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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen Agriculture, 2003-03-19, Page 29Interest in grazing increasing says speaker By Janice Becker Citizen staff With returns from agricultural endeavours often threatened by low market prices, decreased demand, weather or inefficiencies, an opportunity to optimize acreage output has seen resurgent interest in the past 10 years. Fraser Stewart of the Manitoba Forage council said the interest in grazing has increased substantially in recent years, drawing more than 400 to a two-day grazing seminar in that province. He told a gathering in Brussels that there are opportunities for a greater return from the land base with the use of forage/livestock systems than through cropping systems. There is lower capital investment, because of less equipment required and options for increased returns, he said. The benefits of improving pasture management are realized by using a rest/recovery grazing system. This allows extended grazing on the acreage and reduced cow wintering costs. Grazing patterns Cattle are selective grazers, he said. They will over or under-graze different plants so balance is needed. The animals use a sense of taste as well as habit to know how and what to graze. Stewart said cows moved from other herds will graze differently because of past experiences and it takes time for them to adapt. Cows will “cream” a pasture in three days, taking out the best plants. Therefore high-performance animals should be moved every three days and clean-up animals brought in to equalize the grazing in the paddock. Cows will graze approximately eight hours a day regardless of the quality of the pasture. They will not graze longer if the quality of the forage is poor. Improving poor pastures There are specific ingredients which lead to poor pa.stures and the resultant decline in productivity. With no grazing control, the cows tend to feed off selected forages first, leaving the less desirable until the pasture is close to depletion. Too many animals on a plot can also see the forage cropped too short, stunting and slowing regrowth. Generally poor fertility will decrease the forages’ growth rates as well as impact the types which will flourish. Stewart said the only way to improve a pasture is through a change in management technique, otherwise it would just go back to its previous state regardless of remedial efforts such as reseeding. When making the change, consideration must be given to how a pasture grows. “They are very dynamic. And there are different growth patterns for different species. Climate, fertility, moist ure and temperature all impact growth. The goal is balanced growth throughout the season.” To establish a good pasture, Stewart said there are different species to be considered. Decreasers are good forages, but must be looked after. Increasers are the survivor species. And then there are the invaders such as weeds and brush. To sustain a pasture throughout the season, Stewart said it is important to realize the growth of natural grasses is opposite to the growth of the animals. As the cattle are putting on weight late in the season, forage growth is declining. For a good pasture mix there should be 30 per cent legumes, he said, as well as annual forages. Stockpiled forages can be added late in the year. Controlling the use of the pasture is also key to good management. By controlling the amount of grazing through use of a fencing system, Stewart said the rest/recovery period allows the forage to develop a strong root system for healthier, more lush growth. Rest/Recovery Rest is the most important point to maintaining a productive pasture. Determining what rest is required is a very hands-on practice, said Stewart. Farmers must get out and actually walk the fields, or at least ride an ATV, so they can learn about each paddock and its rest requirements. If there has been 80 per cent removal of the tops, growth stops. With 50 per cent removal, the regrowth is not stopped. Thus good management is needed. Early in the season a good manager may be able to allow just 20 days of rest though late in the year or during a drought, 30 may be needed. “It depends on the growth period.” This is where knowledge of the various species is important as they should not be judged when the plant is small. Grazing should also be avoided during the seeding period to allow the forage to regenerate itself. Developing a plan To ensure good management, a system must be developed which incorporates flexibility. Adaptability to varying conditions is essential. According to Stewart, there should always be a Plan B, As well as understanding forage growth rates and controlling livestock, Stewart said a stocking rate, which is the animal-to-forage ratio, has to be determined. Based on experiences in Manitoba, he said one acre should feed one animal for 158 days. Another method is to have 750 lbs. of cow per acre. This number could range as high as 1,000 lbs. in Ontario. When setting a stocking rate, consideration must be given to the fact that it will affect the daily weight gains. “There is more competition for the forages.” The key is finding the balance between the number of animals to efficiently graze the paddock without overgrazing while still optimizing the weight gain. The stocking and forage regrowth rates will determine the number of paddocks needed to effectively rotate the animals through the pastures while allowing for the appropriate rest periods. The density in each paddock also impacts the effectiveness of the grazing. If the density is high enough, it reduces the selective grazing and the paddock is more evenly grazed. This can be used when trying to clean-up a plot as well. An increased density will force the animals to eat the scrub. Extended grazing Stewart also promoted the idea of extended grazing, including wintering the animals outside. “You make money if you use less hay. costs can be reduced by wintering beef cattle,” he said. He also noted it was very important to have cattle suited to the environment. Having to make hay is limiting to expansion, said Stewart. By keeping the cattie in the field, they are not only recycling nutrients back into the system, but reducing costs of trucking manure from enclosures. By pasturing 50 cows on 20 acres, Stewart said there is a potential for 87 per cent of the consumed nitrogen, 67 per cent of the phosphorous and 'll per cent of the potassium to be returned to the land base. Wintering out the animals can therefore benefit a poor pasture. While it has been determined that cattle can get sufficient water from the snow, a contingency plan must be in place for low snow years. Management skills “Management is an art. You have to get out and practise. You have to develop a “grass eye” by walking the pastures daily. Develop a plan as to when each paddock will be ready and where to move the animals next. Decisions have to be made daily.” There is no recipe for grazing, he said. It is something that must be developed by each grazer and is governed by the conditions on each farm. ATTENTION FARMERS: THIS IS FOR YOU! HARDI SPRAYER <HARDI>CLINIC to be held at Come see our special products in conjunction with Brussels Agromart's SEED DAY NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT McGavin's Farm Equipment Ltd. in Walton Monday, March 24, 2003 at 1:30 pm You will learn: 1. Special application information - Fungicide on wheat - Nitrogen on wheat 2. Foam marker concentrate demonstration 3. Foam marker maintenance and trouble shooting 4. 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