Pasture Practicality
A few simple steps can improve productivity in your pastures and cattle.
A corn hybrid variety is only viable in the market for about three years, said Justin Burns, sales manager for Barenbrug USA. Burns addressed his audience at the Cattle Industry Convention Feb. 2 as part of the NCBA Trade Show’s Learning Lounge.
Burns explained that while corn and soybean seed varieties turn over every three years, and cattle genetics every five to 10 years, some grass seed varieties have been used for as many as 87 years. Why is it that so many things in our industry are well-adapted and change frequently, but we don’t look at our pastures the same way, he asked.
“We’re in a profit squeeze, and the silver lining to that profit squeeze is that we have to look for places in our operations to add value,” Burns said. Maybe adding value through improved pasture seed varieties is one of the ways to do just that.
Improve your pastures
Burns outlined a few ways you can get more out of your pastures.
Grazing management. The easiest way to improve your pastures is through grazing management, Burns said. “That can be as complicated as having various grazing pastures, or it can be just as simple as shutting the gate every night.” Find the method that works for your operation, he urged.
Rotational grazing can improve efficiency, Burns said. He cited a study in which cattle gained 44% more per acre on a rotational grazing program.
Weed control. This one’s an easy fix, Burns said. Spray for them.
Soil fertility. A soil test costs about $15, he pointed out. That’s invaluable in comparison to the “overwhelming” amount of information it can provide. Soil tests can reveal information like pH levels, which can determine nutrient uptake.
How do you know if you’re getting a return on money spent if you don’t first take a test and get a benchmark on where you are at, Burns asked.
Utilize technology
“Maybe one of the most valuable things we have available to us today is the availability of information,” Burns noted.
New technologies like soft-leaf fescue and other improved forages, endophyte-enhanced seedling technologies, and seed treatments to help grass seeds retain moisture and nutrients can all help improve your pasture yields and efficiency.
Take inventory of the grasses in your pastures and manage those species, he said. “The prescription is using the right species or variety for your area.”
Editor’s Note: This article was written as part of Angus Media’s coverage of the 2017 Cattle Industry Convention. For further coverage, read the Angus Journal or visit www.angus.media.