Creating a forage system to fit your cattle-feeding needs can feel daunting, especially if you live in parts of the country that struggle getting the correct amount of water.
The March 10 National Cattlemen's Beef Association's Cattlemen to Cattlemen webinar focused on finding the right fit for your forage system and some things to consider if you live in the far East, compared to things to consider if you live in the far West.
Rainfall in the East
Gary Bates, director of the University of Tennessee Beef and Forage Center, focused on what to consider when planting forages for the climate in the eastern portion of the U.S. and what thought process to implement when strategizing forage systems.
- Quality over quantity – Ensure that each species in your mix serves a purpose. Identity and composition in the mix is more important than the overall number of species in the mix but have enough diversity to meet the nutritive needs of the cattle.
- Distribute the yield – The overall yield of the forage is important but having the amount of yield available when needed to keep nutrients available is another important consideration in your forage selection.
- Start with a perennial base – If managed correctly, a perennial base will allow you to graze March through November. Tall fescue is the most popular option used as a base.
- Add legumes – White clover, red clover and alfalfa are all strong legumes that offer improved forage quality, decreased need for nitrogen and could possibly lengthen the grazing system.
- Develop a cool- and warm-season program – Having both programs allows you to meet the cattle’s needs during both times of the year. Growing in both programs can provide a safety net when it comes to preparing for extreme weather, such as droughts.
Water scarcity in the West
Gene Fults, rangeland management specialist at USDA-NRCS, offered some advice on what to consider for a forage system in the portion of the U.S. that survives off of very little rainfall.
- The growing calendar – An ideal calendar would allow plants to grow from March to November, but other factors are also present in that time, and accounting for outbreaks of larkspur and other issues are equally important to keep in mind. An ideal forage system grows with the animal and fits its particular nutrient needs according to what the changing animal needs in its life cycle.
- Systems ecology – The flow of energy through the ecosystem and the interactions it has with the forage system can be used to your advantage. A forage system is an open system that involves operational complexity, cross-scale interaction and the free flow of energy and they need to be used in your forage planning strategy to make the most of them.
- Spatial scale variations – Grazing management should focus on keeping cover on each part of the land being used so the moisture will soak into the soil and not run off easily. The area of land available to graze should be adapted to make sure the right amount of forage is grazed to meet nutritional requirements for each animal and to allow moisture into the soil.
- Burning options – Prescribed burns can allow for new growth around 30 days after the burn. Once cattle are used to the system, you may be able to rotate them to the spot of new growth without any fencing. Rotating spring burns and fall burns can provide new growth in each season.
- Winter feeding – In the last 70 days of the growing season, it is beneficial to fertilize or cut forage to maintain quality throughout winter. Areas where cattle are kept should be easily accessible in winter for possible supplemental feeding, if necessary.
Regardless of where you live, making sure you are doing the most to minimize cost while still providing enough forage to fit your cattle’s needs is the goal of any successful forage system.
