1. New Year’s Resolutions for Georgia Cattle Producers
Presented by Mr. Billy Moss
Area Livestock Teacher, North Region Agricultural Education
Information Provided by Dr. John Andrae, UGA Extension Forage Agronomist

2. ONE INCREASE tall fescue pasture thickness by interseeding clover
Dilutes toxins
Improves forage distribution
Provides lb. of nitrogen per acre to grass

3. TWO SUBDIVIDE large pasture and rotate grazing
Increases stocking rate and forage utility
Reduces forage waste
Evenly distributes manure
Improves pasture management

4. THREE TEST your soil and follow recommendations
Low soil potash and phosphate
Thins Bermuda grass
Takes away valuable forage in South Georgia
Low soil pH, potash, and phosphate
Limits clover persistence and productivity in North Georgia
Cheap soil tests and timely fertilizer applications = solved problems and saved money

5. FOUR CONSIDER burning Bermuda grass or Bahia grass hay fields
Removes excess thatch
Excess thatch ties up nutrients, reduces water infiltration, slows greenup, and harbors insects.
Burn just before greenup
Removes weeds
returns nutrients to the soil
For safe, legal, and effective burning
Consult local forest service and county agent
Visit

6. FIVE
RESOLVE to replace 5-10% of toxic tall fescue each year with non-toxic forage
Will revolutionize beef production
Slowly replace old toxic Kentucky 31 pastures
Increases herd conception rates
Increases weaning weights
Will consistently improve weaning weights by more than 50 lb.

7. SIX SHIFT year-round calving to a 60-90 day season.
Improves calf marketing options
Allows herd nutritional needs to match forage quality and availability

8. SEVEN IDENTIFY and remove weed problems Weeds limit forage production
Forage production is decreased 8 pounds for every pound of weedy species
Buttercup and Thistle
Easily controlled by cheap, timely herbicide
Broomsedge
Decreased with proper fertility and grazing management
Contact your county agent for assistance

9. EIGHT COVER hay to minimize weathering losses
Georgia’s climate fosters mold growth in stored hay
30% of hay is lost to weathering
20% of hay is refused by animals
50% loss is unprofitable and unacceptable
Store hay under barns or under tarps
Low quality hay
Leave outside
Feed first

10. NINE PLAN now to reduce next winter’s stored-feed needs
Hay- largest expense of beef cattle enterprises
Options for decreasing hay needs
Use grazing crop residues (corn, cotton stalks)
Stockpile Bermuda grass or tall fescue pasture
Use cheap byproduct feeds
Establish cool-season forages (tall fescue, winter annuals)

11. TEN
HARVEST Bermuda grass hay at 4-5 week interval and test hay quality
Frequent harvests improve hay quality
Easier and more cost effective to harvest quality hay than to supplement poor quality hay
Testing hay allows for matching forage quality to animals

12. CATTLE PRODUCERS’
RESOLUTIONS
Increase forage by interseeding
Subdivide and rotate
Soil test annually
Burn hybrid Bermuda fields annually
Resolve to replace toxic grasses
Shift to day calving
Identify and remove weeds
Cover hay
Plan to reduce hay needs
Harvest Bermuda grass hay