Grazing Basics Craig Saxe UW-Extension, Juneau Co. 211 Hickory Street Mauston WI (608) Central Wisconsin Grazing Meetings March 2008

We’ll be covering What is rotational grazing Why use rotational grazing Understanding plant growth Setting up a grazing system Fencing, watering and frost seeding Grazing tips

Grazing Quotes Management is the single most important factor determining financial success on all farms Grazing won’t turn a poor manager into a good one Grazing isn’t about cows & grass it’s about a different type of thinking Grazing isn’t a goal it’s a Tool

What Grazing Management and Golf have in common It’s something you do outdoors Doing it well is more difficult then it looks Many people “talk” a much better game than they play Studying about how to do it can be helpful, but real success requires practice and experience Don Ball, 1999

Weather can have a huge influence on the results obtained There are many products you can buy to better your game, but a real expert only needs a few basics No matter how good you are, there is always room for improvement What Grazing Management and Golf have in common Don Ball, 1999

What is Rotational Grazing?

Farming is all about capturing the sun’s energy and converting it to usable products. L. Paine, 2005

If we start by maximizing the amount of energy we capture, all other steps in the process have greater potential to yield profits. L. Paine, 2005

Number of Days of Bare Soil L. Paine, 2005

Many Pastures are Continuously Grazed S W This usually means: Lower yields due to selective grazing Greater weed problems Potential for erosion problems in certain areas No management or poor management of forage resource

Rotational Grazing Lane Rest allows pasture to: Recover from grazing, Rebuild energy reserves & plant vigor Increase forage production 1.Pastures are subdivided into smaller areas (paddocks) 2.A portion of the pasture is grazed while the remainder “rests”

Management Intensive Rotational Grazing WWW Lane W Management Intensive Rotational Grazing (MIRG) involves even greater numbers of paddocks and/or subdivision within paddocks to increase amount of rest and decrease days grazing each rotation Corral

Lane Strip Grazing

Which grazing system is right for me? CONSIDERATIONS: What’s best for the grass What’s best for the livestock What moves you toward your goals!!!

Why use Rotational Grazing?

Managed Intensive Grazing Advantages We control where animals graze Increases yield Increase carrying capacity Extend grazing season in the fall Increases forage quality Increases animal performance Lowers cost of production Maximizes efficiency of your time and resources Offers greater management flexibility

Fence Water systems Labor Higher level of management required It could be argued that managed intensive grazing comes at an added cost

Why manage grazing? Reduces erosion Improves water quality Enhance wildlife habitat Improves range or pasture condition Texas Creek, Colorado, BLM website on Health Riparian Areas

CIAS 2006

Gross Returns Per Acre Penn State 1992

Direct Costs Per Acre Penn State 1992

Profit Per Acre Penn State 1992

Dairy Economic Comparison (15,000 vs. 18,000 lbs/cow/yr) ConfinementGrazing Full MachineryReduced Machinery Return To Labor 36,528 52,118 39,409 54,997 43,640 54,227 Return To Labor ($/hr) * Researchers caution that this study is based on simulated dairy models CIAS Study

Livestock Enterprise Comparison EnterpriseStocking Rate Lbs product per acre Gross per acre Cow-calf-low intensity 5 acres100 calf$60 Cow-calf-intensive2 acres250 calf$150 Stocker calf-low intensity 1 acre270 gain$95 Stocker calf-intensive0.5 acre540 gain$189 Sheep-low intensity0.5 acre225 lamb$113 Sheep-high intensity0.2 acre560 lamb$280 Ohio State

Livestock Enterprise Comparison EnterpriseStocking Rate Lbs product per acre Gross per acre Cow-calf-low intensity 5 acres100 calf$60 Cow-calf-intensive2 acres250 calf$150 Stocker calf-low intensity 1 acre270 gain$95 Stocker calf-intensive0.5 acre540 gain$189 Sheep-low intensity0.5 acre225 lamb$113 Sheep-high intensity0.2 acre560 lamb$280 Ohio State

Livestock Enterprise Comparison EnterpriseStocking Rate Lbs product per acre Gross per acre Cow-calf-low intensity 5 acres100 calf$60 Cow-calf-intensive2 acres250 calf$150 Stocker calf-low intensity 1 acre270 gain$95 Stocker calf-intensive0.5 acre540 gain$189 Sheep-low intensity0.5 acre225 lamb$113 Sheep-high intensity0.2 acre560 lamb$280 Ohio State

