Page 31 - MWC 4-23-20s

TWELVE STEPS The Midwest Cattleman · April 23, 2020 · P31
continued from page 29 but cannot be achieved in all tool and you will use it as long comprehensive plan will need
situations. However, moving
ty and improvements in your fence every three days is at- as you are a grazier. The flex- to be facilitated by a trained
system. We recommend using tainable and still gives great ibility in the size of strip you planner that can help make
some rigid fiberglass or plas- forage utilization. This is a offer allows you to flex with sure the plan is acceptable
tic posts on the ends (and po- great learning opportuni- your schedule, and you can to all agencies involved, and
tentially within the line) in ty for you and your animals, also set up multiple strips also will be a key for you to
these initial temporary divi- and it seems doing some daily ahead of time if you have to keep on a long-term plan for
sions because animals, espe- moves really helps you devel- depend on a helper to period- your system.
cially wildlife, will still be in op the skills of forage alloca- ically move your animals. It Step 10. Implement addi-
the training process. Setting tion. Try moving your cattle also allows you to impact an- tional upgrades to infra-
it up so it will not be easi- daily when you can (i.e. week- imal performance by varying structure.
ly torn down is good to start ends) and resume every third the stop grazing height. In As highlighted in your com-
with, and as you repeat the day move during the week. general, the higher the stop prehensive plan, start to im-
process again and again you Calculate the forage needs grazing height the higher prove your watering system,
will learn how to make it of your cows and determine animal performance but the upgrade perimeter fencing,
stronger and more resilient to an estimate of how much lower grazing utilization effi- and add cross-fencing. This
tear down using only tread in forage is available to target ciency. The reverse is true…. infrastructure improvement
posts. Now you will also start the length of your moves. Of at lower stop grazing height usually needs to be prioritized
to develop your skills at look- course, you need to adapt the performance will be lower but and done in stages so that you
ing at a grazed sward and de- size of the offering as you go, utilization efficiency can be make major improvements in
termining when to take down but having an idea how many high. On general terms use system function with each
the division fence. An aver- acres should be needed each a higher stop grazing height project, and so you have time
age stop grazing height of 2-4 day will give you a good start- with growing cattle or thin to continue your good man-
inches in all systems is not a ing point and a way to calcu- cows and a shorter stop graz- agement while completing
bad rule of thumb, a little on late a feed budget. Learning ing height with brood cows in the projects in a timely man-
the shorter side for bermu- how to step off the length and good body condition. ner. Full implementation of
dagrass-based systems (2-3 width of your paddock will Step 9. Develop a compre- the comprehensive plan will
inches) than for fescue-based help you calculate the land hensive grazing plan take many years or even de-
systems (3-4 inches). area and forage allocation. As you start to optimize cades, and the plan must be
After you fin- the use of your current in- revisited and updated as you
ish grazing all frastructure you will see op- go through time.
the stockpiled portunities to improve by
pastures start adding additional perimeter Step 11. Continue to refine
unrolling hay fencing, watering points, and your skills, be persistent
or rotating hay permanent cross fencing. To and tenacious.
rings in areas guide these efforts, you need It takes 5 to 10 years to re- T h e d i M w e l t t a C t s e m e S n a e t p m b 3 r e 2 , 0 0 1 1 0 6
that can bene- a comprehensive forage and ally see the benefits of Adap-
tive Grazing Management.
fit from animal BSE Clinic Time
grazing plan that includes
impact and in- existing and needed infra- The road to “Amazing Graz-
ing” is challenging because
Step 7. Stockpile forage creased nutrients. By Eldon Cole, University of Missouri Extension
structure, that determines an
you are dealing with a very
in autumn and strip-graze Step 8. Start strip graz- animal/forage balance, and dynamic system that is upset
We’ve scheduled four clinics of cows keep coming back in progeny differences (EPDs) and
Has your bull had a breeding
during the winter followed ing with all pasture move- that will project infrastruc- by many environmental fac- breeding programs or whatever
soundness exam (BSE) since where you can get your bulls heat. There are no other out-
by dispersed hay feeding. ments during the growing ture development to guide completely examined, given ward signs of trich in the bull is on your mind. Ed Trotter with
you pulled him from the breed-
tors. With time your system
In early summer determine season. ing pasture this summer? Fer- parasite control treatment and or cow for that matter. Pfizer will be at some of the clin-
your financial planning and
will become more resilient to
tility and breeding ability can vaccinated and be ready to turn
one or more pastures to stock- Once you are into spring, application for cost-share drought and flood, as a result ics with information on their
pile for late fall or winter continue to use the strip graz- funds. There are many oppor- out if everything checks out Here are the dates and loca- DNA evaluation program.
