MiG Basics: Extending the grazing season

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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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 !

6. What I find in my consulting business • Winter feed • Equipment depreciation • Fertilizer • Irrigation • Cow depreciation • Labor

7. What does it take to extend the winter grazing season ? • Forage in the field

8. What does it take to extend the winter grazing season ? • Forage in the field • Hay aftermath

9. Hay regrowth may provide 30-50 cow-days/acre

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

11. … Or don’t cut the hay at all and leave 80 – 120 cow-days/acre standing in the field

12. What does it take to extend the winter grazing season ? • Forage in the field • Hay aftermath • Stockpiled perennial pasture

13. Stockpiling is accumulating forage in the growing season for use in the dormant season

14. Any kind of pasture can be stockpiled ….. Some species are better than others

15. Key components of stockpiling • Select the right pasture

16. Value of other common grasses for stockpiling • Tall fescue • Meadow bromegrass • Quackgrass / western wheatgrass • Orchardgrass (in mixture) • Timothy • Smooth bromegrass • Reed canarygrass

17. Key components of stockpiling • Select the right pasture • Tall fescue base is the best

18. 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

19. Key components of stockpiling • Select the right pasture • Proper length of rest period

20. Key components of stockpiling • Proper length of rest period

21. Key components of stockpiling • Proper length of rest period About 60-75 days rest will give maximum yield

22. 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

23. Key components of stockpiling • Select the right pasture • Proper length of rest period • Sward condition

24. Key components of stockpiling • Sward condition Grazed or clipped to about 3 inches

25. Key components of stockpiling • Sward condition Grazed or clipped to about 3 inches Starting from short stubble gives higher quality stockpile

26. Key components of stockpiling • Select the right pasture • Proper length of rest period • Sward condition • Irrigation management

27. Irrigation management • Late season water is essential • Water needs to be available August - September

28. 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

29. Key components of stockpiling • Select the right pasture • Proper length of rest period • Sward condition • Irrigation management • Nitrogen availability

30. Key components of stockpiling • Nitrogen availability • Legumes • Manures • Commercial N fertilizer

31. Tall fescue with legumes can also work

32. Grass-Legume mixtures for stockpiling: • If 30-50% of annual production is from legume, N fertilization doesn’t pay

33. Value of legumes in stockpile: • Alsike clover • Birdsfoot trefoil • Red clover • White clover • Sainfoin • Alfalfa

34. 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

35. Value of N on tall fescue without legume

36. What does it take to extend the winter grazing season ? • Forage in the field • Hay aftermath • Perennial pasture • Annual pasture

37. Winter annual pastures planted in summer can supply 200+ cow-days / acre…..

38. ….. that can be carried forward into winter

39. ….. that can be carried forward into winter … Sept thru Dec 2004, this field produced 292 cow-days/acre @ 39¢ per day

40. 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

41. Annual grasses • Annual ryegrass • Rye • Oats • Wheat • Triticale • Barley

42. Brassicas:Turnips, kale, swedes, tyfon

43. 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

44. Forage quality Annual ryegrass Oats Barley Wheat Triticale Rye Cereal grains and annual ryegrass as winter forage

45. Ease of establishment Annual ryegrass Wheat = Rye = Oats=Triticale Barley Cereal grains and annual ryegrass as winter forage

46. Winter annual pasture tips: • Don’t’ seed too early • Up seeding rates by 50% • Provide adequate fertility • Swath at desired quality stage

47. What does it take to extend the winter grazing season ? • Forage in the field • Controlled grazing

48. Strip grazing increases utilization efficiency

49. Strip grazing increases utilization efficiency 3-day strip graze provided 40% more grazing days per acre than 14-day strip graze

50. Management needed to achieve target utilization rate