2003 Annual Report for OS03-009
Year Round Beef Cattle Grazing Strategy to Eliminate or Reduce the Use of Stored Feeds
Summary
The majority of our producers in eastern Kentucky work full-time off the farm and operate small scale family farm operations (<100 acres). Limited resources such as time, labor, land and capital are common in this region of the state. The continued loss of tobacco generated farm income is having a significant impact on the economies of many eastern Kentucky communities. The opportunity to supplement family income with beef cattle production is a feasible option if the grazing period can be extended and the cost of producing or purchasing stored feed is virtually eliminated. Kentucky’s climate and cool-season grass dominated forage base, typically requires the feeding of store forage during December, January, February and March.
Objectives/Performance Targets
Our hypothesis is that year round grazing can be accomplished if the grazing plan includes a cool-season grass for spring and fall grazing, a warm-season grass (eastern gamagrass) for mid-to-late summer grazing, corn for early winter grazing, and small grain for late winter to early spring grazing, thus, eliminating the need for stored winter forage and subsequently reducing the cost (i.e. equipment and labor) of beef production.
Corn will be used as a tool for renovating pastures and establishing eastern gamagrass without a loss in forage production. Eastern gamagrass, like many other warm-season grasses are often slow to establish requiring two growing season before an adequate stand is available for grazing. Eastern gamagrass can be planted with a corn crop managed for winter grazing.
2003 April- map each farm using GPS/GIS and develop rotational grazing plan and renovation schedule. Soil sample each field in trial.
2003 April thru July - rotationally graze cool-season grass pastures.
2003 May- plant corn and interseed eastern gamagrass.
2003 August- defer grazing on a selected field for fall stockpiling. Apply nitrogen fertilizer according to UK recommendations.
2003 November thru December - graze stockpiled pasture. Weigh cattle before and after.
2004 January thru February- graze standing mature corn. Measure grain and total biomass yield before and after grazing. Weigh cattle.
2004 March thru April - graze small grain forage. Measure dry matter yield. Weigh cattle.
Accomplishments/Milestones
2003 April- map each farm using GPS/GIS and develop rotational grazing plan and renovation schedule. Soil sample each field in trial.
2003 April thru July - rotationally graze cool-season grass pastures.
2003 May- plant corn and interseed eastern gamagrass.
2003 August- defer grazing on a selected field for fall stockpiling. Apply nitrogen fertilizer according to UK recommendations.
2003 November thru December - graze stockpiled pasture. Weigh cattle before and after.
2004 January thru February- graze standing mature corn. Measure grain and total biomass yield before and after grazing. Weigh cattle.
2004 March thru April - graze small grain forage. Measure dry matter yield. Weigh cattle.
Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes
As of this date we have not completed one cycle of our year-round grazing project. Several newspaper articles have been published informing the public of the project, it's objectives and the funding source. A producer field day is scheduled for September 7, 2004 followed by Ag Agent training on September 8. Data for the first cycle will be summarized following the grazing of the winter small grain crops.