mig basics: extending the grazing season jim gerrish american grazinglands services may, idaho...

MiG Basics:Extending the grazing season

Jim GerrishAmerican GrazingLands ServicesMay, Idaho

Harriman TN 2011

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

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

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

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 !

What I find in my consulting business Winter feed

Equipment depreciation Fertilizer Irrigation

Cow depreciation Labor

What does it take to extend the winter grazing season ? Forage in the field

What does it take to extend the winter grazing season ? Forage in the field

Hay aftermath

Hay regrowth may provide 30-50 cow-days/acre

What about quality ?

Usually adequate for dry, pregnant cows without supplementation

May be adequate for growing stock in early winter

… Or don’t cut the hay at all and leave 80 – 120 cow-days/acre standing in the field

What does it take to extend the winter grazing season ? Forage in the field

Hay aftermath Stockpiled perennial pasture

Stockpiling is accumulating forage in the growing season for use in the dormant season

Any kind of pasture can be stockpiled

….. Some species are better than others

Key components of stockpiling

Select the right pasture

Value of other common grasses for stockpiling

Tall fescue Meadow bromegrass Quackgrass / western wheatgrass Orchardgrass (in mixture) Timothy Smooth bromegrass Reed canarygrass

Key components of stockpiling

Select the right pasture Tall fescue base is the best

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

Key components of stockpiling Select the right pasture Proper length of rest period

Key components of stockpiling Proper length of rest period

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80Days of Rest

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

Ava

ilab

le F

ora

ge

(lb

/ac

re)

40

50

60

70

80

IVD

MD

(%

)

Stockpile yieldStockpile digestibility

Key components of stockpiling Proper length of rest period

About 60-75 days rest will give maximum yield

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

Key components of stockpiling Select the right pasture Proper length of rest period Sward condition

Key components of stockpiling Sward condition

Grazed or clipped to about 3 inches

Key components of stockpiling Sward condition

Grazed or clipped to about 3 inches

Starting from short stubble gives higher quality stockpile

Key components of stockpiling Select the right pasture Proper length of rest period Sward condition Irrigation management

Irrigation management Late season water is essential

Water needs to be available August - September

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

Key components of stockpiling Select the right pasture Proper length of rest period Sward condition Irrigation management Nitrogen availability

Key components of stockpiling Nitrogen availability

Legumes Manures Commercial N fertilizer

Tall fescue with legumes can also work

0 1000 2000 3000 4000

Stockpile Forage Yield (lb/acre)

Alfalfa

Austrian winter peas

Birdsfoot trefoil

Crimson clover

Hairy vetch

Red clover

No legume

Le

gu

me

N=0N=60

Grass-Legume mixtures for stockpiling:

If 30-50% of annual production is from legume, N fertilization doesn’t pay

Value of legumes in stockpile:

Alsike clover Birdsfoot trefoil Red clover White clover Sainfoin Alfalfa

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

0 50 100 150 200 250 300

N rate

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000D

ry M

att

er

Yie

ld

r2=.83

2763 + 20.57*x - 0.03845*x2

Value of N on tall fescue without legume

N fertilizer cost / lb

N cost per added lb of

forage

N cost per added ton

25¢ 1.25¢ $25

30¢ 1.50¢ $30

35¢ 1.75¢ $35

45¢ 2.25¢ $45

55¢ 2.75¢ $55

65¢ 3.25¢ $65

75¢ 3.75¢ $75

What does it take to extend the winter grazing season ? Forage in the field

Hay aftermath Perennial pasture Annual pasture

Winter annual pastures planted in summer can supply 200+ cow-days / acre…..

….. that can be carried forward into winter

….. that can be carried forward into winter

… Sept thru Dec 2004, this field produced 292 cow-days/acre @ 39¢ per day

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

Annual grasses

Annual ryegrass

Rye

Oats

Wheat

Triticale

Barley

Brassicas:Turnips, kale, swedes, tyfon

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

Forage quality Annual ryegrass Oats Barley Wheat Triticale Rye

Cereal grains and annual ryegrass as winter forage

Ease of establishment Annual ryegrass Wheat = Rye = Oats=Triticale Barley

Cereal grains and annual ryegrass as winter forage

Winter annual pasture tips:

Don’t’ seed too early Up seeding rates by 50% Provide adequate fertility Swath at desired quality stage

What does it take to extend the winter grazing season ? Forage in the field Controlled grazing

Strip grazing increases utilization efficiency

Strip grazing increases utilization efficiency

3-day strip graze provided 40% more grazing days per acre than 14-day strip graze

Management needed to achieve target utilization rate

Utilization rate

Stockpiled pasture

Winter annual

Hay feeding

80 % 1-day strip graze Ring feed 2-day

70 % 3-day strip graze Ring feed 3-dayUnroll daily

60 % 7-day strip graze Ring feed 5-day

50 % 14-day strip graze Unroll 2-day

40 % Set stock Cows are in the hay yard!

An example of controlled grazing on winter range in western Montana

Annual precipitation 8-10 in.

Elevation 5500 – 6500 ft

Growing season 110-120 days

2500 acre range unit

2004-5 with single water source and no subdivision fence: 450 cows for 40 days

2005-6 with stock water development but no subdivision: 800 cows for 45 days

2006-7 with subdivision 900 cows 80 days

2007-8 with stock water, subdivision, & experience: 1200 cows for 100 days.

Simple grazier’s math 900 cows Add 40 more days of grazing Grazing saves $1/day Annual saving is $36,000

What did the fence cost ?

$33,046.81

Example from our old north Missouri farm

260 acre grass farm

We needed about 1/3rd of farm stockpiled each year

Alternated which 1/3rd each year

Basic layout of an 80-acre unit

Buried pipeline w/ water to every paddock

Three permanent tanks All other water was

movable tank at Quick Coupler valve

23 permanent paddocks

Then we strip grazed each paddock in several sections

We eliminated ALL making and feeding of hay !

The power of strip grazing

Preserve winter feed supply deeper into winter

Preserve forage quality deeper into winter

Improve animal body condition deeper into winter

Raise overall performance level of livestock

What does it take to extend the winter grazing season ? Forage in the field Controlled grazing Cows who know how to work

for their living

Do you work for the cows,

or do the cows work for you ?

What does it take to extend the winter grazing season ? Forage in the field Controlled grazing Cows who know how to work

for their living A positive attitude