Grazing Alfalfa
Grazing Alfalfa Western Canadian Alfalfa Training Seminar April 11-13, 2006 Dr. Garry Lacefield Extension Forage Specialist University of Kentucky, USA
Cheapest Source of Nutrients
Grazing Alfalfa World Perspective
Grazing Alfalfa Canada, Argentina, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Chili, Europe
Grazing Alfalfa Historical Perspective
Grazing Alfalfa • Freezedown growth • Summer droughts • Weedy – thin hay stands
Grazing Alfalfa Advantages • Yield • Quality • Versatility • Reduced machinery cost • Summer pasture • Profit
Grazing Alfalfa
Yield
Grazing Alfalfa Gain/Acre 400 - 1300
Grazing Alfalfa Dairy - Virginia 15,286 lbs milk (4%) 24 wks with no supplement
LAMB GRAZING TRIAL TWO-YEAR AVG. Production 710 lbs/ac ADG 0.35 lbs Gain/Lamb 31.30 lbs Stocking Rate 24.80 Matches, A.G. et.al.
Grazing Alfalfa •Yield •Quality
QUALITY
Grazing Alfalfa ADG 1.0 - > 3.0
Grazing Alfalfa •Yield •Quality •Versatile Use
Grazing Alfalfa •Yield •Quality •Versatile Use •Niches
Grazing Alfalfa Dairy - Virginia 33.5 lbs milk/day – top grazers 30.0 lbs milk/day – bottom grazers
Grazing Alfalfa •Yield •Quality •Versatile Use •Niches •Summer Pasture
Drought
Grazing Alfalfa • Yield • Quality • Versatile Use • Niches • Summer Pasture • Reduce Machinery Cost
Machine Fertilizer Labor Land Other
40.1% 19.7% 17.1% 15.2% 7.9%
Alfalfa Production Costs Machinery Machinery (Overhead) (Overhead) 21% 21%
Interest Interest 14% 14%
Other Other 10% 10%
Machinery Machinery (Variable) (Variable) 28% 28%
Seed Seed 8% 8% Taxes Taxes 6% 6%
Fertilizer Fertilizer and Lime Lime Labor Labor and 7% 7% 6% 6%
Grazing Alfalfa • Yield • Quality • Versatile Use • Niches • Summer Pasture • Reduce Machinery Cost • Extend Stand Life
Grazing Alfalfa • Yield • Quality • Versatile Use • Niches • Summer Pasture • Reduce Machinery Cost • Extend Stand Life • Profit
Grazing Alfalfa Dairy - Nebraska Feed replacement 459 lbs grain 1200 lbs alfalfa hay 5022 lbs corn silage
Annual Profit Per Acre Alfalfa, Grazing Dairy Alfalfa, Cash Hay Corn, Silage Corn, Grain Soybeans Grass Hay
$0
$100
$200
Source: University of Tennessee
$300
$400
$500
Grazing Alfalfa Dairy - Pennsylvania Feed cost reduced $182/cow or $1.00/cwt John Rodgers
Grazing Alfalfa Dairy New York.....................123 cows/yr Pennsylvania...............116 cows/yr Michigan......................150 cows/yr
Grazing Alfalfa Increase in Net Return $142/cow/yr Source: Al Rotz, USDA/MSU 1996
Grazing Alfalfa Concerns
• Bloat • Fencing • Shorter stand life • Utilization
Grazing Alfalfa
Bloat
Bloat • Grow grass with alfalfa • Feed bloat-preventing compounds • Do not turn hungry cattle into an alfalfa field, especially when plants are wet with dew. • Do not graze immature alfalfa or alfalfa-grass. • Provide salt and minerals.
Bloat • Observe cattle closely when turning in for first time. • Observe cattle closely during cool, cloudy, rainy weather • Do not graze alfalfa for three days following a killing frost • Use bloat safe alfalfa?
