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MiG Basics: Extending the grazing season

MiG Basics: Extending the grazing season. Jim Gerrish American GrazingLands Services May, Idaho. Harriman TN 2011. Characteristics of Profitable Herds 2000-2004 Illinois SPA database, 158 Herds. Top 15% Average Bottom 15% Net Profit $21,701 $-4,373 $-34,007

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MiG Basics: Extending the grazing season

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  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

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