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Winter Forages for the Cattle Herd

Winter Forages for the Cattle Herd. Dr. Matt Hersom Extension Beef Cattle Specialist Dept. of Animal Sciences. Seasonality of Growth. Unfortunately, no single forage grows year round or remains high in quality year round Let’s look at seasonality and bahiagrass.

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Winter Forages for the Cattle Herd

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  1. Winter Forages for the Cattle Herd Dr. Matt Hersom Extension Beef Cattle Specialist Dept. of Animal Sciences

  2. Seasonality of Growth • Unfortunately, no single forage grows year round or remains high in quality year round • Let’s look at seasonality and bahiagrass.

  3. Bahiagrass Seasonality in Forage DM Production (lb/acre/day) Courtesy of Dr. L. Sollenberger

  4. Seasonality • Cold temperature limitation • Likely drought stress • High growth rates mean that more forage is being produced than the animals are eating • Growth slows because days are shorter; plants prepare for winter. Courtesy of Dr. L. Sollenberger

  5. Season of Growth • What can we do about seasonality? • Unfortunately, no single forage grows year round or remains high in quality year round • In North Florida, South Georgia, and South Alabama, year-round forage production systems can be put together that minimize periods of quantity and quality short fall.

  6. Rye-Ryegrass Seasonality of Forage Production (lb/acre/day) Courtesy of Dr. L. Sollenberger

  7. Seasonality of Cool-Season Grasses • Small grain more productive earlier • Ryegrass most productive in spring as small grain starts to fade • Clovers • Crimson • Red Courtesy of Dr. L. Sollenberger

  8. Adding Rye-Ryegrass to Bahia: Forage Production (lb/acre/day) Courtesy of Dr. L. Sollenberger

  9. Where Can Winter Annuals Be Used • Stocker Cattle • Replacement Heifers • Gestating Cows • Lactating Cows

  10. Can Winter Forage Feed Cattle

  11. Chemical Composition of Supplements and Hay

  12. Effect of Winter Supplement on Cow Bodyweight * * Means are differ P<0.05

  13. Effect of Winter Supplement on Cow Body Condition Score * * Means are differ P<0.05

  14. Effect of Winter Supplement on Calculated Hay Disappearance * * Means are differ P<0.05

  15. Effect of Winter Supplement on Calf Bodyweight Gain * * Means differ P<0.05 # Means differ P<0.10

  16. Results - Reproduction Differing superscripts denoted difference (P < 0.05)

  17. System Economic Analysis

  18. Summary • Winter annuals can be an acceptable alternative to commodity supplements • Maintain cow BCS • Similar Reproduction • Improve calf performance • Decrease hay use • Use of winter annual pasture in a winter supplementation program can decrease producer costs and possibly increase revenue from calves

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