

• Ewes: 1.0 to 1.7 tons DM per year • Does: 0.7 to 1.4 tons DM per year

Forage budget for ewe/doe flock consumes a huge proportion of the forage budget (67-85%)

• 40-60% of the total budget is for maintenance of this group

Forage budget for late pregnancy and lactation:• 25-30%

Forage budget for lambs/kids: • 15-33% depending on finishing system

• Allocation of forages in your budget:

High quality (over 62% TDN)

40-60% of budget

Growth, pre or post weaning

Lactation

Pre breeding (a.k.a. “flushing”)

Average quality:

40-60% of budget

Maintenance:

pre breeding

early pregnancy?

mid pregnancy

Forage costs and quality according to source:

Pasture Silage

Dry hay small bales

Dry haylarge bales

Cost $/ DM ton $30-70 $100-200 $150-450 $80-300

Quality (TDN) 60-80 58-76 50-74 50-74

Cost of grain? $110-600/ton, TDN up to 90%

$$$

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Total Feed Supply & DemandTrading

Total Supply

Total Demand

Methods to match animals needs to forage

availability in pasture-based systems:1. Alter Demand:

• Change birth period• Diversify system (add another animal species)• Add liquidable animal units• Strategic use of stored forage supplements

2. Alter supply:• Alter grazing management

Deferred grazing (mob, stockpile, etc.)• Diversify perennial pasture base• Substitute in annual crops• Expand grazing area into land more dedicated to crops

3. Combinations of any and all of the above!!!!

Forage use on Ehrhardt Farm 2011/12 and 2013/14 (30 acres total land base):

Estimate of total forage need: •2011/12: 150 ewes and 1.34 tons/ ewe= 200 tons•2013/14: 155 ewes and 1.42 tons/ewe= 235 tons

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Home farm vs. rental Forage Source

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2011/12 2013/142013/14 2011/12

Major strategies to improve whole farm

forage utilization:1. Improve grazing management of perennial pastures2. Improve harvest management of perennial excess3. Include annual forages in perennial rotation to improve

forage availability (quality and quantity) for grazing or machine harvest

How can annual forages improve a forage budget?

• Fill in deficits in perennial pasture production extend the grazing season reduce reliance on stored forage

• Improve forage quality at times of need replace grain for finishing “flush” females pre breeding late gestation nutrition

• Provide “safe” forages, low in GIN infectivity• Improve productive capacity of the land

Replacement of low productivity pastures Addition of soil amendments (manure, lime, etc.) Replace with more productive and/or palatable species

Rests perennials to improve productivity and resilience Annuals can out-yield perennials if strategically planted Allows in increase in total forage output including stored forage

• Add value to product (forage finished premiums?)

Efficient pasture-based systems strive to match animal needs and forage availability

Year

Seasonal pasturegrowth

Flock Requirements

Harvest Excess(Hay/Haylage and/or deferred grazing)

Feed StoredExcess

Feed StoredExcess

Lambing& Lactation

May & June

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2003 Bristol Pasja/IRG• Ave. 2000 LGD/A• $70/A seed & fert.• $.035/LGD • .58 lbs. gain/dayCost of $0.06/lb gain!!

Pasja forage rape in central MI

Pasja @ 2,000 LGD/ATotal

Annual forage systems:• Part of a perennial pasture rotation

– Use a series of annuals to either graze or machine harvest for stored forage

– Allows land improvement opportunities

– Can be planted strategically to maximize use of land• Double crop with perennial pasture

• Long season annuals to stockpile for winter grazing

• Part of a rotation with crops on your own or neighboring land

• Cover crop grazing or machine harvest for stored forage

Step 1 of annual/perennial rotation:How do you get it started?

Considerations in replacing pastures with annual forages:

• Best time for tear-up or burn-down?

After major spring/early summer growth (2/3 of total yield achieved)-late June?

Lowers risk if annuals fail

Soil moisture may be low, need crops that can germinate under limited moisture

Soybeans/sudan

Forage brassicas

Can add bi-annual(s) or shorter persistence perennial(s) like Italian ryegrass to start phase 2 of the rotation

No-till seeding will limit moisture loss

Teff grass

”Graza”

”Goliath””Winfred”

“Calvin”

60 days after planting

Step 2: Annual options to considerfor year 2+ of a rotation:

• Getting started:Option A: Add more manure/compost and add or

introduce new species with no till drill

Option B: Add manure, till field and seed with conventional drill to add new species

• When and what type of forage do you need to optimize your budget?

Long season annuals to stockpile for grazing late fall/winter?

Annuals or perennials that can provide quality forage for grazing continuously over the summer and fall?

Annuals that can provide stored forage needs?

Combinations of the above!

Leafy Brassica (Turnip x Chinese cabbage)

BMR sorghum sudanBMR sudan

Ok, great but how do animals perform on these crops!

