It’s no secret that cattlemen have enjoyed a bullish market over the last two years, and could even pocket some profits. As a forage specialist, I won’t pretend to be a market economist, but I do know that this trend tends to continue until we hit higher supply numbers from a larger cow herd. Many variables impact goals for herd expansion, but the one thing that needs to happen is an increase in forage production.
When we think about raising livestock, the first thing we think about is gaining more grazing acres to grow our herd. Typically, the poorest producing and most inconvenient acres are the most logical to use for grazing. This entire model is formed around a low input system coming from minimal inputs, labor, and low value to the land. Cattle are a phenomenal converter of low value land to higher value protein, and I don’t believe that has changed.
But, what if rather than focusing on the poor farms, we focus on maximizing output from high quality farms? This would allow much of the corn belt to diversify their crop rotation by utilizing forages that can be grazed and harvested. In a downturned cash crop cycle, this starts to make more sense. On quality, fertile soil with good management, your stocking rates for perennial grass can carry ½ pair per acre. Rotational grazing and consistent rainfall is key for this as well, but that gets you forage production for 120-150 days of the year.
If you are starting a brand-new pasture in the Midwest on good soil, some of the grass species I recommend are orchardgrass, endophyte-free tall forage fescue, meadow brome, perennial ryegrass, meadow fescue, and intermediate or pubescent wheatgrass. These cool-season introduced grasses have been developed for persistent yield and quality grazing that can push production.
There is also an annual forage production system that can build forage faster, without tying up acres if commodity cycles change. We can create a plan that allows you to harvest feed, but also provide a short season of grazing to fill a pasture void. A common double cropping scenario for early spring plantings would be to plant oats and peas with the goal to hay or chop in June. This popular combo can make palatable silage with 11-13% CP and yield 10-12 tons per acre.
The next planting opportunity is aimed to graze in late fall when your pasture acres are used up. The highest yielding forage for summer planting is sorghum-sudangrass. It is extremely heat and drought tolerant and will shine through the summer months. It will, however, die with the first frost. To maintain better quality for grazing in the winter, you should add brassicas or legumes with the sorghum-sudangrass. Brassica and legume species like turnips, rapeseed, radishes, cow peas, and mung beans are very palatable and have higher levels of digestible protein.
The other annual forage system that can build on-farm forage reserves and fill a grazing void is utilizing winter triticale and winter cereal rye in the fall after silage harvest. If you are annually chopping corn silage, you’ve created a perfect home to plant those winter annuals in September and October. Rye and triticale are the first species to break dormancy in the spring and provide fast spring growth. These fields are perfect for your young cow/calf pairs prior to pasture turnout.
There are forage options to fit into every crop rotation depending on the season. Your growing herd can continue to be profitable by maximizing production.
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