MiG Basics: Extending the grazing season Jim Gerrish American GrazingLands Services May, Idaho Harriman TN 2011

Characteristics of Profitable Herds Illinois SPA database, 158 Herds Top 15% Average Bottom 15% Net Profit$21,701 $-4,373 $-34,007 Herd Size % Return on Investment 22.2% 3.7% -16.7% Pounds of Calf sold/cow Feeder Calf Price$ $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 $-34,007 Herd Size % Return on Investment 22.2% 3.7% -16.7% Pounds of Calf sold/cow Feeder Calf Price$ $97.39 $99.69 Total Annual Cow Cost$ $ $ Annual Feed Cost$ $ $ 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 $ – 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 cow-days/acre

What about quality ? Usually adequate for dry, pregnant cows without supplementation May be adequate for growing stock in early winter

… Or dont 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

Key components of stockpiling Proper length of rest period About days rest will give maximum yield

Key components of stockpiling Proper length of rest period About 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

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

Grass-Legume mixtures for stockpiling: If 30-50% of annual production is from legume, N fertilization doesnt 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

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

… Sept thru Dec 2004, this field produced ¢ per day

The same ranch had a hay feeding cost on other cows of $1.33 per day In winter 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: Dont 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

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-day Unroll 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 days

2500 acre range unit with single water source and no subdivision fence: 450 cows for 40 days with stock water development but no subdivision: 800 cows for 45 days with subdivision 900 cows 80 days with stock water, subdivision, & experience: 1200 cows for 100 days.

Simple graziers 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 1/3 rd of farm stockpiled each year Alternated which 1/3 rd 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