Grazing Basics Central Wisconsin Grazing Meetings March 2008
Grazing Basics Central Wisconsin Grazing Meetings March 2008 Craig Saxe UW-Extension, Juneau Co. 211 Hickory Street Mauston WI 53948 (608) 847 -9329 craig. saxe@ces. uwex. edu
We’ll be covering • What is rotational grazing • Why use rotational grazing • Understanding plant growth • Setting up a grazing system • Fencing, watering and frost seeding • Grazing tips
Why use Rotational Grazing?
Managed Intensive Grazing Advantages • We control where animals graze • Increases yield • Increase carrying capacity • Extend grazing season in the fall • Increases forage quality • Increases animal performance • Lowers cost of production • Maximizes efficiency of your time and resources • Offers greater management flexibility
It could be argued that managed intensive grazing comes at an added cost • Fence • Water systems • Labor • Higher level of management required
Why manage grazing? • Reduces erosion • Improves water quality • Enhance wildlife habitat • Improves range or pasture condition Texas Creek, Colorado, BLM website on Health Riparian Areas
CIAS 2006
CIAS 2006
Gross Returns Per Acre Penn State 1992
Direct Costs Per Acre Penn State 1992
Profit Per Acre Penn State 1992
Dairy Economic Comparison (15, 000 vs. 18, 000 lbs/cow/yr) Confinement Full Machinery Return To Labor Grazing Reduced Machinery 36, 528 39, 409 43, 640 52, 118 54, 997 54, 227 7. 07 8. 08 9. 66 10. 73 Return To 6. 40 Labor ($/hr) 8. 95 * Researchers caution that this study is based on simulated dairy models CIAS Study
Livestock Enterprise Comparison Enterprise Stocking Rate 5 acres Lbs product per acre 100 calf Gross per acre $60 Cow-calf-intensive 2 acres 250 calf $150 Stocker calf-low intensity 1 acre 270 gain $95 Stocker calf-intensive 0. 5 acre 540 gain $189 Sheep-low intensity 0. 5 acre 225 lamb $113 Sheep-high intensity 0. 2 acre 560 lamb $280 Cow-calf-low intensity Ohio State
Livestock Enterprise Comparison Enterprise Stocking Rate 5 acres Lbs product per acre 100 calf Gross per acre $60 Cow-calf-intensive 2 acres 250 calf $150 Stocker calf-low intensity 1 acre 270 gain $95 Stocker calf-intensive 0. 5 acre 540 gain $189 Sheep-low intensity 0. 5 acre 225 lamb $113 Sheep-high intensity 0. 2 acre 560 lamb $280 Cow-calf-low intensity Ohio State
Livestock Enterprise Comparison Enterprise Stocking Rate 5 acres Lbs product per acre 100 calf Gross per acre $60 Cow-calf-intensive 2 acres 250 calf $150 Stocker calf-low intensity 1 acre 270 gain $95 Stocker calf-intensive 0. 5 acre 540 gain $189 Sheep-low intensity 0. 5 acre 225 lamb $113 Sheep-high intensity 0. 2 acre 560 lamb $280 Cow-calf-low intensity Ohio State
Livestock Enterprise Comparison Enterprise Stocking Rate 5 acres Lbs product per acre 100 calf Gross per acre $60 Cow-calf-intensive 2 acres 250 calf $150 Stocker calf-low intensity 1 acre 270 gain $95 Stocker calf-intensive 0. 5 acre 540 gain $189 Sheep-low intensity 0. 5 acre 225 lamb $113 Sheep-high intensity 0. 2 acre 560 lamb $280 Cow-calf-low intensity Ohio State
Understanding Plant Growth
http: //www. uwex. edu/ces/crops/teamforage/index. html
http: //www. uwex. edu/ces/cwas/
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