Livestock Enterprise Comparison EnterpriseStocking Rate Lbs product per acre Gross per acre Cow-calf-low intensity 5 acres100 calf$60 Cow-calf-intensive2 acres250 calf$150 Stocker calf-low intensity 1 acre270 gain$95 Stocker calf-intensive0.5 acre540 gain$189 Sheep-low intensity0.5 acre225 lamb$113 Sheep-high intensity0.2 acre560 lamb$280 Ohio State

Understanding Plant Growth

Deitz, NRCS

Forage Growth Curve QualityYield Best time to graze

Seasonal growth patterns in forages

Monthly forage production in 2-acre grass and grass-legume pastures Grass Pasture Grass-Legume Pasture animal need

Setting up a Grazing System

Fundamentals of successful grazing management Meet the nutritional needs of the livestock from standing pasture Optimize pasture yield, quality, and persistence Maintain or enhance the natural resource base Integrate appropriate technology and knowledge into a practical system

Setting up a Rotation Size of animal Number of animals Daily intake Forage availability Desired rotation length The example to follow was created by Laura Paine

How much forage is out there? Rule of thumb: Figure about 400 pounds dry matter per acre per inch of cool season pasture. L. Paine

How much do my animals need? Rule of thumb: Figure 2.5 to 4% of body weight dry matter per animal per day. L. Paine

How big should my paddocks be? Paddock size equals: Number of head x Daily Intake (3% ) x No. of Days Available Forage/Ac./Rotation L. Paine

What does a sheep eat in a day? One ewe/lamb pair weighs about 200 lb Daily forage need/pair = 3% of body weight = 200 x 0.03 = 6 lb of dry matter/day L. Paine

What does your flock eat in a day? One ewe/lamb pair eats 6 lb/day 20 pairs eat 120 lb/day 50 pairs eat 300 lb/day 100 pairs eat 600 lb/day L. Paine

When should I graze and how much forage is out there? Graze when pasture is 8 to 10 inches high (depending on species). Take half-leave half rule: graze down to 4 or 5 inches. At 400 lb/inch, you have 1600 to 2000 lb/acre to work with. L. Paine

How long should I leave the flock on one paddock? One to three days. Above 3 days, you’re regrazing grass that you grazed the first day. The shorter the rotation, the better quality and forage utilization you’ll have. L. Paine

Putting it all together Flock of 100 ewes with lambs. 3-day rotation. Need 600 lb forage/day. 600 lb x 3 days = 1800 lb/paddock. L. Paine

Putting it all together Ready to graze pasture = 1600 lb forage/acre available to use. Acreage needed to last 3 days = 1800/1600 = 1.13 acres. Just over one acre/paddock. L. Paine

Determine Number of Paddocks 30 days  3 day rotation + 1 = 11 paddocks 11 paddocks x 1.13 acres/paddock = acres L. Paine

Another Example: Stocker Cattle 100 stockers or heifers, 1 day rotation, 2000 lb/a available forage Beginning weight = 400 lb; ending weight = 800 lb; average weight = 600 lb. Paddock size equals: (100 x (600 x 0.03) x 1)  2000 = (100 x (18) x 1)  2000 = 1800 x 1  2000 = 1800  2000= *0.9 acres* L. Paine

Determine Number of Paddocks 30 days  1 day rotation + 1 = 31 paddocks 31 paddocks x 1 acre/paddock = 31 acres L. Paine

Stockers or Heifers 100 animals 1 day rotation 30 day cycle 1 acre/paddock 31 paddocks L. Paine

The Rest Period Should vary according to plant growth In general, must increase as growth rate slows Relates closely to seasonal forage growth Need to rotate between paddocks every 3-6 days (or less)

Relationship of rest period to pasture mass during periods of rapid vs. slow growth Period of fast plant growth (days) Period of slow plant growth (days) Lbs. DM / acre Optimum Rest Period

Meeting the needs of the pasture plant Rest

Maximizing Intake Three controlling factors Grazing time Biting rate Bite size Jim Gerrish, Dodge County Grazing Conference, 2002

Of the three controlling factors, bite size is all we can control! Jim Gerrish, Dodge County Grazing Conference, 2002

Change in daily intake from day 1 to day 7 of week grazing period Jim Gerrish, Dodge County Grazing Conference, 2002

Which will cause more overgrazing? The stocking rate of both paddocks is identical: 100 Animal Days per Acre. The effect on the paddocks will be much different.

