– Victor Shelton, Retired NRCS Agronomist/Grazing Specialist
In pastures green, the cows reside, ruminating thoughts in quiet abide. Underneath the gentle sun’s embrace, they chew their cud with tranquil grace.
I was recently asked to briefly explain “ruminating.” Ruminating is when the ruminant animal regurgitates partially digested food from its stomach back into its mouth, where it chews it again to further break it down. This process helps these animals extract as many nutrients as possible from their food, which is typically plant material that is difficult to digest. Ruminants are key to sustainable agriculture systems because they have a unique ability to convert low-quality forages into high-quality meat and milk products.
Ruminants possess a distinctive digestive system optimized for the microbial breakdown of complex plant materials. The ruminant “stomach” consists of four chambers which are home to a microbial population that degrades feedstuffs consumed by ruminant animals. Optimizing the rumen microbiome not only enhances animal welfare and productivity but can also address environmental impacts linked to livestock production.
It’s important that the ruminant animal has a healthy microbiome early in life and keeps it. The pH of the rumen is probably one of the most important things to keep stable if you want the animal to be able to breakdown forages efficiently. The normal pH of the rumen for an animal on a forage based diet is between 6 and 7. As the pH of the rumen starts dropping to 5.8 or below, it is harder to maintain the flora needed to breakdown complex plant material.
Humans also ruminate, but in a totally different sense of the word. You ruminate – ponder or think – about something, going over it in your mind repeatedly and often casually or slowly giving it a lot of consideration before making a decision. Please feel free to ruminate on this topic!
This year has been full of significant challenges. At times, it felt like I was procrastinating on important tasks, but I wasn’t. I was actually waiting for the right opportunities to tackle them. The weather has mostly been uncooperative with only brief moments of favorable conditions, and I’ve spent more time fixing things because of it! Strong winds and dead ash trees don’t mix.
Wet conditions continue to create hay challenges, especially for dry hay. I’ve seen a little hay cut and baled during the very short windows of opportunity we’ve had. Excess soil moisture remains a problem, even when the sun shines for a couple of days. Avoid mowing hay when the top two inches of soil are wet, as this moisture slows drying and complicates storing dry hay. Mow at least 2-3 inches high to allow for better air circulation. Don’t bale as tight as you normally would.
Excessive moisture requires more drying time to make it suitable for baling for dry hay and even for good ensiling. For hay to store well and maintain quality, it must be baled with absolutely no more than 18% moisture, and for small square bales, 16% should be the upper limit. Higher moisture content usually leads to soured or moldy hay.
Given the current conditions, baleage might be the best option if you have or can access the necessary equipment. Baleage is hay too moist to store as dry hay, so it is wrapped or sealed in plastic at about 50% moisture. It can be fermented as individual bales or in a tube. Ensure the wrap is tight and sufficient to exclude oxygen and prevent mold. Baleage is typically wrapped with at least six layers of thin plastic and can produce high-quality forage if done correctly.
Every producer worries at times about making hay. I’d rather leave the forage standing than end up with poor-quality hay. If hay is baled and stored wet, its quality quickly deteriorates, leading to costly consequences. Livestock won’t thrive on low-quality hay and added supplementation will be needed, and you’ll have removed and relocated valuable nutrients that will need to be replaced.
Sadly, running equipment on wet soils usually leads to soil compaction which damages soil structure, water infiltration, root growth, water storage for later in the year, and future forage yields. In the end it’s your decision and sometimes you just have to do what you think you have to do and live with the choice.
You may ask what to do with runaway forage. The best approach is to keep grazing, allocating smaller sections to graze and moving the animals frequently. This method helps return more nutrients to the soil in the same area and keeps the forage under control. Then, allow enough time for the forage to recover before grazing it again. Normally, this takes a while unless you have too many animals. Since it’s the beginning of June, you shouldn’t be short on forage.
Clipping can help maintain quality, but it is costly, and you also still have to consider soil moisture. If you decide to clip, remove the seed heads and avoid cutting the leaves. If that’s not possible, stick to grazing.
Ask yourself why you’re mowing. If it’s to improve or maintain quality, go ahead, but don’t mow shorter than necessary. If it’s just for looks, you might be better off leaving it alone. Taller forages produce more live roots, providing some drought protection. They can also shade out weeds, keep soils cooler, and retain moisture, promoting growth of cool season forages instead of less desirable plants. This cover could be very important if it decides to turn dry later this year.
As of the date that I’m writing this during the last week of May, I’ve received 52 percent of my yearly average of rain. Looking at this in another way, I’ve already received all of June’s rain and starting into July’s. Changing weather conditions and maturing forages impact grazing much like a chess game, requiring strategic thinking and adaptability to stay ahead.
Successful grazing management, like winning a chess game, relies on anticipating changes, making calculated decisions, and adapting to evolving conditions. Each move counts, and a well-thought-out strategy can keep your livestock healthy and your pastures sustainable through the changing seasons.
Remember, it is not about maximizing a grazing event, but maximizing a grazing season! Keep an eye on the forages and keep on grazing!