Forage Types and Management Systems

2020 New Landowner Program

Joe C. PaschalLivestock Specialist

Texas A&M AgriLife Extensionj-paschal@tamu.edu

Basic Factors that Contribute to Developing a Successful Plan

• Knowledge of nutritional needs– Forage– Livestock

• Forage growth• Forage quality• Forage intake• Grazing effect on plant• Water and fences• Grazing distribution

and behavior

Cool Season Grasses and Legumes• Perennials

– High quality– Not many in Texas

• Forages– Tall Fescue– Texas Winter Grass– Bluegrass– Clovers and vetches

• Need P and K• Lime in acid soils

• Annuals– High quality and

production– Planting and

fertilizing• Forages

– Rye and ryegrass– Wheat– Oats– Barley– Triticale

Warm Season Plants• Perennials

– Tend to be best grasses– Long season– No replanting– Lower quality in summer

• Grasses– Bermudas– Bahia grass– Buffelgrass– Dallisgrass– Johnson grass – Klein grass– Guinea grass – Vasey grass

– Natives and native bluestems

– Old world bluestems• Annuals

– Warm season– High growth– Planting and fertilization

annually• Cropped

– Sudans and haygrazers– Legumes

• Cowpea• Soybean• Peanuts

6” Coastal Bermudagrass (2206#/ac)

6” Kleingrass (2229#/ac)

20” Kleingrass (3880#/ac)

20” Native Grass (3348#/ac)

Seasonal Production of Coastal, Klein and Native Grasses

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Prod

uctio

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Coastal Klein Native

Seasonal Crude Protein of Coastal, Klein and Native Grasses

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Coastal Klein Native

Seasonal TDN (Energy) of Coastal, Klein and Native Grasses

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TDN

Coastal Klein Native

Spring Calving Cow Nutrient Needs

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CP Spring TDN Spring

CalvingWeaning

Fall Calving Cow Nutrient Needs

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Spring Calving Cow Nutrient Needs vs Quality of Coastal Bermuda

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Crude Protein CP Spring TDN TDN Spring

CalvingWeaning

Spring Calving Cow Nutrient Needs vs Quality of Native Grass

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Crude Protein CP Spring TDN TDN Spring

Calving Weaning

Suggested Forage Residue Height for Optimum Animal Performance and Stand Persistence

Species Residue Ht (in) Utilization (%)Alfalfa 4 - 6 50Annual Ryegrass 3 - 4 75Arrowleaf Clover 3 - 4 50Bermudagrasses 2 - 3 751

Oats2 4 - 6 75Old World Bluestems 3 - 4 65Midgrass Native Range 4 - 6 50Wheat2 4 - 6 75White Clover 2 - 3 751Higher with adequate rain and fertilization. 2Can be grazed shorter in Spring.

Recommended Initial and Ending Grazing Heights and Recovery Time

Forage Species Beginning Ht (in)

Ending Ht (Residual) in

Recovery Time (d)

Annual RyegrassOld World Bluestems

8 3 14-45

Wheat, Oats and Rye 8 4 14-45Alfalfa 8 2 24-32Sudangrass Hybrids 18 8 14-30Johnsongrass 22 8-10 30-50Warm Season Grasses 18 8 30-50Common Bermuda 8 2 14-45Hybrid Bermudas 8 3 14-45

Defoliation Affects Root Systems

% Leaf Volume Removed

10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

% Root Growth

Stoppage0%0%0%0%

2-4%50%78%

100%100%

0500

1000150020002500300035004000

0 150 300 425 550 650 750 1500Residual Forage (lb/ac)

Fora

ge P

rodu

ced

(lb/a

c)

18.6

10.2

8.3

8.518.5

16.5

9.7

Effect of Timing of Rainfall and Residual Forage on Total Production

19.9

Stocking Rate and Carrying Capacity

• Stocking rate is defined as the number of animals on a given amount of land over a certain period of time.

• Carrying capacity is number of animals that can be grazed sustainably during the year per unit of land area.

Animal Unit (AU) ConceptUnit Definition

Animal Unit (AU) 1000 lb cow with calfAnimal Unit Day (AUD) 26 lbs dry forageAnimal Unit Month (AUM) 780 lbs dry forageAnimal Unit Year (AUY) 9360 lbs dry forageAnimal Unit Equivalent (AUE) Percent above or below AU

A 1200 lb cow with a calf would equal 1.2 AUEand would need 20% more feed or 31.2 lbs per day.

