By Victor Shelton
I’m grateful to have enough hay for the livestock, especially since snow and ice can make grazing stockpiled forages difficult – if any remains available. Although 2024 brought more rainfall than usual, a dry late summer and fall reduced the amount of stockpiled forage, making it harder to meet the needs of the livestock as long as normal.
At the core of managing livestock during the winter months is the balance between the animals and the forage available to feed them. Ideally, I’d prefer the livestock to graze stockpiled forages or annuals as long as possible outside of the perennial forage growing season. However, that’s not always practical, possible, or advisable. This balance constantly shifts, influenced by changing animal numbers, young livestock that require more feed, and unpredictable weather patterns.
Forage yield is highly variable, influenced by rainfall timing and amount, as well as factors like soil fertility, pH, soil type and land aspect. Land aspect, or how a field faces relative to the sun, affects sunlight exposure, moisture retention and microclimate conditions, all of which influence forage productivity.
Maximizing forage yield depends on proper grazing management. Effective grazing practices maintain plant health, support regrowth and boost pasture productivity. For example, leaving sufficient forage after grazing allows plants to store essential non-structural carbohydrates needed for regrowth. If grazed too heavily, plants cannot store enough carbohydrates, slowing recovery and reducing future yields. Rotational grazing is an important practice that prevents overgrazing and allows pastures to regenerate. By moving livestock between different sections, rotational grazing promotes uniform grazing pressure and results in healthier, more productive plants.
On the other hand, poor grazing management, whether overgrazing or undergrazing, can result in reduced plant vigor, lower forage quality, and ultimately, lower yields. Effective grazing also promotes plant diversity, enhancing pasture resilience to pests, diseases and environmental stress, which leads to higher yields over time.
Determining how much hay to have on hand is a complex question. Some producers harvest all their forage fields for hay and then graze them, but this raises another question: How many grazing days are lost by harvesting for hay? In most cases, the potential grazing days can be reduced by 25% to 40%. As Jim Gerrish often says, “The amount of hay fed is directly related to the amount of hay harvested. If you want to reduce the amount of hay fed, you must reduce the amount of hay harvested.”
Ideally, if you can graze it, graze it. The ruminant can harvest it cheaper than you. Hay or pasture, it’s essential to ensure you have enough to meet their needs. It’s important to calculate which option is best for your situation. More grazable forage generally translates to fewer inputs and healthier soils.
When livestock numbers exceed available forage, many producers purchase supplemental hay or feed to fill the gap. Whether this is cost-effective requires careful calculation. In the long run, maintaining a good animal-to-forage balance is worthwhile, as it helps reduce input costs. When fields are grazed, most nutrients are recycled into the soil. However, when forage is mechanically harvested, even if it’s fed back on the same field, nutrient distribution is often less even. If the harvested forage isn’t returned to the same field, those nutrients need to be replenished. Grazing the regrowth after cutting hay is generally better for the field than removing from the field multiple times.
In some cases, buying high-quality hay and feeding it on-site can be more practical. While this incurs a direct cost, it can also help build nutrients in the soil, depending on how it’s fed.
Overgrazing in the fall before dormancy can harm pasture health and productivity. Grazing too hard depletes plants’ energy reserves stored in roots and crowns, weakening them and reducing their ability to recover in the spring. This leads to slower regrowth, lower yields, and reduced forage quality. Overgrazing also creates openings for weeds to establish, as weakened forages are less competitive. Weeds often outpace grasses, further diminishing pasture quality by providing lower nutritional value. The combined effects of reduced forage yields, increased weed pressure, and lower forage quality make pasture management more challenging.
Some people don’t want to “waste” any forage and want to delay feeding any hay but grazing too long and too short hurts future growth.
In contrast, proper grazing practices—including allowing for sufficient rest periods—are essential for maintaining plant health, promoting faster regrowth in the spring. This leads to better forage quality and overall pasture productivity.
As I reflect on the recent harsh winter weather and history, I’m reminded of an important moment from the November 1979 National FFA Convention in Kansas City. During that convention, I had the unexpected opportunity to see both President Jimmy Carter and broadcaster Paul Harvey. Their words resonate today, especially in light of the challenges farmers face, just as they did when Harvey delivered his “So God Made a Farmer” tribute.
In his address, Harvey celebrated American farmers’ hard work, resilience, and integrity. He portrayed them as the backbone of the nation, emphasizing their perseverance despite unpredictable conditions. With the winter storms serving as a stark reminder of the tough realities’ farmers endure, Harvey’s tribute seems especially fitting today.
Alongside Harvey, President Carter delivered a keynote address about the future of American agriculture. He stressed the importance of family farms and the struggles they face, while also affirming his administration’s commitment to supporting them. Carter called for agricultural innovation, urging young farmers to embrace new technologies and practices, while also emphasizing the need for environmental responsibility and sustainability in farming.
Carter’s presidency supported small family farms, sustainability, and agricultural exports while opposing industry consolidation into mega farms. Despite challenges like high interest rates, inflation, and the 1980 grain embargo, which harmed agricultural exports, Carter’s policies laid the groundwork for future agricultural reforms. Harvey’s words left a lasting impact on me, as they did for many young people at that convention, highlighting the future of farming and agriculture.
It’s not about maximizing a grazing event, but a grazing season. Keep grazing!
Source : osu.edu