MAKING ROTATIONAL
GRAZING WORK
The concept of intensive pasture
management through frequent
rotations in a pasture has become
an important management practice
in beef production.
This is particularly true for cow
calf herds since it has been shown
that this type of pasture manage
ment will help reduce the need for
stored feed, will improve the nutri
tional value of a pasture, and will
help reduce feed costs for the cow
herd. It is, however, dependent on
careful planning and management
THE CONSERVATIONIST.
The proven Great Plains no-till system utilizes a
coulter to prepare a mini-conventional seedbed
for the opfners to place the seed ...at the precise
depth selected.
Great Plains
We lead because we listen.
Dunkle lie Grieb, Inc.
R.D. 2 BOX 14
Center Hall, PA 16828
814-364-1421
Reed Brothers Equipment
13 Petticoat Bridge Road
Columbus, NJ 08022
609-267-3363
Hines Equipment
Rt. 28 West, Cresson, PA 16630
814-886-4183
and
Rt. 220, Belwood, PA
814-742-8171
Beef Briefs
by
John Comerford
Penn State Beef Specialist
if it is to be successful.
The basic concept of “intensive
grazing” is that the cattle will graze
all of the available forage in a
given area in a short period of time
before being moved to new stand
ing fordge. Complete grazing and
timely movement are essential to
success.
The complete removal of
growth inhibits selective grazing.
There will be no competitive
advantage of one plant compared
to another, thus, more desirable
species like grasses and legumes
will not have to compete with
weeds and undesirable growth.
Secondly, timely movement
See The Dependable Great Plains Dealers Listed Below:
will allow for an appropriate “rest
periocT lo allow regrowthpflhc
desirable forage. Most Pennsylva
nia pastures are primarily cool
season grasses ■— orchardgrass,
bromc, bluegrass, fescue, etc.
These forages also will respond
well to rotational management,
particularly if they also contain
some legumes. However, they also
present some distinct management
problems since they have varying
rates of growth during a given
grazing season (maximized in
spring and fall).
How does the manager capture
(he growth of these plants? The
first method is through variable
stocking rates. Many producers
want to maintain the same stocking
rate on a pasture for a season. This
implies a given rate may be too low
during periods of fast growth, or be
too high during slow growth
such as mid-summer for cool sea
son grasses. By doubling or tri
pling stocking rate in May and ear
ly June, the cattle are able to
harvest the grass at an optimum
feed value. When there are not
enough cattle and the grass “gets
drives for transport.
Lost Creek Implement, Inc.
Rt. 35
Oakland Mills, PA
717-463-2161
D & E Equipment
307 Edgar Avenue
Bloomsburg, PA 17815
717-784-5217
C.B. Hoober & Sons. Inc.
Cld Philadelphia Pike
Intercourse, PA 17534
717-768-8231
Norman D. Clark & Sons
Main Street, P.O. Box 27
Honey Grove, PA 17035
717-734-3682
ahead of you,” the quality will be
’ Second, reduce the acreage
| available to graze and remove the
excess mechanically. Spring and
early summerrest periods for most
cool season grasses can be reduced
to 12-IS days in many cases. This
is about 1 /] to 54 of what the acreage
rest period would be for the sea
son. Therefore, up to one-half of
the pasture can be harvested
mechanically. The regrowth is
returned to pasture when growth
slows down in mid-summer.
Third, use variable pasture spe
cies. Cool season grasses are poor
ly adapted to mid-summer and late
fall grazing. Incorporation of spe
cies that are more adaptable at
these periods can help extend the
grazing season. For mid-summer
grazing, warm-season grasses and
summer annuals can be used as
Stouffer Brothers, Inc.
1066 Lincoln Way West
Chambersburg, PA 17201
717-263-8424
Lehigh Ag Equipment, Inc.
6670 Ruppsville Road
Allentown, PA 18106
215-398-2553
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, May 7, 1994-C3
part of the pasture.
Alfalfa also works well in a pas
ture system if it properly managed.
Bloat can be prevented and the
alfalfa stand can be retained for
several years with proper grazing
management.
Two alternatives for fall grazing
include brassicas and stockpiled
grasses. Good fertility and seeding
are necessary for brassicas to do
well, but they can certainly contri
bute to extended fall grazing.
Fescue may be the best choice
for stockpiling. New varieties of
endophyte-free fescue have had
excellent success, and can be
grazed well into winter months.
Getting the most from a pasture
is like typing to hit a moving
target However, careful planning
can contribute to lower cost suc
cessful use of pasture.
Deerfield Ag & Turf
Watsontown Exit of 1-180
Watsontown, PA 17777
717-538-3557