Meeting the Nutritional Needs of Livestock on Pasture Donna M. Amaral-Phillips University of Kentucky

Excellent Pasture Managers Integrate Forage Management and Sound Animal Management Practices For Efficient and Profitable Animal Performance

Concept #1: Nutrient Needs of Grazing Ruminants Change With... Milk Production --Cow & Calf – Higher production greater nutrient needs – First 3 months after calving greater than next 3 months Master Grazer Educational Program

Concept #1: Nutrient Needs of Cattle Change With... Stage of pregnancy – Last 3 months of pregnancy greater than middle trimester Master Grazer Educational Program

Concept #1: Nutrient Needs of Cattle Change With... Stockers- Rate of gain –Stockers gaining 2.5 lbs greater than 1.5 lbs per day Master Grazer Educational Program

Concept #2: Forage Factors Regulate Intake

“Q- squared” Forage Concept Quality and Quantity Master Grazer Educational Program

Forage Quantity Determines Feed Intake and Performance

Concept #3: Cattle Selectively Graze Forage grazed higher quality than forage collected through pasture clippings Master Grazer Educational Program

Nutrient Content of Pasture and Hay (Dry matter basis) Crude Protein ADF TDN (%) (%) (%) Alfalfa Grazed Clipped Fescue/Clover Grazed Clipped Master Grazer Educational Program

Selective Grazing Forage grazed higher quality than forage collected through pasture clippings Cattle eat the top of the plant first –Especially important for alfalfa and red clover plant Master Grazer Educational Program

Concept # 4: Forage Species determines intake and performance Master Grazer Educational Program

Cool Season Grasses Grasses and Legumes Legumes Forage Intake and Digestibility Forage Species Master Grazer Educational Program

Concept # 5: Time Spent Grazing Does Not Increase On Poor-Quality Pastures Cattle spend approximately 8-9 hrs per day grazing in 3 different grazing periods Cattle spend the same amount of time grazing regardless of pasture quality or yield Master Grazer Educational Program

Concept #6: Performance Versus Pasture Utilization

Nose of the Steer/Cow/Calf or Sheep/goat In Contact With Green, Leafy Forage At All Times