Page 4 - MWC 8-11-2022s

The Midwest Cattleman · August 11, 2022 · P4
Before long, you can ex-
pect to see articles from our
forage specialists on stock-
piling forage. It’s a proven
way to reduce winter feeding
and retain quality forage for
winter grazing. But here on
our outfit, we stopped both of
those completely about three
years ago. Custom grazing
allows us to send cow-calf
pairs home before we have
to worry about either, but we
still end up stockpiling forage.
No winter feeding, and no fro-
zen waterers or breaking ice.
It’s not for everyone, but as
you get a little more mileage
on the odometer, it may look Forage Diversity
more attractive.
On August first, I called a cies this season.
friend of mine who pioneered Eastern Gamagrass, and a story doesn’t have a down-
rotational grazing in this even Reeds Canary grass side, you need to be suspect.
part of the country. He was where I’ve never planted any. This system of grazing has
doing it years before the uni- Paddocks with straight fes- plenty. Every season is differ-
versity adopted the NZ tech- cue and without any clovers ent. Adjustments have to be
nology as their own idea. In are not very popular with the made for both extremely wet
fact, he couldn’t even get the cows. They definitely have and dry periods. If I need to
forage ‘experts’ to even come an ‘opinion’. I have one area be gone, these cows are not
and look at his grazing sys- where the entire herd will going to move themselves –
tem, even though it was less turn, come back to the gate, someone has to do it. Over the
than twenty minutes from and bawl all morning because years, I’ve been gone for over
the university campus. I had they don’t like it a bit. Oh, a week, but it always takes
a unique milestone I wanted sure they will eat it if you plenty of preparation and
to share with him. Mostly I make them, but that’s the planning. Calves can be sick
just wanted to hear how he only way they will. Moving one day and dead the next so
them from that field is always daily observation is very im-
was doing this summer.
“Today, I just finished graz- easy – it’s their idea long be- portant. Calves can get sep-
ing my last paddock of winter fore it’s mine. That pasture arated from dams across an
stockpiled forage!” I told him, continues to get better with electric fence. They normal-
“On August 1st.” I knew he the introduction of more le- ly make it back where they
would not only understand, gumes. need to be without missing a
With the added stocking meal, but not always. Paying
but also appreciate what that
meant. Stockpiling is not density, cows eat ragweed and attention to the small things
only for the winter – it’s real- just about everything except – can sometimes turn out to
ly something to keep in mind the ‘nettles’ and rose bush- be very important. There is
all year long. Standing forage es. Those I ‘shred down’ after also a downside to the diver-
does lose quality as it ma- the animals are moved. They sity too – especially in areas
tures, but with red clover and first eat the clovers, the lespe- that were grazed when too
lespedeza in the mix, there is deza, then the Johnsongrass wet. Weed seed that had been
plenty of quality for cow-calf – almost everything before undisturbed is activated and
pairs. the fescue. Every morning a whole host of weeds can
they move to where they are appear including barnyard
‘belly-deep’ in forage and the grass and cocklebur. I can
I’m seeing all kinds of spe- next morning they are ready deal with the first one with
Timothy,
to do it again. a heavy stocking rate – it’s in
Water is the limiting fac- the millet family and they like
tor and shade. I graze areas it. The second has to be dealt
next to those first and then with by mowing or spraying –
move out from there. Even I prefer mowing - well before
Brangus and Brahman cross seed formation.
cows will go to the shade and After using this system
why shouldn’t they? They are for three years now, there is
filled up, watered and ready no going back. We’re in the
to do so by 10:00. They got all grass business and it’s our
the good stuff (if they didn’t, grass we’re selling, not some-
they won’t get any today) and one else’s. I like to see the
later on they go back to ‘com- cattle work and the forage
pete’ for what’s left. In some rest. That’s what makes our
cases, I move twice a day, but system work – grazing densi-
that’s rare. ty, grazing pressure, and days
Observation of rest.
If you are convinced that
Moving cattle every morn- rotational or controlled graz-
ing (and sometimes evening ing is not for you, then don’t
as well) allows me to see make the mistake of dividing
every animal up close. If a pasture in half. If you do,
something needs attention - If you might be tempted to di-
there is a bad eye, a bad foot, vide it again and then even
or a respiratory problem, that again. If you do, and you have
animal is usually last and is a water plan to make it work,
also usually very easy to spot. you’ll be hooked. You’ll be a
They normally stay last in grazier. You’ll never look at
line several days – even after a beautiful pasture the same
they are treated. When they way again!
are no longer lagging behind,
you know they’re doing better. KwC
Downside
Every coin has two sides. If