Sold some

[chevytaHOE5674]

Absolutely. How do we quantify it? I'm all for figuring out the trade-off if we can do it.

But if we can't, then I'd go for gains on a calf that's going to be sold for money.

I've been leaving some of that "extra grass" in the good years to rot. Then in the drought years when others are selling down and their grass is burning up and they are scrambling for hay, mine is still green-ish and my herd size stays unchanged and my winter hay isn't in question. What is a guys cost on selling half his herd in a drought year/years and having to rebuild?

I realize every operation and region are different. Just been my strategy and it's been working well with our more recent wild swing in weather.

 

[Brute 23]

I've been leaving some of that "extra grass" in the good years to rot. Then in the drought years when others are selling down and their grass is burning up and they are scrambling for hay, mine is still green-ish and my herd size stays unchanged and my winter hay isn't in question. What is a guys cost on selling half his herd in a drought year/years and having to rebuild?

I realize every operation and region are different. Just been my strategy and it's been working well with our more recent wild swing in weather.

You are making the assumption that because some one says they have extra grass to graze they are automatically grazing it to a point of degradation.

 

[Silver]

If I am understanding this correctly yall want me to early wean... to save grass... to build soil... to grow more grass... I don't need because I'm weaning early for smaller calves...

That's exactly what I'm picking up!

 

[Travlr]

I've been leaving some of that "extra grass" in the good years to rot. Then in the drought years when others are selling down and their grass is burning up and they are scrambling for hay, mine is still green-ish and my herd size stays unchanged and my winter hay isn't in question. What is a guys cost on selling half his herd in a drought year/years and having to rebuild?

I realize every operation and region are different. Just been my strategy and it's been working well with our more recent wild swing in weather.

Yeah, I've always gone easy on my grass too. But it's a trade-off. Then it's a case of whether the short term is more money in your pocket or the long term. I've never had to sell due to drought, but that's not saying I wasn't incredibly lucky.

 

[Brute 23]

Part of our lower stocking rates is in the wet years we can hold calves and retain heifers and things like that to maximize our ground and in dry years we can we can sell at weaning or sooner and not have to sell cows.

 

[chevytaHOE5674]

You are making the assumption that because some one says they have extra grass to graze they are automatically grazing it to a point of degradation.

Not at all. In fact the opposite.

I hear people on here and all over talk about grass going to "waste". If it's on the soil there's no such thing as waste. So "extra grass" to me means extra OM in the soil building up the piggy bank. Then in a drought year when others are selling out my "extra grass" is sustaining me.

I'm in the grass game long term and hope at least one of my boys is long after I'm gone. So feeding the soil is never a waste.

 

[Brute 23]

Not at all. In fact the opposite.

I hear people on here and all over talk about grass going to "waste". If it's on the soil there's no such thing as waste. So "extra grass" to me means extra OM in the soil building up the piggy bank. Then in a drought year when others are selling out my "extra grass" is sustaining me.

I'm in the grass game long term and hope at least one of my boys is long after I'm gone. So feeding the soil is never a waste.

To some extent. You can cross the line from building soil to developing thatch and stuff that hurts your growth.

There are also situations where people may be grazing down for winter planting or fresh growth on hay fields.

Grazing extra grass is not always a bad thing. You can graze extra grass and build soil. It's not one or the other when done correctly.

 

[Travlr]

Not at all. In fact the opposite.

I hear people on here and all over talk about grass going to "waste". If it's on the soil there's no such thing as waste. So "extra grass" to me means extra OM in the soil building up the piggy bank. Then in a drought year when others are selling out my "extra grass" is sustaining me.

I'm in the grass game long term and hope at least one of my boys is long after I'm gone. So feeding the soil is never a waste.

What is the difference between feeding the soil with grass that has never been eaten... or grass that has passed through a cow? It's my understanding that the microbiome in digested and ruminated grass benefits the soil.

 

[gcreekrch]

If I am understanding this correctly yall want me to early wean... to save grass... to build soil... to grow more grass... I don't need because I'm weaning early for smaller calves...