Animal Unit Equivalents (AUE) and Estimated Daily Forage (DM)

Animal Type AUE Lbs/dCattle

Calves300 lb .30 8400 lb .40 13500 lb .50 16Cows 1.00 26Bulls 1.50* 39

Horses 1.25 32Sheep .20 5Goats .17 4

This tableonly liststhe amount of dry foragean animalneeds…It does not takeinto accountforage quality ortype.It is stilluseful to setnumbers of head.

Monthly Available Animal Unit Days With 800 vs 1000 lb Residual Per Acre

487 vs 408 AUD

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al U

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ays (

AUD)

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Monthly AUD Available on Coastal

800 lb 1000 lb

• Timing (season)

• Intensity (how much)

• Duration (how long)

• Frequency (how often)

Principles of Grazing Management

Timing of Grazing• Stage of grass growth

– Dormant– Early– Middle– Late

• Grazing can be heavier (longer) duration during periods of active regrowthand shorter during dormant periods

Grazing Intensity• How much of leaf is taken

off - utilization• Number of animals• Plant type• Palatability of the plant• Size of pasture• Geography of the pasture• Water and salt• Timing

Duration of Grazing• How long animals remain

on the pasture– Continuous – long duration

• Constant sampling of regrowth

• Patch grazing, pedestal formation, bare ground

• Lower stocking rate

– Rotational grazing • Rest periods for regrowth

between grazing periods• Best if grazing and rest

periods are staggered across seasons

• Higher stocking rates

Frequency of Grazing• How often defoliation

occurs– Refoliation must begin

after each bite– Will vary by forage type,

season, rainfall, animal type

– Based on carrying capacity NOT stocking rate!

– Most important consideration is when it occurs.

Grazing Distribution and Behavior• Cattle prefer

– Less than 10% slope– Little rock or gravel– Less than 30% brush– >10% shade– Water within 1 mile– Grass over all else

(but will eat tender weeds – forbs)

– Leaves over stems

• Cattle will– “Learn” a new pasture– Overgraze regrowth– Not graze urine/fecal

spots (until the end)– Will graze in the am, pm

and at midnight– Congregate in shade and

water– Graze together until

pastures get short

Determining Stocking Rate• Historically• Soil/land type• Rainfall• Type of livestock• Forage type/weeds• Brush density• Season• Production status• Land cost• Science based

USDA NRCS Web Soil Survey

http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov

Productivity and Stocking Rate

Normal vs Dry: 956,140 vs 748,085 lbs; 22 vs 17 head, 1:14 vs 1:18 ac

Types of Grazing Strategies• Continuous –

– Constant grazing of forage in pasture

• Deferred or Rotational –– All pastures are rested at

least as long as they are grazed

• Decision deferment• Merrill (4 pasture-3 herd)

• Intensive (or Short Duration) –– Cattle are

concentrated on a small part of the total area and pastures are rested longer than they are grazed

• Extensive (HILF) vs Intensive (SDG)

Continuous Grazing • Advantages

– Traditional– Less time and labor– Minimal capital– Best diet selectivity

• Disadvantages– Requires more land– Lower stocking rate– Less production per

acre

– Can only adjust SR– Lower forage quality and

yield– Uneven pasture use– Uneven manure

distribution– Over use of sensitive

areas– Overstocking and under

stocking can occur– Poor weed control

Deferred or Rotational Grazing • Advantages

– Long term improvement in forage

– Optimizes animal performance

– Allows plant to regain vigor and reproduce

– Grazing = Rest– Flexibility in grazing,

density, pressure, time and frequency

• Disadvantages– Allows the animals to

be more selective– Some weed control– Pasture is improved

at a slower rate– More fencing and

water sources are required

Intensive (Short Duration) Grazing• Advantages

– Maximum forage production

– Best weed control– Better manure

distribution– Higher diet selectivity– Least chance of overuse– Rest period longer– Rapid improvement in

forages

• Disadvantages– Need careful forage

monitoring– Initial costs are

highest– Fencing and water

system design– Forage management

expertise

Selecting and Using a Grazing System

• Determine carrying capacity and stocking rates based on how much grass is produced.

• Consider stocking at 75% of capacity.• Graze no more than half before rotating.• Rest for at least 3-4 weeks before regrazing.• Monitor changes in pastures and adjust the

grazing plan as conditions dictate.

Questions?