– Victor Shelton, Retired NRCS Agronomist/Grazing Specialist
Does the manure from stockpiled forage being grazed stand the test?
I hear quite often from people who have read a recent Grazing Bites. Two people recently have referred to the article as grazing “bits” not “bites,” but I really don’t care what you call it as long as you’re reading it and hopefully getting something out of it. For future reference, though, most “bits” are nouns – the sharp point of a tool, a horse bridle, a small amount of something, a minute computer unit, an old monetary value or perhaps a past tense bite! “Bite” is a verb to cut, grip, or tear with or as if with the teeth – hence grazing forages with teeth. Perhaps though, grazing bites are also bits of grazing information.
It didn’t take too many windy and rainy days to shed the trees of any remaining leaves, provide us a surprise early snow and declare that winter was truly moving forward. My wife likes the changes of the seasons, but if it was up to me, I’d consider moving lock, stock, and barrel to a warmer spot for a short while every year. I’ve known a few people who did move some of their cattle southward during the winter so they could continue to graze – usually on winter annuals. There are some years that can also be accomplished here in the Midwest.
If you can get cereal rye planted early enough to get sufficient growth to graze, then grazing can begin in the fall once plants reach 6-12 inches tall and can be grazed to a height of 3-4 inches. That can’t be done if it isn’t planted until early November – the earlier the better. Mid to late Continue reading
