Grazing and Hay Management

Question 1

What factors influence the productivity of pasture?

Answer 1

Precipitation, temperature and soil characteristics

Question 2

What factors are the most important for soil health?

Answer 2

Bulk density- compacted soils have reduced water holding capacity and infiltration
Nutrients- water and nitrogen are most important for grass growth, followed by phosphorus and potassium
Soil Carbon- aids in water retention and nutrient supply to the plant

Question 3

How often is soil testing recommended on pastures?

Answer 3

Every 5 years
- the only nutrients leaving the system are the animals being sold so does not need to be as often as with crop farms

Question 4

Which has higher protein- cool or warm season grass?

Answer 4

Cool season grasses

Question 5

What is the temperature in which cool and warm season grasses start growing?

Answer 5

Cool season: 40 degrees, optimum temp 60-75 (makes up 95% of grasses on the planet)
Warm season: 60 degrees, optimum at 90 +

Question 6

T/F: In virginia, one type of grass can meet yearly needs

Answer 6

False! cool season gets better coverage of fall and spring, but does poorly in the summer

Question 7

Define stocking rate

Answer 7

Animals per unit of land /the season or year

Question 8

Define grazing pressure

Answer 8

Animals/unit of forage

Question 9

Define stocking density

Answer 9

Animals/unit of land at a point of time

Question 10

With which method of providing forage do you get the greatest utilization of the pasture?

Answer 10

Hay followed closely by strip grazing

Question 11

With continuous grazing, what percent of the pasture is utilized?

Answer 11

35%

Question 12

If utilizing rotational grazing, what is the minimum amount of paddocks needed?

Answer 12

8-each with a grazing period of 14 days or less

Question 13

What is the main limitation of rotational grazing?

Answer 13

Need to be sure to have adequate fencing and ability to have water in each pasture

Question 14

Describe leader/follower grazing

Answer 14

Pastures are rotating according to lifestage. Calves put into pasture first to get highest quality stuff, then yearlings switch out with them and calves go to the next highest quality pasture

Question 15

What is the put and take method?

Answer 15

Selling calves right after the peak grazing season is over and you know you will have less forage, buy them when you have the best forage

Question 16

What is the theory behind mob grazing?

Answer 16

Cattle will pick the highest quality plants and trample the low quality plants, preserving the roots. There is an even distribution of urine and feces which increases soil carbon

Question 17

How is the productivity of animals affected by managed grazing?

Answer 17

It is usually not improved and may decline as you are making them eat what they would not choose in an unlimited environment
- ok for dairy and growing animals, not for feedlot

Question 18

How does one stockpile fescue?

Answer 18

Graze fescue down to 2 inches in late july to early august and remove cows, then apply 50-100 lb of nitrogen per acre, can start grazing again around thanksgiving and quality should be good until mid February

Question 19

Why do clover years happen?

Answer 19

Clover fixes atmospheric nitrogen unlike grass. When there is low soil nitrogen clover will predominate and once theres enough nitrogen in the soil, grass will take over until the nitrogen is eaten up

Question 20

What is the concern when there is a lot of clover in a pasture?

Answer 20

The risk for bloat increases

Question 21

T/F: To get the highest gains in cows, you should turn them out to lush pasture

Answer 21

False- lush pasture runs right through them due to low fiber content. Should wait until grass is 4-6 inches tall before letting cattle out on it

Question 22

What is important to remember about bale grazing?

Answer 22

Need to move hay rings, only give a few bales at a time during winter

Question 23

What are the benefits of high tannin plants?

Answer 23

They have the potential to assist in parasite control in small ruminants
-but they have lower protein availability

Question 24

What is one method of dramatically reducing hay wastage compared to hay rings?

Answer 24

Give cows access to hay for 6-8 hours/day

Question 25

What is bush hogging?

Answer 25

Cutting down overgrown grasses-wastes 20-30$/calf

Question 26

How can you reduce the need for bush hogging?

Answer 26

Can train cows to eat weeds

Question 27

Is maximum grazing always the most profitable?

Answer 27

No-there are times that corn may be cheaper than pasture