Last night on #HayTalk we discussed the topic of fall grazing. As the air gets a little cooler and days get shorter, many producers take advantage of fall rains to stockpile forages or plant winter annuals for fall/winter grazing. Producing and/or purchasing hay to feed livestock through the winter is a significant expense for producers. Add that along with the rising prices of grain and fuel and the expense sky rockets.
Luckily their are several strategies that can be employed to supply forage into fall or early winter and effectively extend the grazing season up to 60-90 days. This in turn reduces the dependency on stored feeds. These strategies can be grouped into two categories: stockpiling (conserving cool season forages in late summer for use in the fall/winter) and utilizing forage crops that continue to grow into fall and winter.
To learn more about each of these methods to extend the grazing season I have included a list to several reliable resources. I also highly recommend contacting your state’s forage extension specialist for more detailed information about fall grazing options in your area.
Stockpiling for Fall and Winter Pasture – University of Kentucky
Maximizing Fall and Winter Grazing of Beef Cows and Stocker Cattle – Ohio State University
Grazing Winter Pasture – Noble Foundation
Late Fall or Dormant Seeding Frequently Asked Questions – Manitoba Forage Council
Stockpiling Bermudagrass for Fall Grazing – University of Georgia Cooperative Extension
Fall Fertility for Forage Stands – Manitoba Forage Council
Grazing Annual Forages – Frequently Asked Questions
Windrow Grazing – University of Nebraska, Lincoln
All About Grazing: Be aware of prussic acid and potential damage this fall
Strategies for Extending the Grazing Season on Organic Farms
