Growing High Energy Pasture in US ?

[Stocker Steve]

In some places there is an ongoing lament that Americans have not figured out how to grow "high energy pasture". Some blame not enough lime/K/legumes used. Others blame not enough rye or festolium or annual crops planted...

Have you seen a successful stocker quality pasture rotation provided (other than the classic winter wheat grazing)?

 

[muleskinner]

We have been trying Sucraseed and have had some success. It seems to give the animals lots of more energy along with better gains.

http://sucraseed.com/

 

[greybeard]

I blame it on not enough rain. :mad:

 

[shaz]

In some places there is an ongoing lament that Americans have not figured out how to grow "high energy pasture". Some blame not enough lime/K/legumes used. Others blame not enough rye or festolium or annual crops planted...

Have you seen a successful stocker quality pasture rotation provided (other than the classic winter wheat grazing)?

Does that mean that someone has grown enough high energy pastures?

Whom?

 

[Stocker Steve]

In some places there is an ongoing lament that Americans have not figured out how to grow "high energy pasture". Some blame not enough lime/K/legumes used. Others blame not enough rye or festolium or annual crops planted...

Have you seen a successful stocker quality pasture rotation provided (other than the classic winter wheat grazing)?

Does that mean that someone has grown enough high energy pastures?
Whom?

Usually it is people that have lots of rain and reasonable winter temps: NZ or Ireland for a start.

 

[pdfangus]

proper stocking rates and regular rotational grazing followed by lots of rest for the pasture...rest period and regeneration is the key....

i have been trying to implement the Greg Judy philosophy and it is showing results....this year I added in a lot of cover crops sown in the fall in each paddock after grazing....

I have grazing thru December and then I can go to the cover crops...... but I think I will use sacrifice lots and let the cover grow til spring and have a good start on grazing in March.....as I said in Aarons post on bale grazing....I am going to commit some lots to fallow all year and just let them grow wild.....probably the sacrifice lots I use this winter and maybe a couple others. But I have 48 paddocks on 15 acres. Just portable polywire....I can set up two weeks worth of fences in an hour on a saturday or sunday.

I have even considered renting more land and expanding the cow herd a little bit....not to where we were...but a few more head. probably won't but the fact that I am considering it is monumental for me.

 

[Bigfoot]

Me personally I have never had the results from rye, wheat, or oats that I would like to have seen. Stock piled fescue may be the only thing I go into winter with from now on. I have told myself this before, and changed my mind though.

 

[1982vett]

I've gone the whole year (so far) without supplementing pasture. Should we catch a little more than a sprinkle of rain I think I'd make the rest of the winter also.

I used to count on "high energy pasture", but not so much anymore...

 

[Stocker Steve]

Me personally I have never had the results from rye, wheat, or oats that I would like to have seen. quote]

We don't get consistent fall rains here either.
Trying to avoid irrigation...

 

[shaz]

In some places there is an ongoing lament that Americans have not figured out how to grow "high energy pasture". Some blame not enough lime/K/legumes used. Others blame not enough rye or festolium or annual crops planted...

Have you seen a successful stocker quality pasture rotation provided (other than the classic winter wheat grazing)?

Does that mean that someone has grown enough high energy pastures?
Whom?

Usually it is people that have lots of rain and reasonable winter temps: NZ or Ireland for a start.

I've been all over Ireland with the exeption of Ulster and don't see any difference other than better summers. I wonder if we (the US) never made the effort because we have the Saudi Arabia of corn next door and didn't make the effort with grass until comodities got out of control.

 

[Stocker Steve]

Usually it is people that have lots of rain and reasonable winter temps: NZ or Ireland for a start.

I've been all over Ireland with the exeption of Ulster and don't see any difference other than better summers. I wonder if we (the US) never made the effort because we have the Saudi Arabia of corn next door and didn't make the effort with grass until commodities got out of control.

What difference were you looking for? I assure you than even with global warming Ireland is more temperate in the winter than Minnesota. Not too many snowmobiles parked in front of the pub in Ireland.

I think you are totally correct about the grain energy alternative - - that past Government policies that resulted in cheap grain AND low land rents made low productivity seasonal pastures acceptable. Now times have changed, but has your pasture production doubled to offset that land rents have tripled? Not mine.

The seed salesmen are pushing annual (grasses) to double production (and quadruple seed sales). I am not so keen on rye ect. as a summer energy feed but I am considering going back to strip grazing corn for the last 3 to 4 weeks. Stockers can do 2.5 to 3 pounds per day and really slick up AFTER the perennial pastures to into a summer slump.

I have seen corn grazing work. I was checking for any other high energy pasture ideas.

If you were a serious cover crop guy you would graze corn in late July and early August - - right before or right after you seed a fall annual. :?: