Progress report for LNE23-474R
Project Information
As grass-fed products continue to grow in popularity due to increased consumer demand, livestock producers throughout the Northeast region are becoming increasingly interested in grass-fed production systems. However, relative to conventional management systems, it is challenging for producers to achieve sufficient livestock performance on forage alone. Fluctuations in forage quality and quantity throughout the growing season can make this particularly difficult. In the cool-season pastures that predominate the Northeast region, there is often an abundance of forage during the spring and fall but limited growth during the summer. Incorporation of annual forages into perennial-based grazing systems presents an opportunity for producers to provide higher quality forages over a greater portion of the growing season, increasing animal performance. However, utilizing annual forages requires additional financial inputs related to forage establishment (e.g., seed, time, labor, and seeding equipment). In the 2020 Maryland Forage Needs Assessment, cost of establishment was listed by producers as their primary limitation for using annual forages. It is largely unknown if these additional costs outweigh the benefits that annual forages can provide. This information would be valuable to producers in making decisions on the use of annual forages for their operation.
The objective of this project is to compare forage yield and quality, livestock performance, soil health, and economic impact between a traditional cool-season perennial-based pasture system and a perennial/annual combination pasture system. Pasture systems will be located at the University Research Center and the study will be conducted over multiple growing seasons to account for annual weather variability. Both systems will utilize an established, high-quality, mixed grass-legume perennial pasture. For the perennial/annual combination system, a portion of the acreage will be set aside and planted in annual forages, which will be established seasonally with summer annuals followed by winter annuals. During the grazing season, a similar livestock herd with equal stocking density will be rotationally grazed within each pasture system. Forage yield, forage quality, animal performance (weight gain, growth), soil health, and economic data (costs: seed, time, labor; income: animal weight gain value) will be measured under each system. An economic analysis will be completed to compare the inputs, outputs, and relative success of each system.
As the study progresses, producers will be invited to an annual field day at the research site. Preliminary results will be shared and producers will be invited to provide feedback and discuss research findings. Two producers interested in trying annual forages on their own farms will be recruited to serve as on-farm demonstration sites and will each host an on-farm field day. At the conclusion of the study, results will be disseminated to producers through a combination of direct (farm visits, field days, meetings, demonstrations) and indirect (articles, webinars, videos) methods.
The objective of this research project is to compare forage production and quality, livestock performance, soil health, and economics under a perennial versus perennial/annual combination forage system. The use of annual forages for livestock production is becoming increasingly popular and is often perceived as a high-quality, high-yielding forage option compared to traditional perennial pasture. However, annual forages require increased establishment costs, and it is unknown if these additional costs outweigh the benefits annual forages can provide. This study will compare these two production systems to allow Northeast livestock producers to make more educated decisions regarding forage options for their farm.
Across the US, grass-fed meat and dairy products are rapidly growing in popularity, and consumer demand for these products is steadily increasing. For example, data from Nielsen (2017) showed that retail sales of labeled fresh grass-fed beef grew from $17 million in 2012 up to $272 million in 2016, effectively doubling each year. This fast-growing consumer phenomenon is attracting the attention of livestock producers across the country, and as a result, many producers are becoming increasingly interested in grass-fed production systems. An independent report by the Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture estimated there were 3,900 producers finishing grass-fed cattle in the U.S. in 2016, up from around 100 in 1998 (Cheung et al., 2017).
Within the Northeast region, there are over 39,000 beef, 10,000 dairy, and 13,000 small ruminant operations. Given their typically smaller farm size and relatively close proximity to highly populated areas, producers in the Northeast are well-aligned to capitalize on this demand, often through direct-to-consumer marketing, and many are moving towards grass-fed production systems. At least 200 farms in the Mid-Atlantic region are already actively raising and marketing grass-fed products, and there is potential for many more to join that list. However, relative to conventional management systems, it is challenging for producers to achieve sufficient livestock performance on forage alone. Fluctuations in forage quality and quantity throughout the growing season can make this particularly difficult. In the cool-season pastures that predominate the Northeast region, there is often an abundance of forage during the spring and fall but limited growth during the summer. This challenge was evident in the 2020 Maryland Forage Needs Assessment, as livestock producers ranked management to ‘extend the grazing season’ and ‘combat the summer slump’ in their top 3 topics of interest, while ‘dependence on hay’ was listed as a top challenge.
