This article was written by Breann Saulnier, OMAFRA Grazing Livestock Assistant. You may look out into a pasture and see an abundance of tall, delicious-looking grass for livestock to graze but this is not necessarily what the livestock see. The amount of forage available for grazing is the portion of plant material that the animal chooses to eat, not the total amount of forage growing that is visible. So how do you know what the animal will choose to eat? Well, the palatability and the utilization of forage for animals is influenced by what stage of growth the grass is in. In the context of grazing, palatability refers to a measure of when animals are given free choice, choose to…
All posts tagged pasture management
Timing Spring Turn-out
Spring is in the air, and ewes and farmers alike are eager to start the grazing season. Timing that delightful move is critical, as spring grazing management sets up both yield potential of the pasture and the quality of the available forage. How early is too early? Livestock should go out on pasture when grasses have fully developed three to four new leaves. Turning out earlier than this is very stressful on the plants. Perennial forages rely on carbohydrates stored in their root systems to fuel regrowth when they break dormancy (Figure 1). The plants do not refill those carbohydrate stores until they have enough leaf area to produce more sugar than they need to grow. By waiting until grasses…
Time to Think About Pasture Management
As things start to green up, its a good time to think about your pasture. OMAFRA’s Publication 19 Pasture Production has information on improving pastures, including species selection, fertility, rejuvenation and renovation, weed control, grazing systems, fencing and watering. It also provides insight into animal pasture management, budgeting, and managing different types of livestock on pasture. Available on line.
