Precision Management Precision Management Techniques for Forage Techniques for Forage

Production SystemsProduction Systems

By Andy Clifford

                                                       

The Value of ForageThe Value of Forage• In Oklahoma, excluding livestock, hay is In Oklahoma, excluding livestock, hay is

the second most valuable crop, behind the second most valuable crop, behind winter wheat.winter wheat.

• Hay has a value of 302 million dollars Hay has a value of 302 million dollars annually just in the state of Oklahoma, annually just in the state of Oklahoma, wheat has a value of 386 million dollars.wheat has a value of 386 million dollars.

• There was 625,000 tons of silage cut in There was 625,000 tons of silage cut in the year 2000 in Oklahoma.the year 2000 in Oklahoma.

                                     

The Value of Forage The Value of Forage cont’d.cont’d.

• LivestockLivestock– Cattle, sheep, horses, and goats all spend the Cattle, sheep, horses, and goats all spend the

majority of their life on some type of majority of their life on some type of pasture.pasture.

– The 5.4 million head of cattle in Oklahoma The 5.4 million head of cattle in Oklahoma account for 1.57 billion dollars added to the account for 1.57 billion dollars added to the economy annually.economy annually.

– 300,000 horses and 55,000 sheep.300,000 horses and 55,000 sheep.

Pasture in OklahomaPasture in Oklahoma

• 27 million acres of Oklahoma is planted 27 million acres of Oklahoma is planted or used as some type of pastureor used as some type of pasture

• 44,020,480 acres in Oklahoma.44,020,480 acres in Oklahoma.

• 61% of the surface area of Oklahoma is 61% of the surface area of Oklahoma is in some type of permanent or temporary in some type of permanent or temporary pasture.pasture.

Grain and Fiber CropsGrain and Fiber Crops• Production mainly focused on the Production mainly focused on the

production of seed or fiber associated production of seed or fiber associated with the seed.with the seed.

• Harvest does not usually occur until the Harvest does not usually occur until the plant has reached maturity.plant has reached maturity.

• Production aimed towards producing the Production aimed towards producing the most seed rather than the most green most seed rather than the most green forage.forage.

Forage CropsForage Crops

• Production mainly aimed towards the Production mainly aimed towards the production of high quality green forage production of high quality green forage per unit of land area.per unit of land area.

• Harvest occurs over a longer period Harvest occurs over a longer period before and after the plant reaches before and after the plant reaches maturity.maturity.

Traditional Forage Traditional Forage SystemsSystems

• Continuous Livestock GrazingContinuous Livestock Grazing• Hay ProductionHay Production• Greenchop Forage and Drylot Greenchop Forage and Drylot

SystemsSystems• Silage ProductionSilage Production

Methods for increasing Methods for increasing productivity or productivity or

profitability through profitability through additional managementadditional management

• Decrease production costs and inputsDecrease production costs and inputs• Increase total volume of forage producedIncrease total volume of forage produced• Increase quality of forage producedIncrease quality of forage produced• Increase overall value of forage producedIncrease overall value of forage produced• Increased forage harvest efficiencyIncreased forage harvest efficiency

Precision ManagementPrecision Management• Nutrient ManagementNutrient Management

– Soil TestingSoil Testing• Grid soil samplingGrid soil sampling

– Sensor based nutrient mgmt.Sensor based nutrient mgmt.• Water ManagementWater Management

– Natural RainfallNatural Rainfall– IrrigationIrrigation

• MIGMIG

What is MIG?What is MIG?

• The use of additional management to The use of additional management to improve profitability or sustainability of improve profitability or sustainability of a livestock and forage operation.a livestock and forage operation.

• Most often a combination of rotational Most often a combination of rotational grazing, improved forages, irrigation, grazing, improved forages, irrigation, and other types of intensive management and other types of intensive management techniques.techniques.

Forage Quantity and Forage Quantity and QualityQuality

Rotational Grazing Rotational Grazing SystemsSystems

Stocking RatesStocking Rates• The number of animals placed in a paddock is determined by The number of animals placed in a paddock is determined by

several factors related to the livestock and to the forage.several factors related to the livestock and to the forage.– Weather and other environmental conditionsWeather and other environmental conditions– ForageForage

• QualityQuality• QuantityQuantity• SpeciesSpecies

– LivestockLivestock• SpeciesSpecies• AgeAge• SizeSize

How stocking rates are How stocking rates are determineddetermined

• Stocking rates are usually determined Stocking rates are usually determined based on the measure known as Animal based on the measure known as Animal Units (A.U.) or AUE.Units (A.U.) or AUE.– One Animal Unit requires 26 pounds of dry One Animal Unit requires 26 pounds of dry

matter per day. matter per day.