fluctuate in bulls from year-to-
of improved soil health, but
year and season-to-season. If okay. In addition, if you’d like, tions of our fall clinics.
grazing. Here in this region, ing technique, flip flopping tunities for both infrastruc- that happens gradually, and Call the above veterinary of-
you’ve preg checked your cows they can check your bull for the
this might be a mostly fescue two reels so that cows are ture development contracts, you have to be patient. When fices for your appointment time.
and found several open, it just sexually transmitted disease,
field in many areas but could always on a fresh strip, and and also management-based the first drought hits, realize October 11 - Barry County Vet Of course, there’s a limit to the
might be cause to check him trichomoniasis. Trich is on the Services, Cassville
also be a bermudagrass field. keep another 1 to 3-day strip contracts for practices such number of bulls the clinics can
out.
Either way, manage the pas- set up ahead of them. Having as Prescribed Grazing. This rise in this part of the world. It’s Contact: Dr. Voyd Brown, 847- accept so you may need to pick a
continued on page 33
tures so that the stand is in the next strip set up will help suspected when a large number 2677 different time and/or a different
good shape (either grazed or you save time and offer added veterinarian. It’s just important
clipped), and then add about security in case your polywire Buffalo Livestock Market October 12 - Kent Veterinary to have your bulls checked out.
A survey of cow-calf farms in
50 lbs of nitrogen on about is torn down by wildlife or Clinic, Billings 24 states in 2008 showed that
Contact Dr. Harvey Kent, 744-
September 1, and allow it to your cattle As long as you are 2222 about 25% do a semen evalua-
grow undisturbed until No- not in an individual pasture Special Cattle Sale Special Sheep tion on their bulls before turn-
vember 1 for bermudagrass or more than 10-14 days there is Vaccinated Every Stock Cow & October 13 - Dake Veterinary out. I doubt if we’re that high
January 1 for tall fescue. no need to set up a back fence Cattle Saturday sale live on the & Bull Sale Goat Sale Clinic, Miller in southwest Missouri. The
Watch our
When you start grazing, to keep animals off the grazed Sale Internet at Contact: Dr. Chuck Dake, 452- October BSE clinics in the past
set up an initial grazing strip areas. If you see animals graz- 12:00 Noon www.CattleUSA.com 3rd Tuesday 4th Tuesday 3301 few years have found more prob-
that includes the water source ing in the area they already 2nd Sat. of Selling all classes lems with bulls than the clinics
and an expected 2 to 3 days grazed (back-grazing) then Each Month of cattle October 14 - Countryside Ani- in March. Hot weather could
of grass. Once the forage has you need to make your strips Lyle Caselman - Owner-Manager: 417-345-7876 • Mobile: 417-533-2944 mal Clinic, Aurora be more of a problem than cold
been consumed you will need wider as they will always pre- Leon Caselman - Owner: 417-345-4514 • Mobile: 417-588-6185 Contact: Dr. Mike Bloss, 678- when it comes to bull fertility. It
to move the fence to allocate fer to graze in the fresh strip Howard Miller - Owner -Manager: 417-345-8612 4011 could even be from fescue toxins
enough grass to feed your if there is adequate forage Call Lyle or r Leon to find out what we can do for you: consumed or a combination of
cattle for the next 1 to 3-day there. This practice that we Bud Hansen 417-462-7828 • John Sanwald 417-588-9113 • Bobby Cole 573-674-3131 Besides the BSE, I will be at factors.
grazing period. Moving cattle call modified strip grazing the clinics to answer questions,
daily has many advantages will become your key grazing Barn 417-345-8122 discuss bull sales, expected
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