Grazing systems methods and tricks John Andrae School

Grazing systems, methods and tricks John Andrae School of Agriculture, Forestry and Environmental Sciences

Fencing + Animals ≠ Grazing System

Grazing System • A defined, integrated combination of animal, plant, soil and other environmental components and the grazing method(s) by which the system is managed to achieve specific results or goals Forages: An Introduction to Grassland Agriculture. Vol I. 6 th Ed.

System v. Method • Grazing system= Management Intensive Grazing – Ex. automobile • Grazing methods- “…technique of grazing management designed to achieve a specific objective. ” – Ex. Semi truck, dually, Minivan, Prius • What are your needs, objectives, or goals? ? ?

Grazing Management • Incorporates animals, plants, nutrients and environment. • The aim of good grassland management is to economically produce and efficiently harvest high quality forage over as much of the growing season as possible to profitably obtain a high level of animal output.

Grazing Methods to Consider • • Continuous stocking Rotational stocking Deferred grazing “stockpiling” Creep grazing Strip grazing Limit grazing Leader-follower, first-last, or forward grazing

Can work well with warm season perennials like bermudagrass or bahiagrass

Continuous Stocking • Continuous stocking has a place – Allows animal selection on perennial warm season pastures • Good cattle gains on properly stocked and managed bermudagrass – 3 -4” leafy forage • Proper management depends on stocking flexibility – Must be able to buy animals in times of rapid growth or sell in forage shortage (stockers) or fence off surplus growth for hay

Rotational Stocking

Rotational Stocking • “A grazing method that utilizes repeating periods of grazing and rest among two or more paddocks or pastures” Forages: An introduction to grassland agriculture. Vol I 6 th Ed.

Real benefits of rotational stocking • Increased stocking rate (in many cases) • Better persistence and productivity of pasture plants that are sensitive to close, continuous grazing – Alfalfa, red clover, EF tall fescue, orchardgrass, natives • • • Improved utilization of more species in pasture Less waste of forage Better distribution of urine and feces Better control of livestock Increases establishment options (clovers, “crop rotations”) Improves pasture management skills

Multi-state results of rotational grazing on stocking rate State % Increase Arkansas 44 Georgia 38 Oklahoma 35 Virginia 61 From: Rotational Grazing. Henning et al. UK ID-143

Effect of grazing system on animal performance Item Continuous Rotational Difference* Cow weight at calving, lbs 1037 1017 NS Cow weight at weaning, lbs 1090 1071 NS Stocking rate cows/acre 0. 50 0. 69 +38% Pregnancy rate, % 93 95 NS Weaning weight, lb 490 486 NS Calf production lb/ac 243 334 +37% *NS = nonsignificant. Cattle grazed common bermudagrass and EF tall fescue near Eatonton, GA. (Hoveland, Mc. Cann and Hill, 1997).

Effect of grazing system on hay feeding • Endophyte-free tall fescue persistence improved under rotational stocking • Less hay fed in 1 st year but differences in hay feeding were pronounced in 3 rd year (-39%) due to improved tall fescue production • 31% reduction in hay @ $55 per ton = $20. 65 annual hay savings per cow -39% -31% -25% -22% Hoveland, Mc. Cann and Hill, 1997

Effect of rotational stocking on growth and weaning traits of Angus calves. Cows grazed Pensacola bahiagrass. Continuous Rotational Birth weight, lbs 62 62 Weaning wt, lbs 365 367 ADG, lbs 1. 47 1. 50 BCS 7. 8 Hammond et al. , 1997 Pensacola bahiagrass pastures near Brooksville FL.

Effect of rotationally grazed wheat/ryegrass or Midland bermudagrass on stocking rate Aiken J. Prod Agric 11: 185190.

Effect of rotationally grazed wheat/ryegrass or Midland bermudagrass on animal gain Aiken J. Prod Agric 11: 185 -190.

Performance can decrease with rotational stocking • Forces animals to consume stems after leaves are gone • Can be detrimental to performance of high nutrient requirement animals (dairy cows, replacement heifers, finishing steers, growing colts etc). • Tifton 9 response to rotational stocking has been different (Hill et al. ) and Tifton 85 may also differ • Adequate moisture likely plays large role as well

Standard Creep Gate

Creep Grazing Pearl Millet on Tall Fescue-Based Pastures Control Creep Grazed Calf gain, lbs 144 219 Calf ADG, lbs/d 1. 38 2. 10 Cow wt change, lbs -60 +27 104 d creep, June-Sept Thomas et al. , 1983

Effects of creep grazing treatments on average daily gain of calves. Creep Treatments Calf ADG, lbs Aeschynomene 1. 98 Hairy Indigo 1. 80 Tifleaf 1 Pearl Millet 1. 80 Alyceclover 1. 70 Commercial creep 1. 86 No Creep 1. 50 Data by Bill Ocumpaugh. IFAS Circular S-318, 1985. Gainesville FL. Bahiagrass based pastures.

Creep grazing • Excellent potential to improve calf gains • Easy to implement into existing continuous grazing system • Several forages have potential for creep grazing – Pearl millet, chicory, alfalfa, small grains and ryegrass

Leader-Follower, First-Last, or Forward Grazing

Leader-Follower Grazing • High requirement animals (leaders) get “tops”- leafy high quality forage – Lactating dairy animals, replacement heifers, growing calves etc • Last grazers get lowest quality stems – Dry cows, mature animals • Can have intermediate group(s).

Strip Grazing With or without backfence depending on situation

Fresian cows strip grazing timothy, overgrazed Germany C. Hoveland

Strip grazing • Best used where high utilization is needed, waste potential is high, controlled access is needed, or animals have lower nutrient requirements • Stockpiled forages, crop residues (to minimize danger of founder on corn stalks), overly mature summer annuals, grazing corn

Limit grazing Thrift Farms, Charleton Co. GA. J. Andrae

Limit grazing pearl millet Thrift Farms, Charleton Co. GA. J. Andrae

Limit grazing • Graze 2 -3 h per day or on alternate day basis – Allows cows to fill up – Think of this as a supplement to lower quality pasture or hay • Useful where forage quality greatly exceeds animal requirements or where limited access is needed • Winter annuals (25% crude protein vs cow req 8%).

Efficiencies of Grazing and Mechanized Harvest System Grazing Continuous Stocking Slow Rotation (3 -4 paddocks) Moderate Rotation (6 -8 paddocks) Strip Grazing Mechanical Hay Silage Green Chop D. Hancock, UGA Efficiency 30 -40% 50 -60% 60 -70% 70 -80% 30 -70% 60 -85% 70 -95%

Summary • These are simply methods – All are at your disposal – Mix and match for maximum effectiveness • The best advantage that a grazing system has is FLEXIBILITY! • Consider animal needs, enterprise needs, goals, and available forages. • You have the tools to implement these methods and improve the operation – Apply knowledge and don’t be afraid to make mistakes and learn from them