Purdue News

February 20, 1998

Beef producers save with Purdue grazing system

Efficient production and use of forages, such as the system developed at Purdue, will be a large part of the 1998 American Forage and Grassland Conference in Indianapolis March 8-10, said Johnson, the conference chairman. Other experts at the conference will discuss forage production and use, forage production and the environment, and forage as food and protection for wildlife. The public is welcome to attend.

With the new Purdue system, Johnson found that cows grazing on corn residue and stockpiled pasture (pasture kept in reserve) in November and December ate for $15 to $24 less per cow than did cows fed hay. The cost savings increased when Johnson added the price of labor needed to feed hay to cows. The change in feed didn't affect the health or body weight of cows or their calves.

"I'm confident in saying that producers can save $20 on average per cow per year," Johnson said. "For a 20-head herd, which is probably the average in Indiana, that's $400 they can put back into the farming enterprise, help pay for a child's education or use to go out for a big night on the town."

Producers who plan to use stockpiled pasture next fall must adopt a rotational stocking system, which means they must subdivide a pasture into at least four paddocks. In late August they must take livestock off one-quarter of the pasture, fertilize it with 50 pounds of nitrogen per acre, and keep livestock off that section to let forage grow from September through mid-November. In late November, December and possibly early January, livestock can graze on the forage that accumulates, or is stockpiled, on the August-fertilized section.

"Fencing doesn't have to be expensive," Johnson said. "Producers can subdivide existing, fenced pasture with an inexpensive electric fence of polywire, polytape or one-strand wire. And cost can be prorated, because the fence is good for more than one year."

Johnson warns producers that there are three reasons not to use corn residues after January: The corn residue quality has dropped because weathering; the hooves of grazing cattle would compact the wet fields; and cows near calving need high-quality feed.

Producers interested in forage production may meet with Johnson or other national experts at the conference March 8-10 at the Adam's Mark Hotel. Registration is $85 for the full conference or $35 per day. Walk-ins will pay an additional $15 late fee. Family members also are welcome, Johnson said, and the conference fee for spouses, children and students in $35.

Conference participants can take tours of the Children's Museum, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Indianapolis Zoo, Amax Coal Co., Claas Equipment and the Kelsay Dairy.

For more information on the prices and the conference, visit the Web site at http://www.agry.purdue.edu/agronomy/ext/forages/news.htm, or contact Johnson at (765) 494-4800; e-mail, kjohnson@dept.agry.purdue.edu, or Dana Tucker at (800) 944-2342.

Source: Keith Johnson, (765) 494-4800; e-mail, kjohnson@dept.agry.purdue.edu
Writer: Rebecca J. Goetz, (765) 494-0461; rjg@aes.purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu

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