Transcript Arkansas Seasonal Pasture Planner - 300

ASPP-300
Forage Planning Software
J. A. Jennings and M. S. Gadberry
University of Arkansas
How does the program work?
Minimum requirements for the Arkansas SPP-300 program are Windows 3.1/95 with a 486-66
MHz CPU. It was developed with Visual Baler® software so it is a self-running program.
Arkansas SPP-300 calculates forage production and animal requirements for 100 day periods
during spring, summer, fall, and 65 days during winter. Seasonal dry matter yield is calculated
for each forage and for the farm. Daily dry matter intake of the cattle herd is calculated based
on class of animal, stage of production, and average daily gain. Seasonal forage requirement is
based on grazing system efficiency.
Data are entered for each pasture based on forage type and estimated annual yield. The program
calculates dry matter production in spring, summer, fall, and winter for each pasture based on
estimated percentage seasonal production of each forage or forage mixture.
Data are entered for cattle based on spring or fall calving season, level of milk production,
stocker calf grazing season, and average daily gain expected. Gains are based on NRC values
for intake. Quality of the forage is assumed adequate for the expected gain. A basic level of
knowledge of forage quality and animal nutrition is necessary to determine realistic cattle gains.
Example Scenario
The following scenario is depicted in this presentation. Screens for
data entry, data summary, and results are shown.
A beef producer has 100 acres of available pasture. His forage program
includes:
25 acres of orchardgrass / clover mix
25 acres of fescue that is stockpiled in the fall for winter use
25 acres of bermudagrass
25 acres of bermudagrass / fescue mix.
He has 40 spring-calving cows with an average weight of 1100 lbs. each.
Milk production is average.Two bulls of 1800 lbs. each are in the herd.
Continuous grazing management is currently used. Hay feeding begins in
early November most years and continues until early April.
His question is “what changes are needed to reduce the length of the
hay feeding period?”.
Start by entering data for
each pasture and for
each livestock herd.
The program can be navigated by
windows or by tabs.
Forage type or mixture can be selected from a list
found in the drop boxes shown. Scrolling down
the list shows the available forages. Enter
acreage and estimated annual yield for each
forage.
Enter data for spring
calving cows, bulls, and
replacement animals. Fall
calving herds can be
entered on a separate
screen for that herd.
Enter data for stocker
calves under the option
that fits the grazing
period.
Data entered can be viewed
and updated if necessary.
Summaries of pasture
production are shown as
well as daily forage
requirements for the herd.
Forage inventories show the
percentage distribution of
seasonal yield for each
pasture. Forage input data in
blue can be changed on this
screen.
Seasonal tonnage is shown
for each pasture as well as
total yield for the farm.
Summaries of the livestock herd can be
viewed and updated here. Data in blue
can be changed on this screen. Forage
dry matter intake levels as a % of body
weight are shown. Defaults for intake
can be changed in another section of the
program.
Daily forage intake
requirements are shown
for each production class
along with the total herd
daily requirement.
Results show how well
forage production
matches livestock
requirements.
Results show total seasonal
forage production and
seasonal herd requirement
based on grazing system
Percentage utilization
for each grazing system
can be changed to match
local conditions
The answer to our producer’s question
may be to use a rotational grazing
system since forage is adequate
through the fall season. The winter
period is set at 65 days from late
December until March 1. Other
options can be explored to match
specific farm conditions.
Default values for livestock
and forage can be updated to
match local conditions.
Default forage
requirements are shown
as percent of body weight
and are based on NRC
values. Values in blue can
be changed.
YIELD DISTRIBUTION PERCENTAGES*
Legumes
Cool-Season Grass/legume Mix
Species
None
Alfalfa
Annual Clovers
Red Clover
White Clover
White Clover - South AR
Hairy Vetch
Lespedeza
BLANK-A
BLANK-B
-------Cool Season Grass/Clover
Cool Season Grass/Lepedeza
Cool Season Grass/Alfalfa
BLANK-D
BLANK-E
BLANK-F
-------Tall Fescue
Fescue - South AR
Stockpiled Fescue**
Orchardgrass
Annual Ryegrass
Small Grains - North AR
Small Grains - South AR
Small Grains/Ryegrass S.AR
BLANK-H
BLANK-I
BLANK-J
Forage yield distribution can be
changed to match local
conditions. Values are included
for 33 forages and forage
Cool-Season Grasses
mixtures. Spaces are available to
add 15 other forages where
“blank” is listed under each
section.
Spring
Summer
0
40
95
55
75
85
95
5
0
0
0
55
40
50
0
0
0
0
65
85
55
65
85
85
75
70
0
0
0
0
50
0
30
10
5
0
95
0
0
0
20
40
30
0
0
0
0
10
5
10
20
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Fall
Winter
0
10
5
15
15
10
5
0
0
0
0
25
20
20
0
0
0
0
25
10
20
15
10
10
10
10
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
15
0
5
5
15
20
0
0
0