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MiG Basics:Extending the grazing season
Jim GerrishAmerican GrazingLands ServicesMay, Idaho
Harriman TN 2011
Characteristics of Profitable Herds2000-2004 Illinois SPA database, 158 Herds
Top 15% Average Bottom 15%
Net Profit $21,701 $-4,373 $-34,007
Herd Size 202 119 185
% Return on Investment 22.2% 3.7% -16.7%
Pounds of Calf sold/cow 506 454 427
Feeder Calf Price $103.14 $97.39 $99.69
Source: Dr. Allen Williams, U of IL, Beef Extension Specialist, 2008
Characteristics of Profitable Herds
Top 15% Average Bottom 15%
Net Profit $21,701 $-4,373 $-34,007
Herd Size 202 119 185
% Return on Investment 22.2% 3.7% -16.7%
Pounds of Calf sold/cow 506 454 427
Feeder Calf Price $103.14 $97.39 $99.69
Total Annual Cow Cost $267.35 $332.33 $480.37
Annual Feed Cost $168.51 $212.76 $280.43
Source: Dr. Allen Williams, U of IL, Beef Extension Specialist, 2008
Feed Cost
Over 57% of variation in profitability amongst producers can be explained by variation in feed cost
Why?
63% of Total Annual Cow Cost is Feed Cost
Average annual cost $205.44 – Big Ticket Item
Std Dev $80.76 – Huge Variation
Range from under $100 to over $400
Winter feed costs are the single largest cost in most livestock operations
Most farmers and ranchers have no idea what it costs to get here !
What I find in my consulting business Winter feed
Equipment depreciation Fertilizer Irrigation
Cow depreciation Labor
What does it take to extend the winter grazing season ? Forage in the field
What does it take to extend the winter grazing season ? Forage in the field
Hay aftermath
Hay regrowth may provide 30-50 cow-days/acre
What about quality ?
Usually adequate for dry, pregnant cows without supplementation
May be adequate for growing stock in early winter
… Or don’t cut the hay at all and leave 80 – 120 cow-days/acre standing in the field
What does it take to extend the winter grazing season ? Forage in the field
Hay aftermath Stockpiled perennial pasture
Stockpiling is accumulating forage in the growing season for use in the dormant season
Any kind of pasture can be stockpiled
….. Some species are better than others
Key components of stockpiling
Select the right pasture
Value of other common grasses for stockpiling
Tall fescue Meadow bromegrass Quackgrass / western wheatgrass Orchardgrass (in mixture) Timothy Smooth bromegrass Reed canarygrass
Key components of stockpiling
Select the right pasture Tall fescue base is the best
Stockpiled tall fescue may yield from 2000 – 8000 lb/acre
Protein content 16-18% at beginning of winter
Usually stays above 10% for duration of winter
Key components of stockpiling Select the right pasture Proper length of rest period
Key components of stockpiling Proper length of rest period
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80Days of Rest
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
Ava
ilab
le F
ora
ge
(lb
/ac
re)
40
50
60
70
80
IVD
MD
(%
)
Stockpile yieldStockpile digestibility
Key components of stockpiling Proper length of rest period
About 60-75 days rest will give maximum yield
Key components of stockpiling Proper length of rest period
About 60-75 days rest will give maximum yield
Less rest will give higher quality stockpile
Key components of stockpiling Select the right pasture Proper length of rest period Sward condition
Key components of stockpiling Sward condition
Grazed or clipped to about 3 inches
Key components of stockpiling Sward condition
Grazed or clipped to about 3 inches
Starting from short stubble gives higher quality stockpile
Key components of stockpiling Select the right pasture Proper length of rest period Sward condition Irrigation management
Irrigation management Late season water is essential
Water needs to be available August - September
Irrigation management Late season water is essential
Water needs to be available August - September
Each inch of applied water can increase yield about 300 to 400 lb/acre
Key components of stockpiling Select the right pasture Proper length of rest period Sward condition Irrigation management Nitrogen availability
Key components of stockpiling Nitrogen availability
Legumes Manures Commercial N fertilizer
Tall fescue with legumes can also work
0 1000 2000 3000 4000
Stockpile Forage Yield (lb/acre)
Alfalfa
Austrian winter peas
Birdsfoot trefoil
Crimson clover
Hairy vetch
Red clover
No legume
Le
gu
me
N=0N=60
Grass-Legume mixtures for stockpiling:
If 30-50% of annual production is from legume, N fertilization doesn’t pay
Value of legumes in stockpile:
Alsike clover Birdsfoot trefoil Red clover White clover Sainfoin Alfalfa
Missouri study on N efficiency (2001-3)
N response was near linear up to 100 lb/acre
Conversion efficiency was about 20 lb forage/ lb N
0 50 100 150 200 250 300
N rate
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000D
ry M
att
er
Yie
ld
r2=.83
2763 + 20.57*x - 0.03845*x2
Value of N on tall fescue without legume
N fertilizer cost / lb
N cost per added lb of
forage
N cost per added ton
25¢ 1.25¢ $25
30¢ 1.50¢ $30
35¢ 1.75¢ $35
45¢ 2.25¢ $45
55¢ 2.75¢ $55
65¢ 3.25¢ $65
75¢ 3.75¢ $75
What does it take to extend the winter grazing season ? Forage in the field
Hay aftermath Perennial pasture Annual pasture
Winter annual pastures planted in summer can supply 200+ cow-days / acre…..