Issues to consider:

• Optimizing gain per acre vs. individual gain, can you have it all?

• Grazing management is a key component that dictates performance (individual and group)Stage of plant maturity at start of grazing

Density/amount of forage in the paddock at start

How much you allow animals to remove

How much you leave to allow for regrowth

Grazing duration/intensity: how long animals are left in paddock and at what stocking density

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Pasture allowance (pound of dry matter/lamb/day)

Gain/acre/day (lb/acre/d) Daily gain (lb/d)

Study Species Date

planted

Grazing

period

(days)

Yield

(lbs

DM/acre)

Intake

target

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1 ‘Graza’ radish June 30 66 10780 60% 0.340 507 0.44

1 ‘Goliath’ rape June 30 66 7920 60% 0.284 443 0.49

2 BMR sudan June 4 86 11548 60% 0.302 703 0.44

2 BMR sorghum June 4 86 15110 60% 0.203 669 0.46

3 ‘Hunter’ turnip and

BMR sudan mix

June 2 112 8154 45% 0.683 709 0.41

3 ‘Hunter’ turnip June 2 112 9793 45% 0.683 729 0.37

3 ‘Hunter’ turnip and

BMR sudan strips

June 2 112 9123 45% 0.612 751 0.38

3 BMR sudan June 2 112 7850 45% 0.454 454 0.68

4 Red clover and

Italian ryegrass

April 22,

Biennial

153 8887 45% 0.612 1275 0.20

5 Orchard grass, tall

fescue and alfalfa

Perennial 194 11890 50% 0.190 630 0.35

Summary on lamb growth studies:

• Optimizing gain per acre and individual animal performance requires careful selection of forage species and grazing management

• Annual forages consisting of pure brassica stands or brassica mixes produced the highest gain per acre as well as individual gain

• Red clover and Italian ryegrass offer high individual performance and the highest gain per acre

• It is easy to “beat” permanent pasture in individual animal performance but harder in gain per acre

Cost comparison of finishing lambs on forage vs. grain

Rape forage Grain finishing dietFeed/gain 6.5 5ADG (lb/day) 0.7 0.8Feed cost per lb DM $0.047 $ 0.14Feed cost per ton DM $94 $280(1.75 tons utilized/acre)

Cost per lb of gain $ 0.30 $0.70

Comparison of annual forage lamb grazing systems:

Corn Sudan Brassica

ADG, lb/day 0.32 0.32 0.60

Feed:Gain 11 10 7

Dry matter intake,% BW/d 5 5 5.8

Gain potential per acre (lbs) 720 700 750

Cost of crop per acre ($) 420 330 270

Cost of gain ($) 0.58 0.47 0.36

Comparison of annual forage systems for lambs:

Corn Sudan Brassica

Length of grazing season ***** *** ******

Yield ****** ***** *****

Lowest crop risk *** *** *

Lowest input cost * *** *****

Management ease ** **** ****

Ease of grazing * * **

Animal performance *** *** ****

Multiple graze * ***** ***

Energy ***** **** *****

Protein * *** ****

Lowest acidosis risk * **** ****

Summary on annuals:• Annual forages when planted strategically after

spring flush offer an excellent opporunity to realize high gain per acre and well as individual gain if managed intensively.

• Performance on annual forages can rival that of gain on a grain diet

• Cost per unit gain on annual forages can be less than half of grain diets

• High performance (individual or acre) lamb grazing requires precise management (parasite/health, allocation/utilization, species selection, fertility management and planting)

Annual forages can be part of a comprehensive crop rotation/pasture renovation plan.

• Example:20% of land is in permanent pasture80% of remaining land in on a 8 year complimentary forage rotation

Year of rotation

Paddock 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

A Perennial Perennial Perennial Perennial Perennial/Rape

Biennial Biennial Corn silage/rye

B Corn silage/rye

Perennial Perennial Perennial Perennial Perennial/Rape

Biennial Biennial

C Biennial Corn silage/rye

Perennial Perennial Perennial Perennial Perennial/Rape

Biennial

D Biennial Biennial Corn silage/rye

Perennial Perennial Perennial Perennial Perennial/Rape

E Perennial/Rape

Biennial Biennial Corn silage/rye

Perennial Perennial Perennial Perennial

F Perennial Perennial/Rape

Biennial Biennial Corn silage/rye

Perennial Perennial Perennial

G Perennial Perennial Perennial/Rape

Biennial Biennial Corn silage/rye

Perennial Perennial

H Perennial Perennial Perennial Perennial/Rape

Biennial Biennial Corn silage/rye

Perennial

Perennial pasture can be stockpiled for winter grazing if sheep are switched to

annual forages during early fall

•Quantity of forage

•Date of last harvest (machine or grazing)

•Fertilizer application (date and amount)

•Typical stockpiled yields without fertilizer

-1000-2000 lbs/acre.

