1. Grazing Basics Craig Saxe UW-Extension, Juneau Co. 211 Hickory Street Mauston WI 53948 (608) 847-9329 craig.saxe@ces.uwex.edu Central Wisconsin Grazing Meetings March 2008

2. 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

3. Why use Rotational Grazing?

5. Managed Intensive Grazing Advantages We control where animals graze Increases yield Increase carrying capacity Extend grazing season in the fall Increases forage quality Increases animal performance Lowers cost of production Maximizes efficiency of your time and resources Offers greater management flexibility

6. Fence Water systems Labor Higher level of management required It could be argued that managed intensive grazing comes at an added cost

7. Why manage grazing? Reduces erosion Improves water quality Enhance wildlife habitat Improves range or pasture condition Texas Creek, Colorado, BLM website on Health Riparian Areas

9. CIAS 2006

11. Gross Returns Per Acre Penn State 1992

12. Direct Costs Per Acre Penn State 1992

13. Profit Per Acre Penn State 1992

14. Dairy Economic Comparison (15,000 vs. 18,000 lbs/cow/yr) ConfinementGrazing Full MachineryReduced Machinery Return To Labor 36,528 52,118 39,409 54,997 43,640 54,227 Return To Labor ($/hr) 6.40 8.95 7.07 9.66 8.08 10.73 * Researchers caution that this study is based on simulated dairy models CIAS Study

15. Livestock Enterprise Comparison EnterpriseStocking Rate Lbs product per acre Gross per acre Cow-calf-low intensity 5 acres100 calf$60 Cow-calf-intensive2 acres250 calf$150 Stocker calf-low intensity 1 acre270 gain$95 Stocker calf-intensive0.5 acre540 gain$189 Sheep-low intensity0.5 acre225 lamb$113 Sheep-high intensity0.2 acre560 lamb$280 Ohio State

16. Livestock Enterprise Comparison EnterpriseStocking Rate Lbs product per acre Gross per acre Cow-calf-low intensity 5 acres100 calf$60 Cow-calf-intensive2 acres250 calf$150 Stocker calf-low intensity 1 acre270 gain$95 Stocker calf-intensive0.5 acre540 gain$189 Sheep-low intensity0.5 acre225 lamb$113 Sheep-high intensity0.2 acre560 lamb$280 Ohio State

17. Livestock Enterprise Comparison EnterpriseStocking Rate Lbs product per acre Gross per acre Cow-calf-low intensity 5 acres100 calf$60 Cow-calf-intensive2 acres250 calf$150 Stocker calf-low intensity 1 acre270 gain$95 Stocker calf-intensive0.5 acre540 gain$189 Sheep-low intensity0.5 acre225 lamb$113 Sheep-high intensity0.2 acre560 lamb$280 Ohio State

18. Livestock Enterprise Comparison EnterpriseStocking Rate Lbs product per acre Gross per acre Cow-calf-low intensity 5 acres100 calf$60 Cow-calf-intensive2 acres250 calf$150 Stocker calf-low intensity 1 acre270 gain$95 Stocker calf-intensive0.5 acre540 gain$189 Sheep-low intensity0.5 acre225 lamb$113 Sheep-high intensity0.2 acre560 lamb$280 Ohio State

19. Understanding Plant Growth

20. http://www.uwex.edu/ces/crops/teamforage/index.html

21. http://www.uwex.edu/ces/cwas/