Stocking Rate (animals/acre) Can use formulas for actual numbers Thumb rule; 1000 pound animal per 2-4 acres Intensive Rotational Grazing = 1000 pound beef animal to acres Traditional “Under-managed” pastures = 1000 pound animal to 5-10 acres

Radial pasture configuration - before NRCS, Bozeman, MT

Radial pasture configuration – after NRCS, Bozeman, MT

Another pasture configuration - before Explanation Bare Buildings Fences Lawn Property Streams Trees Water Weeds

Another pasture configuration - after Explanation Bare Buildings Fences Lawn Property Streams Trees Water Weeds

Fencing, Watering and Frost Seeding

Consider the New Fencing Technology

Be flexible with Fencing

Useful Life of Fencing Materials MaterialLife (yrs.)Maintenance Wood15-20+High Post and Rail15-20Low – Medium V-Mesh wire20-30Low Barbless wire15Medium High tensile wire20-30Low Plastic fence12Low PVC20-30Low

Fencing One of the largest expenses in Grazing Many different options but some rules apply –Have secure perimeter fence –Use temporary or portable fence in cells –Use the lay of the land to your advantage –Be flexible in cell sizing

Cost of Fencing Cost of quarter mile of fence –48” woven wire, one barb $1.07/foot –5 barbed wire fence $0.83/foot –High tensile 8 strand 12.5 gauge---$0.76/foot –High tensile 5 strand electric(12.5)$0.57/foot –Polywire fence(interior use only)--$0.03/foot Iowa State University

Shape effect on Fencing Requirements 744 feet 836 feet 1007 feet 951 feet Length=2 X Width 888 feet Length=4 X width 1,040 feet

Water

FROST SEEDING Adding new seed to a pasture by broadcasting on frozen ground in early spring, letting frost & snow incorporate the seed.

Frost Seeding in Snow This practice is promoted because it’s easy to determine seed placement. Be cautioned that this practice could also increase the risk of seed movement as the snow melts.

Snow Tracks Help

Seed Melts into Snow

FROST SEEDING Improves Pasture Quality & Yield Lower Cost Than Annual Nitrogen Application ($9 vs. $42) Works Best On Loams & Clay Soils or Fields With Natural Moisture Clovers Recommended, Birdsfoot Trefoil & Certain Grasses Can Work

FROST SEEDING Use Improved Varieties i.e. Clovers Like Arlington, Cimmeron, or Marathon and High Yielding Trefoils Like Norcen Graze Tight In The Fall Broadcast Inoculated Seed Approx. 45 Days Before Grass Growth Begins

FROST SEEDING Broadcast # of Red Clover; # of Trefoil; or # of White Clover /acre Don’t Mix Clover & Trefoil For Insurance Apply 40# / Acre of Actual Phosphorus (90# / Acre of ) Lime or Potassium May Be Needed - Soil Test To Determine - Don’t Apply Nitrogen!

Grazing Tips

Management is our most important input for productivity Management makes the difference between this… C. Bradley

Successful Pasture Management And this…

Grazing Streamside Pastures

Let forage accumulate days before a normal killing frost At 2 acres per cow expect days of stockpiled forage The goal should be to provide the greatest amount of leaf material Growing or Lactating animals may need more Stockpile Forages

Steps to effective grazing management Graze to the desired stubble height (take half, leave half-grazing rule of thumb) Allow adequate rest periods for grass regrowth Don’t regraze a pasture until your key species has reached the desired height Avoid over or under grazing

Apply fertilizer as needed (take a soil test) Re-seed pastures if necessary Control weeds and undesirable plants in pastures and adjacent areas Divide or subdivide grazing areas into smaller blocks, where feasible Steps to effective grazing management

Commit Yourself Totally To Making It Work Make The Transition Gradually Solicit A Lot Of Advice, But Make Your Own Decisions Stay Flexible And Keep Investments Low Grazing Management Tips

Set reasonable goals Plan, monitor and modify plans to meet your objectives Be observant – walk your property and look Keep records – written and photographic

Waushara Green Lake Marquette Adams Juneau Wood Portage Central Agricultural Specialization Wisconsin