….. that can be carried forward into winter
….. that can be carried forward into winter
… Sept thru Dec 2004, this field produced 292 cow-days/acre @ 39¢ per day
The same ranch had a hay feeding cost on other cows of $1.33 per day
In winter 2007-8 our hay feeding cost was $2.10/cow/day
Annual grasses
Annual ryegrass
Rye
Oats
Wheat
Triticale
Barley
Brassicas:Turnips, kale, swedes, tyfon
Cereal grains and annual ryegrass as winter forage Fall yield
Oats Tritcale Rye Annual ryegrass Wheat Barley
Spring yield Rye Annual ryegrass Tritcale Wheat Oats Barley
Forage quality Annual ryegrass Oats Barley Wheat Triticale Rye
Cereal grains and annual ryegrass as winter forage
Ease of establishment Annual ryegrass Wheat = Rye = Oats=Triticale Barley
Cereal grains and annual ryegrass as winter forage
Winter annual pasture tips:
Don’t’ seed too early Up seeding rates by 50% Provide adequate fertility Swath at desired quality stage
What does it take to extend the winter grazing season ? Forage in the field Controlled grazing
Strip grazing increases utilization efficiency
Strip grazing increases utilization efficiency
3-day strip graze provided 40% more grazing days per acre than 14-day strip graze
Management needed to achieve target utilization rate
Utilization rate
Stockpiled pasture
Winter annual
Hay feeding
80 % 1-day strip graze Ring feed 2-day
70 % 3-day strip graze Ring feed 3-dayUnroll daily
60 % 7-day strip graze Ring feed 5-day
50 % 14-day strip graze Unroll 2-day
40 % Set stock Cows are in the hay yard!
An example of controlled grazing on winter range in western Montana
Annual precipitation 8-10 in.
Elevation 5500 – 6500 ft
Growing season 110-120 days
2500 acre range unit
2004-5 with single water source and no subdivision fence: 450 cows for 40 days
2005-6 with stock water development but no subdivision: 800 cows for 45 days
2006-7 with subdivision 900 cows 80 days
2007-8 with stock water, subdivision, & experience: 1200 cows for 100 days.
Simple grazier’s math 900 cows Add 40 more days of grazing Grazing saves $1/day Annual saving is $36,000
What did the fence cost ?
$33,046.81
Example from our old north Missouri farm
260 acre grass farm
We needed about 1/3rd of farm stockpiled each year
Alternated which 1/3rd each year
Basic layout of an 80-acre unit
Buried pipeline w/ water to every paddock
Three permanent tanks All other water was
movable tank at Quick Coupler valve
23 permanent paddocks
Then we strip grazed each paddock in several sections
We eliminated ALL making and feeding of hay !
The power of strip grazing
Preserve winter feed supply deeper into winter
Preserve forage quality deeper into winter
Improve animal body condition deeper into winter
Raise overall performance level of livestock
What does it take to extend the winter grazing season ? Forage in the field Controlled grazing Cows who know how to work
for their living
Do you work for the cows,
or do the cows work for you ?
What does it take to extend the winter grazing season ? Forage in the field Controlled grazing Cows who know how to work
for their living A positive attitude