Alfalfa - Orchardgrass Rotational 43% Carrying Capacity 40% Milk Production Source: VPI Bull, #45
Grazing Alfalfa Requirements For Grazing Grazing Method Paddock Number Paddock Size Acres Required Stocking Rates Paddock Shape
Grazing Alfalfa Number of Paddocks =
Days of Rest +1 Days of Grazing
Example: Graze 4 Days, Rest 28 Days
28 + 1 = 8 4
Grazing Alfalfa Acres Required Per Paddock
Avg. Wt. of Animals to be Grazed
Number Dry Matter Consumed Days of X on the X Per Animal as % X Animals Pasture of Body Weight
= Dry Matter Available in the Area to be Grazed
X
Pounds of Forage Available Per Inch Species Alfalfa or Alfalfa-grass mixture Arrowleaf Clover Bermudagrass Caucasian Bluestem Crimson Clover Kentucky Bluegrass Native Warm Season Grasses Orchardgrass Orchardgrass-Clover Red Clover Annual Ryegrass Oats, Rye, Wheat Tall Fescue Tall Fescue-Clover
Dry Matter
Pounds/Inch/Acre
Average 225 200 260 180 200 160 100 180 200 220 250 150 210 190
Range
75 100 – 150 – 75 – 100 – 100 – 50 – 75 – 100 – 100 – 75 – 75 – 100 – 80 -
400 300 500 350 300 275 250 300 325 300 400 250 350 325
Acres Required Per Paddock
Avg. Wt. of Animals to be Grazed
Dry Matter Consumed Days Number of X on the X Per Animal as % X of Body Weight Animals Pasture
= Dry Matter Available in the Area to be Grazed
% of the Dry Matter
X Utilized by Grazing
Amount of Forage Utilized With Different Grazing Methods
Method Haylage Hay Strip Grazing Rotation Two Times/Day Daily Rotation Rotation Every Two Days Three to Seven Day Rotation Three to Five Week Rotation Continuous Stocking
Percent Utilization 85 70 70 70 60 55 50 40 20
– – – – – – – –
95 85 85 80 75 70 70 65 50
These Values Should Be Used As A Guide. Considerable Variation can Exist Within And Among Categories.
Grazing Alfalfa Example: Forty 600 lb steers consuming 3% body weight for 4 days. Twelve Inches growth,thick stand (12 X 200lbs/in.) utilizing approximately 65 %. 600
X
.03
X
(12 x 200)
40 X
X .065
4 2880 = 1560 =1.85
Grazing Alfalfa Total Acres Required
Example:
=
Number of Acres Required X Per Paddock Paddocks
8
X
1.85
=
14.8
Grazing Alfalfa No. Animals to be Grazed Stocking Rate = Total Acres Grazed
Example:
40 14.4
=
2.8
Grazing Alfalfa Stocking Density =
No. of Animals Grazing Paddock
40 = 22 Example: 1.8
Shapes
Shapes Length
45
744
L = 2XW
60
60
951 60
1,007
45
886 888
Length
L = 4XW
1
43,560
1,040 87,122
Grazing Alfalfa The Future is Bright
http://www.uky.edu/Ag/Forage
Cheapest Source of Nutrients
Grazing Alfalfa World Perspective
Grazing Alfalfa Canada, Argentina, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Chili, Europe
Grazing Alfalfa Historical Perspective
Grazing Alfalfa • Freezedown growth • Summer droughts • Weedy – thin hay stands
Grazing Alfalfa Advantages • Yield • Quality • Versatility • Reduced machinery cost • Summer pasture • Profit
Grazing Alfalfa
Yield
Grazing Alfalfa Gain/Acre 400 - 1300
Grazing Alfalfa Dairy - Virginia 15,286 lbs milk (4%) 24 wks with no supplement
LAMB GRAZING TRIAL TWO-YEAR AVG. Production 710 lbs/ac ADG 0.35 lbs Gain/Lamb 31.30 lbs Stocking Rate 24.80 Matches, A.G. et.al.
Grazing Alfalfa •Yield •Quality
QUALITY
Grazing Alfalfa ADG 1.0 - > 3.0
Grazing Alfalfa •Yield •Quality •Versatile Use
Grazing Alfalfa •Yield •Quality •Versatile Use •Niches
Grazing Alfalfa Dairy - Virginia 33.5 lbs milk/day – top grazers 30.0 lbs milk/day – bottom grazers
Grazing Alfalfa •Yield •Quality •Versatile Use •Niches •Summer Pasture
Drought
Grazing Alfalfa • Yield • Quality • Versatile Use • Niches • Summer Pasture • Reduce Machinery Cost
Machine Fertilizer Labor Land Other
40.1% 19.7% 17.1% 15.2% 7.9%
Alfalfa Production Costs Machinery Machinery (Overhead) (Overhead) 21% 21%
Interest Interest 14% 14%
Other Other 10% 10%
Machinery Machinery (Variable) (Variable) 28% 28%
Seed Seed 8% 8% Taxes Taxes 6% 6%
Fertilizer Fertilizer and Lime Lime Labor Labor and 7% 7% 6% 6%
Grazing Alfalfa • Yield • Quality • Versatile Use • Niches • Summer Pasture • Reduce Machinery Cost • Extend Stand Life
Grazing Alfalfa • Yield • Quality • Versatile Use • Niches • Summer Pasture • Reduce Machinery Cost • Extend Stand Life • Profit
Grazing Alfalfa Dairy - Nebraska Feed replacement 459 lbs grain 1200 lbs alfalfa hay 5022 lbs corn silage
Annual Profit Per Acre Alfalfa, Grazing Dairy Alfalfa, Cash Hay Corn, Silage Corn, Grain Soybeans Grass Hay
$0
$100
$200
Source: University of Tennessee
$300
$400
$500
Grazing Alfalfa Dairy - Pennsylvania Feed cost reduced $182/cow or $1.00/cwt John Rodgers
Grazing Alfalfa Dairy New York.....................123 cows/yr Pennsylvania...............116 cows/yr Michigan......................150 cows/yr
Grazing Alfalfa Increase in Net Return $142/cow/yr Source: Al Rotz, USDA/MSU 1996
Grazing Alfalfa Concerns
• Bloat • Fencing • Shorter stand life • Utilization
Grazing Alfalfa
Bloat
Bloat • Grow grass with alfalfa • Feed bloat-preventing compounds • Do not turn hungry cattle into an alfalfa field, especially when plants are wet with dew. • Do not graze immature alfalfa or alfalfa-grass. • Provide salt and minerals.
