Stockpiling Pasture by Interseeding Annual Rye into Existing Pastures

Stockpiling Pasture by Interseeding Annual Rye into Existing Pastures

Summary

Reducing winter feed costs for beef cow herds can be enhanced by an expanded grazing season.

Objectives: Compare three methods of stockpiling forage for early spring grazing: 1) pulling cows off perennial cool season pastures from mid-August to September; 2) pulling cows off perennial cool season pasture in mid-August, interseeding rye (no-till) and reintroducing cows in April; and 3) pulling cows off perennial cool season pastur ein mid-August, spraying with Gramoxone for burndown and no-tilling rye into burned down grass. Control plot would be grazed through November with late April turnout.

Results: A very dry August and September resulted in poor to zero stands of rye. Therefore, no feed advatnage was gained from the rye. Economic results favored th control paddock by $5 to $33 to the acre. Results indicated that eliminating fall grazing does improve early spring growth; however, the extra spring growth did not compensate for loss of fall grazing days.