One strategy to help mitigate this could be the use of annual forages. Incorporation of annual forages into perennial-based livestock grazing systems presents an opportunity for producers to provide high-quality forages over a greater portion of the growing season, boosting forage availability and animal performance. Summer annuals can increase forage availability during the summer months, and winter annuals can provide high-quality forage during the late fall and early spring months. Previous research has supported the use of annuals for boosting season-long forage production and has shown they can provide high-quality forage capable of supporting good animal performance (Pereira, 2009; Dillard et al., 2018; Ritz et al., 2020). Preliminary work by the research team has also shown potential for success using this strategy. At the University Research Center, part of the pasture used for dairy heifer grazing has been planted in a winter/summer annual forage rotation. Utilizing winter and summer annuals has increased the amount of forage available for grazing while also serving as a high-quality forage source, with heifer gains averaging 1.4 to 2.3 pounds per day while grazing annual forages. Altogether, this demonstrates that annual forages can serve as a high-yielding, high-quality, and readily-consumed forage source for livestock.
Cooperators
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- (Educator and Researcher)
Research
The objective of this project is to compare forage yield and quality, livestock performance, soil health, and economic impact between a traditional cool-season perennial-based pasture system and a perennial/annual combination pasture system. The research question that this study aims to evaluate is if there are economic advantages to utilizing a perennial/annual combination grazing system compared to a traditional cool-season perennial-based pasture system. Our hypothesis is that a perennial/annual combination grazing system will offer an economic advantage based on increased forage yield/production, greater forage quality, and increased livestock performance, while maintaining or improving soil health.
Treatments
The two treatments that are being be compared in this project include a traditional, cool-season perennial pasture system and a perennial/annual combination pasture system. The perennial system consists of an established grass-legume perennial mixture (orchardgrass, tall fescue, red clover, white clover, alfalfa). These species were chosen because they are a high-quality mixture commonly used in perennial pasture systems across the Northeast region. For the combination system, approximately 50% of the acreage contains the same perennial mixture but the other 50% of the acreage has been planted in annual forages. The annual forages are being established seasonally, with winter annuals (oats, triticale, annual ryegrass, crimson clover) followed by summer annuals (sudangrass, pearl millet, cowpeas, buckwheat). These annual species were chosen on the basis of seed availability, forage production and quality, and common use in grazing systems. Both pasture systems are approximately 13 acres in size and are located at the same University Research Center.
Methods
The study is being conducted over multiple growing seasons to account for annual weather variability.
Year 1 (2023) was set up as a preparation year to ensure all pastures were in good condition (both soil and forage) and ready for grazing, and also to allow time to source animals for grazing during subsequent years. In September 2023, seeding was completed on the perennial portion of the pastures to ensure the perennial pasture within both systems remains similar and consistent in terms of forage quality and quantity. Also in September 2023, winter annual forages were established in the annual pasture areas in preparation for grazing the following spring. Seeding rates for all plantings followed existing recommendations for forage establishment. Soil samples were taken from each system in October 2023 to determine soil nutrient status, and pastures were fertilized according to soil sample test results to ensure optimum nutrient availability.
The grazing experiment began in year 2 (2024). Animals (35 lambs and 19 calves) were sourced from a local producer who was willing an able to provide animals for grazing. These species were chosen because they have high nutritional demand and are commonly used on grass-fed operations. Animals arrived at the research station on April 1st. After a brief acclimation period to allow animals to adjust to their new environment, animals were blocked by body weight and body condition score and randomly divided into two treatment groups with 9-10 calves and 17-18 lambs in each group. Grazing for both groups began on April 8th and continued through November 12th. Animals in both groups had ad libitum access to water and a commercial mineral mix throughout the grazing period to ensure nutrient requirements were being met.
