Meeting the Nutritional Needs of Livestock on

Pasture

Donna M. Amaral-PhillipsUniversity of Kentucky

Excellent Pasture Managers

Integrate Forage Management and Sound Animal

Management Practices

For Efficient and Profitable Animal Performance

Concept #1:Nutrient Needs of Grazing Ruminants Change With ...

• Milk Production --Cow & Calf – Higher production greater

nutrient needs– First 3 months after calving

greater than next 3 months

Master Grazer Educational Program

Concept #1:Nutrient Needs of Cattle

Change With ...• Stage of pregnancy

– Last 3 months of pregnancy greater than middle trimester

Master Grazer Educational Program

Concept #1:Nutrient Needs of Cattle

Change With ...• Stockers- Rate of gain

–Stockers gaining 2.5 lbs greater than 1.5 lbs per day

Master Grazer Educational Program

Concept #2: Forage Factors Regulate Intake

“Q- squared” Forage Concept

Quality

and

Quantity

Master Grazer Educational Program

Forage Quantity Determines

Feed Intake andPerformance

Concept #3: Cattle Selectively Graze

• Forage grazed higher quality than forage collected through pasture clippings

Master Grazer Educational Program

Nutrient Content of Pasture and Hay

(Dry matter basis) Crude Protein ADF TDN (%) (%) (%) Alfalfa Grazed 33 20 80 Clipped 20 30 60 Fescue/Clover Grazed 25 29 66 Clipped 16 35 58

Master Grazer Educational Program

Selective Grazing

• Forage grazed higher quality than forage collected through pasture clippings

• Cattle eat the top of the plant first–Especially important for alfalfa and

red clover plant

Master Grazer Educational Program

Concept # 4:

Forage Species determines intake and performance

Master Grazer Educational Program

Cool Season Grasses

Grasses and Legumes

Legumes

Forage Intake

and Digestibility

Forage Species

Master Grazer Educational Program

Concept # 5: Time Spent Grazing Does Not IncreaseOn Poor-Quality Pastures

• Cattle spend approximately 8-9 hrs per day grazing in 3 different grazing periods

• Cattle spend the same amount of time grazing regardless of pasture quality or yield

Master Grazer Educational Program

Concept #6: Performance Versus Pasture Utilization

Nose of the Steer/Cow/Calf or

Sheep/goat

In Contact With Green, Leafy Forage At All Times