I definitely don't think it could hurt conception rates. I'm just trying to look at ways that'll it'll pay back. I'm seriously looking at moving from feeding hay and supplementing with 3# feed a day to feeding 10-12# of feed a day and only putting hay out when it's really nasty. I know a few doing this and they claim better conception rates and weaning weights. Most hay is just pasture grass someone rolled up and doesn't have much nutritional value. I was thinking if the hay doesn't have much value the green grass probably doesn't have allot more.Lot of directions from which to look at this question.
I can see it helping both.
Are you thinking it can hurt conception rates?
Probably does as much good as an inch of rain in January....If you can't get enough forage to grow without fertilizer (assuming it rains regularly for your climate) your overstocked.I definitely don't think it could hurt conception rates. I'm just trying to look at ways that'll it'll pay back. I'm seriously looking at moving from feeding hay and supplementing with 3# feed a day to feeding 10-12# of feed a day and only putting hay out when it's really nasty. I know a few doing this and they claim better conception rates and weaning weights. Most hay is just pasture grass someone rolled up and doesn't have much nutritional value. I was thinking if the hay doesn't have much value the green grass probably doesn't have allot more.
Last test was very low on P. I fertilized and tested pastures but didn't really see much improvement. I can get all the litter I want for $20 a ton from the laying houses down the road but I'll have to spread it. Seems like the consensus here is just to keep running less and less cows per acre. That really doesn't make much sense to me as cattle is a numbers game.If you are P deficient then topdressing P will certainly help conception.
Ken
I think you identified a big issue. Test the hay.Most hay is just pasture grass someone rolled up and doesn't have much nutritional value.
It is a game of the number of profitable sales per year.Seems like the consensus here is just to keep running less and less cows per acre. That really doesn't make much sense to me as cattle is a numbers game.
I am looking at chicken litter for this spring. Does a manure spreader handle chicken litter alright?Last test was very low on P. I fertilized and tested pastures but didn't really see much improvement. I can get all the litter I want for $20 a ton from the laying houses down the road but I'll have to spread it. Seems like the consensus here is just to keep running less and less cows per acre. That really doesn't make much sense to me as cattle is a numbers game.
I did fertilize pastures lightly the first 2 years I was here at the farm. First year I put triple 19 across @ 100 lbs per acre. And 12-24-24 @ 150 pounds per acre. Very light applications. It did help. I can still see where I didn't put any.I fed some really good Tifton and Jiggs hay that my neighbor raises two years in a row. First year I paid $55 second year $70, both delivered. He cuts and fertilizes every 30 days and irrigates with pivots. The cattle loved that hay and it definitely improved my pastures from unrolling it. $70 a roll just isn't feasible though. I don't mind spending a million dollars on something if it has a pay back but at the same time I don't want to spend $5 if there's no payback. I'm just wondering about fertilizing grazing pastures. Some say you can't afford some say you can't afford not to do it.
I went to a grazing workshop some years ago. One of the things we did was take a field trip to a ranch. They did not do hay themselves. They were very near a big hay exporter. They had a contract with the exporter for the kick outs. (They don't ship blemished or off color bales) That export hay was either alfalfa or Timothy. People raising hay for that premium export market certainly don't short the fertilizer. They had plenty of legumes in their pastures. And they were on a three year rotation as to which fields they fed the hay on. The pastures looked great. They said they never buy fertilizer. They let the hay growers mine the nutrients out of their fields.
Not yet. The chicken farm hasn't been there too many years and I just haven't had the extra money. Had plans of fertilizing this fall but the land next to me came up for sale so that idea got axed. They recommend 2 tons to the acre but I've talked to several people that said it was too hot and had better luck doing 1 ton 2 yrs in a row. I did go over about 150 acres with a Lawson aerator to try and free up the soil. Hopefully that will help. I'm on old neglected farm ground and the soil is really tight.I am looking at chicken litter for this spring. Does a manure spreader handle chicken litter alright?
Have you used the litter option before? Like it?
Compared to the price of commercial fertilizer I would say that's a bargain. One ton per acre for $20 I wish there was a litter supply close to me.I can get all the litter I want for $20 a ton from the laying houses down the road but I'll have to spread it
No, not a standard box spreader. Tank style side discharge fail spreaders work much better.I am looking at chicken litter for this spring. Does a manure spreader handle chicken litter alright?
Have you used the litter option before? Like it?