Animals in the perennial-only (PER) system were rotationally grazed across 13 acres of mixed cool-season perennial pasture. Animals in the perennial-annual combination (ANN) system were rotationally grazed across 13 acres of perennial and annual pastures. Within both systems, pastures were subdivided into replicated paddocks to allow for rotational grazing; paddock sizing and rotation for both groups was adjusted based on forage availability and growth to ensure animals always had adequate forage available for grazing. For animals in the PER system, grazing was initiated when the average sward height reached at least 10-12 inches, and stocking days were adjusted to leave a 4-5 inch stubble height. Animals in the ANN system were rotated in a similar fashion, but annual pasture areas were also incorporated into the rotation. During 2024, rotation between annual and perennial pastures for animals in the ANN system was as follows: winter annuals from April 8 through June 13, then cool-season perennials through July 8, then warm-season annuals from July 9 through September 17, then cool-season perennials through October 22, then cool-season annuals from October 23 through November 12. Residual stubble heights for the cool-season annual forages were similar to the cool-season perennial forages; residual stubble heights for the warm-season annual forages were adjusted to leave an 8-10 inch stubble height. Cool-season annual and warm-season annual forages were established on a seasonal basis using the same pasture area.
This same procedure will be repeated in 2025 to complete the second year of grazing. The research team already has a plan in place for sourcing animals to use for the 2025 grazing season.
Data Collection
Throughout the grazing season, pasture samples were collected on a biweekly basis from both forage systems to determine forage yield and nutritive value. Forage samples were collected from the subsequent paddock in the rotation prior to grazing. Forage yield was determined by hand-harvesting standing forage down to the established stubble height within a 2.8 ft2 quadrat at 6 randomly-selected locations within the paddock. Yield samples were weighed and dried in a forced-air oven at 60°C to allow for dry matter and forage yield calculations. Forage quality samples were collected by hand-clipping random samples down to the established stubble height from a minimum of 10 locations within the paddock. Quality samples were mixed to produce a single composite sample for each paddock and sent to a commercial forage testing laboratory (Cumberland Valley Analytical, Waynesboro, PA) for analysis.
Animal performance data for both groups was collected every other week throughout the study. Performance data collected included body weight, body condition (1-5 scale for lambs; 1-9 scale for cattle), and FAMACHA score (lambs only). Body weight data was used to calculate average daily gains for all animals throughout the grazing season. Any other animal health incidents or observations were noted and tracked.
Economic data was collected for each system throughout the grazing season. Data collected for economic analysis included total costs associated with annual forage establishment (e.g., seed, herbicide, labor, fuel), pasture maintenance expenses (e.g., fertilizer, fuel), and total income (e.g. animal weight gain value) for each system. The amount of time herds spent in each paddock throughout the grazing season was recorded, along with the amount of time the combination system herd spent in perennial vs. annual pasture areas; this data is being used to calculate carrying capacity for each system.
Data collection procedures will remain the same for the 2025 grazing season.
Data Analysis and Presentation of Results
Limited preliminary results have been compiled for the 2024 grazing season and are presented below. At the conclusion of the study, all collected data will be analyzed in terms of forage yield (tons per acre), forage quality (e.g., fiber, protein, energy), and animal performance (e.g., weight gain, body condition, frame measures). In addition, a full economic analysis will be completed to compare the inputs, outputs, and relative success of each system. The economic gain (or loss) due to differences in animal performance will be determined by assigning value to each kg of animal body weight based on the current market value for beef or lamb ($/kg).
All data has been/will be analyzed as a mixed model analysis using SAS statistical software. Study results are being presented in several ways, including newsletter articles, Extension factsheets/reports, research updates at Extension meetings, and presentations at scientific conferences. The research team will also compile study results into a peer-reviewed publication which will be submitted after project completion.
Although some results/analysis is still ongoing, some limited preliminary results have been compiled for the 2024 grazing season. Variables that have been looked at thus far from 2024 data include: forage quality (Table 1), body weight, average daily gain, body condition score, and FAMACHA score (Tables 2-3). Please note that the results shown here represent averages between the different treatments, and a full statistical analysis on this data still needs to be completed.
