The fall of the year can be a problem for producers. Even if you had forages growing, their overall quality declines drastically during this time of year. As the forages mature, they become more fibrous, their crude protein level decreases, and they become less palatable. If a producer has his herd calves in the fall, the problem becomes even more of an issue.
The issue with having a fall-calving herd is that the quality of forages decreases as her nutrition needs increase. The critical thing to remember is to meet the cow’s nutritional demands. It may seem impossible, but that is not the case. With some proper planning, it is possible to avoid having this become an issue.
Why nutrition at this time matters for fall calving
As I mentioned earlier, the cow’s nutrition demands will increase as forage quality decreases. The most significant needs increase is from the cow’s last trimester to the beginning of lactation. Lactation puts even more stress on the cow because the cow is trying to maintain its body while this is going on. Now, how much of an increase there is during this time?
To give you a baseline, a dry cow that does not have a calf only requires 7-8% CP and 45% TDN to maintain her overall condition. In this scenario, your basic, medium-quality forage is more than enough to meet those demands without supplementation. A lactating cow, on the other hand, needs 10-12% CP and 50% TDN to do the same job. Your average warm-season grass will have difficulty providing this even in a good year. So you can see why planning ahead can be important here.
What can be lacking
The area where you are will play a role in what you will need to be supplementing. In your mild winter areas, protein will be the nutrient you lack the most. An easy way to cover this is for the producer to put out some lick tubs. In your northern regions, where winters can get extremely cold, energy will be lacking more, according to Dr. Bart Lardner of the University of Saskatchewan. This is more important because it is needed so the cows can keep warm when temperatures reach way below freezing.
Finding enough feedstuffs to meet those demands can take time for most years. Across most of the country, hay may be nearly impossible to find. And if you can find someone willing to sell, the price could make it unprofitable to use it. So, producers must get a little “creative” regarding what supplements to use. If you are looking for alternatives, then check out my previous post, “How to replace hay in a drought year.”
Possible nutrition shortfalls
As I mentioned a couple of times already, nutrition levels of forages decline as we go into fall. As the plant matures, most of the nutrients are moved to the lower third. This movement is so the plant will survive the colder weather that is coming soon.
Understanding the nutrition levels of your forages is essential. Before you start putting out hay, it is a good idea to have it tested so you know what it will provide. Once you see that amount, you can start planning if you must provide over supplements to fill in the gaps. Testing for nutrition is not just for hay either. It would help to have your forages in the field tested at different intervals to know what is being provided under other conditions.
Cool-season forages are not just a key; they are a game-changer. By incorporating these grasses into your pasture management, you can extend your grazing season and reduce the need for costly supplements, giving you more control over your operation and your profits. Relying on store-bought supplements such as protein blocks, mineral mixes, or energy pellets can get expensive, cutting into your profits as a producer. Extending your grazing season as much as possible is essential to minimize this. The longer you can graze your animals on pasture, the less you will need to rely on costly supplements. One way to extend the grazing season is by incorporating cool-season grasses into your pasture management.
As your warm-season grasses begin to decline, cool-season forages can step in to keep your pasture productive. These grasses thrive in cooler months, helping to fill the gap when warm-season varieties slow down. By introducing cool-season forages, you can extend your grazing season and reduce the need for supplemental feeding. This strategy allows you to use your land better and keep your livestock grazing longer.
With cool-season grasses, your grazing season can be nearly year-round. Depending on the specific type of forage you choose, these grasses can provide grazing from as early as November through April or even May. This extended grazing period not only helps you cut down on costs but also ensures your livestock have access to fresh, nutritious forage for longer periods throughout the year, relieving you from the worry of feed shortages.
Types of cool-season grasses
Though there are many different varieties that you can go with, here are a few of the most common ones. Consider your location and growing conditions when picking a cool-season forage.
- Oat: this particular one is the least winter-hardy of the group. However, it can be an option in areas like South Texas because of fewer hard freezes. Early fall is the best time to plant oats, as they will likely produce the most dry matter of any cool-season crop. They do not grow well on sandy soils but do tolerate wet, poorly drained soils.
- Rye: this is the most winter-hardy of the group. Compared to the others, this produces more fall and winter forages. It will mature earlier in the spring than most wheat varieties. Rye grows well on well-drained soils with a sandy texture.
- Ryegrass: This is adapted to a wide range of soil types, growing better on wet soils than most other cool-season annuals. It is easy to establish by simply broadcasting seeds on the surface. Dry matter production will be late in the cool season. Mixtures of small grains with ryegrass can extend the grazing season well.
- Fescue: This type is the most dominant cool-season perennial grass used in the Southeastern U.S. While it is most adapted to Arkansas, Missouri, Tennesse, and Kentucky, it can also be found in eastern Oklahoma and Northeastern Texas. It grows well on various soil types but performs best on loam or clay soils with some water-holding capacity. In fescue, endophytes are a significant problem. Some varieties out there do not form this, in any case.
Pasture management is critical.
Managing your pasture correctly is vital to ensuring its success, like growing any forage. One crucial step is to give the plants enough time to establish themselves before allowing cows to graze. If cows are allowed to graze too soon, the plants may not grow strong enough to sustain future grazing. It’s also essential to avoid overgrazing, which can stunt the plant’s growth and reduce forage production. By carefully managing when and how much your cows graze, you can help your pasture thrive.
A rotational grazing system can be especially helpful in maintaining high forage production. In this system, you move your cows from one pasture section to another to prevent overgrazing and give the plants time to recover. A good rule to follow is “graze half, leave half.” This rule means you should let your cows graze until the plants are about halfway to the ground, then move them to a new section. This method helps the forages maintain their health and grow after the cows graze.
Letting the forage rest and regrow before rotating the cows back to the first pasture is essential. The plants need time to recover and reach a height of 10-12 inches before the cows can graze again. Giving the pasture enough rest between grazing sessions allows the forages to develop robust root systems and grow back healthier. This practice helps maintain a steady supply of nutritious forage for your herd over time, leading to a more productive and sustainable pasture.