Sheep are more selective about quality than cattle. Not to say that cattle can’t be selective, but sheep have the ability to choose individual leaves and plant pieces with their mouths, whereas cattle eat by wrapping their tongues around a good bite, tearing it off, and consuming whatever is in it.
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The Basics of Early Spring Grazing
All this new green growth does make me eager to get livestock back on pasture again although I’m not going to get in a rush. That initial growth is important to restore the solar panel/photosynthesis and restore roots. You certainly don’t want the forage to get ahead of you, but initiating grazing too quickly does hurt productivity.
Read MoreGrazing Corn Stalks
Corn residues normally are best utilized within 60 days of harvest and also allocated out in portions to reduce waste. In general, corn stalks have a crude protein value of about 8 percent and a total digestible nutrient value of about 70 percent. The nutritional value falls over time to about 5 percent crude protein and to about 40 percent digestibility.
Read MoreGrazing Considerations in Late Summer / Fall
Read MoreIf you do have any moisture, then it is an ideal time to plant some brassicas for late summer and fall use. Forage type brassicas are highly productive and digestible and usually can be grazed within 75 days after seeding, sometimes earlier. Brassicas need moisture to get started and for speedy growth and good yield. Summer seeded brassicas — seeded now to August — can help supplement forages and also help extend the grazing season.
Factors Influencing Spring Forage Growth
In the past, we’ve discussed the impact of fall management on the next spring growth and production, but how much impact does it really have?
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