Based on this preliminary data from 2024, animal performance under the perennial/annual combination system appears to be better than performance in the perennial-only system. By the end of the grazing season, body weight, body condition, and average daily gains were greater for both lambs and calves in the combination system. This was not unexpected, as previous work has demonstrated the ability of annual forages to provide a lot of high-quality forage for animals to graze. At this point, there appears to be a lot of potential advantages with this type of combination forage system. However, additional data is still being analyzed/compiled to add to this, and ultimately the economic analysis will be the key that helps answer the question of if utilizing/incorporating these annual forages into a grazing system is a worthwhile investment for producers.
Table 1. Average forage quality values
| Nutrient (% DM) | Perennial-Only System | Perennial/Annual Combination System | ||
| Perennial mix | Perennial mix | Cool-season annuals | Warm-season annuals | |
| Dry Matter | 28.7 | 26.5 | 20.7 | 20.9 |
| Neutral Detergent Fiber | 53.7 | 49.5 | 42.2 | 43.2 |
| Crude Protein | 18.5 | 20.5 | 23.1 | 16.0 |
| Total Digestible Nutrients | 65.5 | 65.8 | 71.1 | 67.6 |
Table 2. Animal performance data for lambs in 2024
|
Starting BW (lb) |
Ending BW (lb) | Average Daily Gain (lb/d) | Starting BCS | Ending BCS | Starting FAMACHA Score | Ending FAMACHA Score | |
| Perennial-Only System | 72.2 | 108.4 | 0.17 | 3.0 | 3.5 | 1.0 | 1.3 |
| Perennial/Annual Combination System | 74.4 | 129.2 | 0.26 | 2.9 | 3.9 | 1.1 | 1.5 |
Table 3. Animal performance data for calves in 2024
|
Starting BW (lb) |
Ending BW (lb) | Average Daily Gain (lb/d) | Starting BCS | Ending BCS | |
| Perennial-Only System | 480.0 | 734.0 | 1.30 | 5.0 | 5.5 |
| Perennial/Annual Combination System | 487.0 | 868.0 | 1.81 | 5.0 | 6.0 |
Education & Outreach Activities and Participation Summary
Educational activities:
Participation Summary:
The advisory committee for this project includes Amanda Cather, sheep producer with Plow and Stars Farm; Matt Morris, beef producer with Middletown Valley Beef; Hans Kefauver, sheep and beef producer with Kefauver Farms and soil conservationist with Natural Resource Conservation Service; Michael Calkins, conservation planner with Howard County Soil Conservation District; and Ben Beale, agriculture educator with University of Maryland Extension and the Maryland-Delaware Forage Council.
This advisory committee is made up of a diverse group of individuals, including several producers (raising both sheep and cattle) along with various agencies and agricultural service providers. As a group, this committee believes this research project is a worthwhile endeavor and would provide valuable information to producers in Maryland and across the Northeast region. The advisory committee has provided input and advice on plans for this project, and agrees that the plans outlined in this proposal will allow the project team to be successful not only in completing this study, but also in engaging producers and effectively disseminating study results.
The committee has agreed to continue to be involved through the duration of this project and to work together to ensure a successful and positive outcome. To accomplish this, the research team and the advisory committee will touch base on a biannual basis through a combination of email and teleconference calls. This will allow the research team to provide updates on study progress and preliminary findings and will serve as an opportunity for the committee members to provide feedback on the project. The committee will also be invited to join the research team at the field days hosted at both the research site and the on-farm demonstration sites, which will provide additional opportunities for the research team to share project activities and findings and for the advisory committee to provide discussion and feedback. At the conclusion of the project, final study results will be shared with the committee members, who will assist the research team with sharing project findings through their own networks.
Learning Outcomes
Data has been collected at a few of the outreach events. Based on this data, participants have reported increased in knowledge regarding forage ID and selection, calculating stocking density and pasture allocation, measuring forage yield, strategies to extend the grazing season, matching forage quality with animal needs, managing for soil health and fertility, and developing a grazing system.