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Making Pasture Improvements Can Increase Digestibility, Enhance Gains

Rotational grazing increases forages’ quality and quantity.

It’s time to start thinking about turning your cattle out to summer grass. Regardless if you own or rent your pasture, it is important to make sure you are getting the most efficient use of your resources.

The first thing to consider is the stocking rate for the specific area where you live. Stocking rate, simply stated, is the number of acres per animal unit (cow-calf pair or steer) it takes to sustain and grow an animal. For example, in the more lush part of the Midwest like Missouri or Illinois, stocking rate might be three or four acres per animal unit month (AUM). However, in the more arid climates of New Mexico, the stocking rate might be 30 acres per AUM.

Kevin Glaubius, director of nutrition and technical sales for BioZyme Inc., says it is important to remember there is no such thing as an average pasture. Plus, he reminds producers that stocking rate and stocking density are two different terminologies.
Whereas, stocking rate is the number of acres per animal unit, stocking density is the amount of weight on the pastureland at a specific time, and is a management term used in more controlled grazing situations.

Glaubius said there are a variety of ways to increase the usage of your pasture to increase forage utilization and make your pasture more sustainable. He suggests crossfencing larger areas into smaller pastures or areas for rotational grazing. Add a water system to the pasture to give the cattle access to good, clean water to help increase the calves’ performance. Finally, use the shade from any timber during the longer, hotter days of summer to keep the cattle cooler.

Susan Day is a BioZyme nutritionist who also owns and manages a dairy with her husband in southwest Missouri. She also recommends a managed grazing system for maximum forage utilization.

“Running cows continually — on one or two large paddocks with infrequent rotation — is less efficient and cultivates less desirable forage,” Day said.

Rotational grazing is a good way to keep the forages growing evenly. Cattle waste is distributed better in smaller pastures, therefore fertilizing the soil more evenly, resulting in more plant growth sooner. If the cattle are grazed in a small area for a shorter time, the forages have more time to rejuvenate, making the stocking density greater.

According to Day, using rotational grazing is similar to paying oneself nearly $300 in value from increased gains, more efficient use of pasture and feeding less hay. The labor is slightly more intensive and could take 15-30 minutes to crossfence a pasture, all depending on herd size and pasture size. The intake from the higher-quality grasses is more intense, and the grass quality is extended as cattle are moved from pasture to pasture vs. continually grazing one large area.

Another way to increase pasture forage utilization is to provide the cattle with a supplement like a VitaFerm® mineral with the Amaferm® advantage. Amaferm is a natural prebiotic designed to maximize the nutritional value of feed. It is research-proven to significantly increase forage digestion for an increase in utilization resulting in optimal health and performance. Amaferm and grazing management are synergistic.

Glaubius said that the Amaferm could help cattle sustain their body weight. Cows should wean heavier calves while having a more ideal body condition score. The Amaferm could potentially extend the time of grazing in a conventional grazing system where cows are not rotated by 10-14 days per season. He adds that feeding Amaferm in a drought area is vital to enhance the nutritional value of lower-quality and -quantity forages.

Both Day and Glaubius agree that producers should educate themselves with the resources available to them in their states. Attend a grazing school and research programs that are available to help offset the cost of crossfencing to utilize rotational grazing to its fullest potential.


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Editor’s Note: This article is provided by BioZyme Inc.



 

 

 

 





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