A few things to consider when fall grazing

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

With fall on the way, producers are looking for options to stretch their grazing season as late as possible. In most situations, it is cheaper to keep the cows grazing out on the land rather than keeping them locked in the corrals and hauling feed to them. As a producer, it is important to "let the cows work for you," and it will also save you some cash.

Trevor Lennox, a Forage Development Specialist with Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food (SAF), says two options available to many producers are to either graze crop aftermath, such as stubble or chaff, or to use stockpiled perennial forages.

"It's important to understand the quality of the forage the animals are using in order to provide any required supplements," he stated. "Once forages lose their green colour in the fall, protein is usually lacking in the diet. When this occurs, providing the cattle with a protein supplement will improve their ability to utilize low-quality forages."

Lennox adds there can be additional benefits to supplements, such as using it to lure cattle into areas they might normally avoid. Distance or rough terrain in large or rugged pastures may discourage cattle from grazing certain areas as desired. A Montana study found that strategic placement of low-moisture blocks (two to four per cent moisture) caused cattle to be more willing to travel long distances or climb slopes to consume the supplement.

"Low moisture blocks can attract cows to graze difficult terrain that typically would not be used," Lennox said. "An ATV and trailer can be used to allow accurate placement of blocks in rugged terrain."

For producers who are currently grazing perennial forages, it is important to leave some residue on the surface rather than graze the crop to the ground. "Plant residue plays an important role in nutrient cycling and moisture retention, so maintaining some cover is very beneficial for production in the following year," Lennox noted.

"Many of the tame forages function best when 20 to 30 per cent of the year's growth is left as litter on the soil surface, while native forages function best when 40 to 50 per cent of the crop is left behind in any given year."

With low soil moisture in certain parts of the prairies, Lennox says some of the tame pastures did not regenerate well after being grazed earlier in the season. This has resulted in some producers running short of pasture due to poor re-growth in their forage crops.

"Rather than leaving the cattle in a pasture too long and allowing over-grazing to occur, a producer is usually better off to pull the animals off a little earlier instead of ‘grazing a pasture into the ground' and sacrificing next year's production," he stated.

Producers should also be aware that perennial forages initiate a lot of their buds for next year's growth in the fall, and heavy grazing after this time can injure some of these buds. "When these growing buds are injured, yield may be compromised," Lennox said.

More information and tips for fall grazing of cattle can be found on the SAF website at http://www.agr.gov.sk.ca/, or by calling the SAF Agriculture Knowledge Centre at 1-866-457-2377.

For more information, contact:
Trevor Lennox, Forage Development Specialist
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
Phone: (306) 778-8294
E-mail: tlennox@agr.gov.sk.ca