Bloat • Observe cattle closely when turning in for first time. • Observe cattle closely during cool, cloudy, rainy weather • Do not graze alfalfa for three days following a killing frost • Use bloat safe alfalfa?
Alfalfa - Orchardgrass Rotational 43% Carrying Capacity 40% Milk Production Source: VPI Bull, #45
Grazing Alfalfa Requirements For Grazing Grazing Method Paddock Number Paddock Size Acres Required Stocking Rates Paddock Shape
Grazing Alfalfa Number of Paddocks =
Days of Rest +1 Days of Grazing
Example: Graze 4 Days, Rest 28 Days
28 + 1 = 8 4
Grazing Alfalfa Acres Required Per Paddock
Avg. Wt. of Animals to be Grazed
Number Dry Matter Consumed Days of X on the X Per Animal as % X Animals Pasture of Body Weight
= Dry Matter Available in the Area to be Grazed
X
Pounds of Forage Available Per Inch Species Alfalfa or Alfalfa-grass mixture Arrowleaf Clover Bermudagrass Caucasian Bluestem Crimson Clover Kentucky Bluegrass Native Warm Season Grasses Orchardgrass Orchardgrass-Clover Red Clover Annual Ryegrass Oats, Rye, Wheat Tall Fescue Tall Fescue-Clover
Dry Matter
Pounds/Inch/Acre
Average 225 200 260 180 200 160 100 180 200 220 250 150 210 190
Range
75 100 – 150 – 75 – 100 – 100 – 50 – 75 – 100 – 100 – 75 – 75 – 100 – 80 -
400 300 500 350 300 275 250 300 325 300 400 250 350 325
Acres Required Per Paddock
Avg. Wt. of Animals to be Grazed
Dry Matter Consumed Days Number of X on the X Per Animal as % X of Body Weight Animals Pasture
= Dry Matter Available in the Area to be Grazed
% of the Dry Matter
X Utilized by Grazing
Amount of Forage Utilized With Different Grazing Methods
Method Haylage Hay Strip Grazing Rotation Two Times/Day Daily Rotation Rotation Every Two Days Three to Seven Day Rotation Three to Five Week Rotation Continuous Stocking
Percent Utilization 85 70 70 70 60 55 50 40 20
– – – – – – – –
95 85 85 80 75 70 70 65 50
These Values Should Be Used As A Guide. Considerable Variation can Exist Within And Among Categories.
Grazing Alfalfa Example: Forty 600 lb steers consuming 3% body weight for 4 days. Twelve Inches growth,thick stand (12 X 200lbs/in.) utilizing approximately 65 %. 600
X
.03
X
(12 x 200)
40 X
X .065
4 2880 = 1560 =1.85
Grazing Alfalfa Total Acres Required
Example:
=
Number of Acres Required X Per Paddock Paddocks
8
X
1.85
=
14.8
Grazing Alfalfa No. Animals to be Grazed Stocking Rate = Total Acres Grazed
Example:
40 14.4
=
2.8
Grazing Alfalfa Stocking Density =
No. of Animals Grazing Paddock
40 = 22 Example: 1.8
Shapes
Shapes Length
45
744
L = 2XW
60
60
951 60
1,007
45
886 888
Length
L = 4XW
1
43,560
1,040 87,122
Grazing Alfalfa The Future is Bright
http://www.uky.edu/Ag/Forage