Calculating AUECalculating AUEKind or ClassKind or Class Forage Forage

Consumption Consumption (pounds of (pounds of DM/day)DM/day)

AUEAUE

CowsCows 2626 1.01.0

Cows with calvesCows with calves 3030 1.21.2

600 # steers600 # steers 1515 0.60.6

BullsBulls 3232 1.31.3

HorsesHorses 25-3525-35 1.251.25

Sheep Sheep 77 0.20.2

GoatsGoats 66 0.160.16

DeerDeer 66 0.160.16

Forage quality and Forage quality and quantityquantity

• Animal units are usually based just on Animal units are usually based just on the quantity of forage.the quantity of forage.

• Could stocking rates be more accurately Could stocking rates be more accurately set if the quality of the forage was also set if the quality of the forage was also taken into consideration?taken into consideration?

Nutrient requirements of Nutrient requirements of livestock.livestock.

• Livestock’s nutrient requirements are Livestock’s nutrient requirements are less as they grow older.less as they grow older.– Young calves require higher quality forage Young calves require higher quality forage

than older steers or heifers.than older steers or heifers.– Yearling cattle require higher nutrient levels Yearling cattle require higher nutrient levels

than mature stock cows.than mature stock cows.– Etc.Etc.

Determining forage Determining forage availability.availability.

• Most common method is based on a Most common method is based on a combination of “eyeball” estimates and combination of “eyeball” estimates and local averages.local averages.

• A more accurate and precise method is a A more accurate and precise method is a forage inventory.forage inventory.

Forage inventoryForage inventory

What is a forage inventory?What is a forage inventory?• An enclosure such as a quadrant or hula An enclosure such as a quadrant or hula

hoop of known dimensions is placed in a hoop of known dimensions is placed in a representative area of a field.representative area of a field.

• The forage from within the enclosure is The forage from within the enclosure is clipped and sorted based on species and clipped and sorted based on species and desirability of the forage.desirability of the forage.

Forage Inventory cont’dForage Inventory cont’d

• The desirable forages are weighed and The desirable forages are weighed and measure for quality.measure for quality.

• This measure is taken in several other This measure is taken in several other locations within the paddock or pasture locations within the paddock or pasture to obtain a representative sample.to obtain a representative sample.

• A stocking rate can be established based A stocking rate can be established based on these measurements.on these measurements.

AdvantagesAdvantages– More precise and accurate stocking rates can More precise and accurate stocking rates can

be established.be established.– Forage availability is known and there will Forage availability is known and there will

be less of a need for purchased feed.be less of a need for purchased feed.– Prevents over- or underutilization of forage.Prevents over- or underutilization of forage.– Reduces Spatial variability in paddocks or Reduces Spatial variability in paddocks or

pastures.pastures.– Maintains ideal species balance in pastures.Maintains ideal species balance in pastures.– Environmental benefits.Environmental benefits.

DisadvantagesDisadvantages– Requires more time and management.Requires more time and management.– Requires more labor.Requires more labor.– Additional knowledge of forage species, Additional knowledge of forage species,

plant physiology and nutrient management plant physiology and nutrient management is required.is required.

– Can create severe problems if producer Can create severe problems if producer neglects the system for extended periods.neglects the system for extended periods.

Cattleman, grassfarmer, Cattleman, grassfarmer, or or BothBoth??

• Most ranchers view themselves as Most ranchers view themselves as caretakers of livestock.caretakers of livestock.

• A more profitable approach might be to A more profitable approach might be to view yourself as a grassfarmer who view yourself as a grassfarmer who utilizes livestock to harvest his forage.utilizes livestock to harvest his forage.

Tools which might be Tools which might be useful if developed.useful if developed.

• SensorsSensors– On the go fertilizer applicators which use On the go fertilizer applicators which use

sensors.sensors.– A sensor which can provide an accurate A sensor which can provide an accurate

quantitative and qualitative measure quantitative and qualitative measure available forage in a paddock or pasture.available forage in a paddock or pasture.

ReferencesReferences• Oregon State University,Management Intensive Grazing PageOregon State University,Management Intensive Grazing Page

http://www.forages.css.orst.edu/Topics/Pastures/Grazing/Systems/Techniques/MIG/What.html

• Gerrish, J.R., Basic Concepts of Management Intensive Grazing, Gerrish, J.R., Basic Concepts of Management Intensive Grazing, Iowa State University Extention service, Beef Cattle Handbook,Iowa State University Extention service, Beef Cattle Handbook,http://www.ibc.iastate.edu/PDFs/BCH/Bch06000.pdf

• Rollins, Dale, Determining Native Range Stocking Rates, Rollins, Dale, Determining Native Range Stocking Rates, Oklahoma Sate University Extension service. Pub. # F-2855 Oklahoma Sate University Extension service. Pub. # F-2855 http://www.agweb.okstate.edu/pearl/range/f-2855.pdf

• Oklahoma Agricultural Statistics Service. Oklahoma Agricultural Statistics Service. http://www.nass.usda.gov/ok/http://www.nass.usda.gov/ok/

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