•Hard to exceed 3500 lbs/acre with fertilizer

•Quality of forage

•Date of last harvest

•Weather conditions

•Forage specie(s)

3,600 lbs DM/A Stockpiled@ 16.1% CP & 63% TDN

Photo: J.S. Rook

Long season annuals for late season grazing:

• Common practice in New Zealand and other countries

• Can we get enough yield, utilization and quality to justify replacement of permanent pasture or annual forages for machine harvest in Great Lakes region?

• How long into winter can they retain quality?• Examples used in rest of world: Kale, Rape, Rape

x Kale, Fodder beet, Swedes. • Examples in USA and Canada-Corn!

Osvaldos kale in North Dakota

Fodder Beet, a.k.a. Mangel

Swedes in NZ Rape x Kale hybrids in NZ

“Grazing cover crops”• Opportunity for synergy between crop and

livestock programs Within your farming program Partnership with neighbors

• Crop farmers use cover crops for nutrient scavenging, soil protection, weed control.

• Cover crops provide quality feed that can be stockpiled and can fill a hole in a forage program

•Growth during cool weather •Erosion control following grazing until spring planting•Complementary nutritional profile•Nutrient scavenging from throughout the soil profile•Maintenance of forage quality into winter•Germination under limited soil moisture conditions

Rationale for cover crop choices:

•Brassicas and small grains:Provide complementary nutritional profileCombination lowers risks of crop failure Small grains help control mud issues during wet weather grazing

• Brassica choice:Bulb turnips

Bulbs stockpile well into february, tops are lost after extended cold <15 ° F

Rape and Kale hybridsTops hold quality longer than turnips, loose quality after

extended cold at < 0 ° FRadishes

Only top part of bulb available but tops hold quality longer than turnip bulbs but less than rape

Perhaps a good compromise between land and livestock benefits

Cover crop combinations:

Rape/kale

Leafy Turnip

Jan 15, 2013 Eaton Rapids, MI

Early winter cover crop grazing: Oats, bulb turnips and forage rape

Rape/kale

Leafy Turnip

Jan 15, 2013 Eaton Rapids, MI

Brassica candidates for cover crops :Rape, Turnips, Radishes

40 days post emergence, Sept. 28, 2012; planted following break in 25 year drought

Cover Crops: Oil seed radish and oats

Forage water (oats plus radishes) in mid January = 76%

115 lb lambs fed no grain, 7 mo. old

Cost per ton of forage ($)

No

seed

Turnips

and Oats

Radishes

and Oats

Turnips, Radishes

and Oats

No fertilizer 0 32 29.7 32.5

46 lbs N 102 37.7 42.8 35.6

No

seed

Turnips

and Oats

Radishes and

Oats

Turnips, Radishes

and OatsCrude Protein (%) 21 12 12 12

ADF 1(%) 23 24 25 24NDF2(%) 43 38 38 36TDN3(%) 77 75 75 76

48 h dry matter

digestibility93 90 90 91

1 ADF=acid detergent fiber2NDF=neutral detergent fiber3TDN=total digestible nutrients

Nutritional composition of the cover crop mixes.

Summary:

• Inexpensive ($35-68/ton of dry matter utilized) quality forage (TDN >72%)

Energy content is high enough to meet the needs of late pregnancy and/or finishing programs.

Low risk crop as poor yields are still economical (<$70/ton of dry matter utilized)

• Fills a “hole” (forage quality and mass) in perennial based grazing systems

Allows resting/stockpiling of perennial pastures

•Benefits crop production

Weed control, fertilizer credit, residue recycling, soil health benefits (reduced erosion, increased percolation)

Contributors:Kim Cassida

Santiago Utsumi

Joe Paling

Alan Culham

Tony Boughton

Jimmy from MSU land management

Thomas Yaros

Anna Makela

John Snider-PGG Seeds

Gerry Davis-Byron Seeds

Brian Haynes-Cisco Seeds

Richard Ehrhardt Ph.D.Email: ehrhard5@msu.eduOffice: (517) 353-2906Cell: (517) 899-0040

Does the value of planting annual forages exceed the cost?

• If replacing permanent pastures, the value must be that much greater than pasture to cover the cost of establishment.Must be high yielding, high quality and low risk.

• Example: Kill run-out pasture in July with glyphosate and seed with forage rape

Pasture RapeForage dry matter utilized by lambs 1170 3500(July to Dec, lbs/acre, 50% utilization)Forage energy concentration (TDN, %) 64 78Growth rate (lbs/day) 0.18 0.68Feed / gain 14 6.6Pounds of lamb gained per acre 84 530Value of lamb gain per acre ($1.50/lb) $125 $795

Value of replacing pasture with rape: $670/acreWill this pay for seed, fertilizer and planting ?

land, spray, seed, fertilizer, planting=50+10+25+50+30=$165/acre