Correct!

 

[Travlr]

@Mark Reynolds please see the above posts discussing the benefits of held grass as thatch compared to grass infused into soil as manure. Post #88?

 

[Rmc]

Does everybody have a sure fire plan to profit from the extra grass from selling those 5 wt. calves? Once again it is easy on paper.

Can tell you what has worked for us as you said grass is cheaper than hay .
Selling earlier we beat the glut and can sell at higher price than if we sold with the glut of calves that sell later .
Additional grass means reduced cost of feed for the cows . Cows go into deep winter in better condition can start feeding hay at a latter date. When you have freezing temps for 6 months of the year and snow on the ground up to 120 plus days a year . Feed cost /management is at least as important if not more important than gross of calf check.
Depending on the year you also can run more cows if you don't hold calves longer ,

 

[Heronfish]

Well again... saying it doesn't make it so. What extra savings are there in saving grass instead of growing calf? What do the regenerative folks say?

Tell us how much the uneaten grass costs and then weigh that against making two trips to the sale barn instead of one.

Is there any savings in selling calves at higher weights for less per pound? I've speculated on the transportation cost, but are there others?

I'm not sure what the confusion is.
The market just didn't pay for the extra weight or the feed. That's not an opinion.
Live and learn.

 

[Rmc]

There's also a cost if the extra grass is never used.

Yep there is but there is also a cost of grass that is over used!
Erosion , increased frequency of needing replanted. Invasion of unwanted plants ect.

 

[Travlr]

Yep there is but there is also a cost of grass that is over used!
Erosion , increased frequency of needing replanted. Invasion of unwanted plants ect.
View attachment 53701

I think we all agree on that. I don't remember anyone saying that anything was being overgrazed.

 

[elkwc]

Yep there is but there is also a cost of grass that is over used!
Erosion , increased frequency of needing replanted. Invasion of unwanted plants ect.
View attachment 53701

The grass I'm using is stock piled dormant grass that had over 50% of growth during growing season. Our state university has suggested spring burning of excess grass. The grass wasn't overgrazes.

 

[chevytaHOE5674]

What is the difference between feeding the soil with grass that has never been eaten... or grass that has passed through a cow? It's my understanding that the microbiome in digested and ruminated grass benefits the soil.

Manure is good fertilizer. Un-eaten grass builds good thatch. When it doesn't rain, is 90+ degrees, and 18+ hours of sunshine a good layer of thatch can help retain moisture in the soil and is more important than fertilizer IME.

As always different strokes for different folks. Every operation and climate varies.

 

[elkwc]

Manure is good fertilizer. Un-eaten grass builds good thatch. When it doesn't rain, is 90+ degrees, and 18+ hours of sunshine a good layer of thatch can help retain moisture in the soil and is more important than fertilizer IME.

As always different strokes for different folks. Every operation and climate varies.

The type of grass also has an influence on what you can do. This is not short grass country and the type we have are not short grass varieties. You need too know your varieties and how best too graze and maintain them. Many giving advice have no idea what grass varieties others have or how to best utilize them.

 

[chevytaHOE5674]

Your right I know nothing of the grass varieties in Oklahoma. But at least in my head retaining soil moisture is a positive thing anywhere no matter if it's grass, grain, or trees. Keeping soil from being directly exposed to blistering sunshine and drying winds is one good way to retain moisture.

As always different strokes for different folks.

My original point was that "extra grass" or grass in general has a cost. There's benefits in grazing and also can be benefits of leaving. There's really no waste if it's on the soil.

 

[Brute 23]

Manure is good fertilizer. Un-eaten grass builds good thatch. When it doesn't rain, is 90+ degrees, and 18+ hours of sunshine a good layer of thatch can help retain moisture in the soil and is more important than fertilizer IME.

As always different strokes for different folks. Every operation and climate varies.

Come on now....

 

[Brute 23]

I'm not sure what the confusion is.
The market just didn't pay for the extra weight or the feed. That's not an opinion.
Live and learn.

You are picking one snippet of time to justify a whole false rational.