Grazing Management to Minimize Cost Bob Woods Area Extension Agronomy Specialist, NE Oklahoma Master Cattleman Summit 2009

Grazing Management to Minimize Cost? Manage to Graze!

Planning grazing management Stocking Rate Stockpiled Forages Grazing Systems

Stocking Rate Explained High Gain/animal Net Return/acre Gain/acre Zero Moderate Heavy Very light Light

Typical Hay Feeding Season > 90% of NE OK ranches are overstocked or under fertilized!

Time, Consumption, Forage Availability Stocking Rate Time, Consumption, Forage Availability

http://www2.dasnr.okstate.edu/extension

Forage Requirement for a Spring Calving herd under 4 different management options This table is based on a standard animal unit of 26 pounds per day for a 1000 pound cow. This shows that a cow unit might require between 14,000 and 17,000 pounds of dry matter per year. All but the 2nd option where all calves are sold at weaning include the cow, her share of the bull, and 20% of the heifers retained as replacements. The annual dry matter requirement will increase approximately 1000 pounds/year/cow for every 100 lb increase in cow weight above a 1000 pound cow. As and example the 1st option would increase to 14,780 for 1200 pound cows. AUE = (BODY WEIGHT + 100) ÷ 1,000 or, for animals of 1,100 lbs. or more, AUE = (BODY WEIGHT-100) ÷ 1,000 1200 pound cow -100 =1100/1000 = 1.1 26 X 365 = 9490 X .1 increase for 1200 pound cow above a cow that weighs 900 – 1100 pounds. So add 950 lbs for each 100 pound increase in cow weight above 1100 lbs. Each 100 pound increase in cow weight adds 950 pounds to yearly DM requirement

Determining Stocking Rate on Native Range (or Unfertilized Pasture) Web Soil Survey - Home Forage Availability

Web Soil Survey

Lbs X 25% X Acres = harvestable yield 4900 X .25 X 16.3= 19967 79870 26035 91875 1875 173,646 Lbs X 25% X Acres = harvestable yield 4900 X .25 X 16.3= 19967 6350 X .25 X 4.1 = 6508 5250 X .25 X 17.5 = 22968 1875 X .25 X 1 = 468 Total 49911/39 = 1280 lbs/A

Lbs X 25% X Acres = harvestable yield Total 49911/39 = 1280 lbs/A 1100 lb cow, keeping 20% of heifers for replacements Requires 14742 pounds/1280 = 11.5 Acres per cow unit

Forage Expense in Relation to S.R. (5/19/09) A/Cow Forage T/A N Reg Lbs/A NPK Total $ / Cow Forage Expense $/Cow Sales - Forage Expense 10 .6 195 374 5 1.2 30 144 314 255 4 1.5 50 145 290 279 3 2 70 131 251 318 2 T litter ($22) 222 342 227 120 160 This is based on OKC cattle prices and fertilizer prices on May 18, 2009. Gross sales value includes 90% calf crop, 525 pound weaning weight, ($110/cwt.and 10% cull cow sales($50/cwt) for gross sales per cow of $569. The hay expense is custom harvest for 2 round bales per cow ($45). Litter is valued at $37. Assumed 40 pounds of both P and K annually where N is applied. At the 5, 4, 3 acre stocking rates a 2X N rate per acre is used and only ½ of the acreage fertilized to save on P and K expense. All 3 acres receive litter in the 2T example. The last column is the amount left per cow above forage costs for other cow expenses such as vet-med, labor, land, supplemental feed and mineral, and equipment. The ($22) below 2T litter is the amount that can be payed for litter to equal the commercial fertilizer price on an annual basis. This does not value the P and K available for improving soil test P values. 7 year pay at 8% on $700 cow is $135, overhead at $75. $209 subtracted from last column - ? 16.40 per acre income on native versus $36/A income on 3A/cow option. N 37¢, P 29¢, K 59¢, $45 Hay/cow, $15 native rent, $25 introduced rent 40 lbs P and K/A, $569 gross sales per cow

Stocking Rate with Introduced Pastures Yield dependent on fertilizer Determine yield goal then fertilize accordingly

Rainfall for Payne County (1971-2000) Fertilize warm season grass Fertilize cool season grass Fertilize Warm or cool season grass

Rainfall Comparisons 5 Counties

Multiple Options - 760 Acres (560 native, 200 Introduced) No fertilizer, grow all forage – 74 cows No fertilizer, buy hay 60 days, 90 cows Cows on native and fertilized introduced, buy hay for 60 days, 158 cows Fertilize bermudagrass and fescue, 83 cows stockers on native , 316 head (IES) Add a recreation component Multi-species grazing

Forage Growth Stockpiled Forage (standing, hay, silage) Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Cool-season Grass Cool-season legume Bermudagrass Native Range Stockpiled Forage (standing, hay, silage)

Native Range

78 grazing days/A for a 1200 lb. cow 3803 lbs/A, 317 lbs/inch 78 grazing days/A for a 1200 lb. cow

Fall Fertilized Fescue 2001 Cherokee Craig Delaware Mayes Muskogee Nowata Okfuskee Ottawa Wagoner Washington Unfert. Lbs/A 865 1108 778 885 1117 659 1329 1382 723 Fertilized Lbs/A 3803 2174 2111 2281 3201 2419 3733 4520 5480 1574 Increase Lbs/A 2938 1067 1333 1396 2084 1760 2404 3138 4596 851

Fall Fertilized Bermudagrass

Estimate 5000 lbs. DM/A 120 grazing days for a 1200 lb cow

Small Grains Planting Dates Picture taken 11/30/99 9/10/99 11/4/99 10/7/99 10/21/99 9/23/99 First planting was clipped 10/27/99 removing 1,880 lb/a of forage

Objective Based Grazing Management Bermudagrass or OWB Rotation to control maturity Cool Season Grasses Rotation to increase grazing days Cool Season Legumes Short residue height in fall and winter Native Range Year long grazing Season Long IES grazing Multiple paddocks can be peace of mind (easier to count days remaining) Grazing Plan should fit the forage type and animal

Native Range Fence or Patch Burn?

Forage Growth Number of paddocks? Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Cool-season Grass Cool-season legume Bermudagrass Native Range Number of paddocks? How many pieces you have in your puzzle?

Avoid “Locked In Mode” It won’t work on my place! I need to plant more____! I have to have “X number” of cows. I have to spray weeds! Conventional wisdom can change!

The Ranch That Feeds Less Hay Wins!