Transcript 7. Grazing Tips (13 slides, 859 KB .ppt)

Grazing Basics
Central Wisconsin
Grazing Meetings
March 2008
Craig Saxe
UW-Extension, Juneau Co.
211 Hickory Street
Mauston WI 53948
(608) 847-9329
[email protected]
We’ll be covering
• What is rotational grazing
• Why use rotational grazing
• Understanding plant growth
• Setting up a grazing system
• Fencing, watering and frost seeding
• Grazing tips
Grazing Tips
Management is
our most
important input
for productivity
C. Bradley
Management makes the difference between this…
Successful Pasture
Management
And this…
Grazing
Streamside
Pastures
Stockpile Forages
• Let forage accumulate 70-75 days
before a normal killing frost
• At 2 acres per cow expect 40-60 days of
stockpiled forage
• The goal should be to provide the
greatest amount of leaf material
• Growing or Lactating animals may need
more
Steps to effective grazing management
•
Graze to the desired stubble height
(take half, leave half-grazing rule of thumb)
•
Allow adequate rest periods for grass
regrowth
•
Don’t regraze a pasture until your key
species has reached the desired height
•
Avoid over or under grazing
Steps to effective grazing
management
• Apply fertilizer as needed (take a soil test)
• Re-seed pastures if necessary
• Control weeds and undesirable plants in
pastures and adjacent areas
• Divide or subdivide grazing areas into
smaller blocks, where feasible
Grazing Management Tips
• Commit Yourself Totally To Making It
Work
• Make The Transition Gradually
• Solicit A Lot Of Advice, But Make Your
Own Decisions
• Stay Flexible And Keep Investments
Low
Grazing Management Tips
• Set reasonable goals
• Plan, monitor and modify plans to meet
your objectives
• Be observant – walk your property and
look
• Keep records – written and
photographic
http://www.uwex.edu/ces/crops/teamforage/index.html
http://www.uwex.edu/ces/cwas/