May 29, 2024

VIDEO: Forage Crops for Maximum Livestock Nutrition Part 2


This workshop is led by regional manager for Southeast AgriSeeds, Paige Smart. We will explore summer annual forage crops as a means of increasing summer productivity while enhancing the nutritional value of pastures. Gain a better understanding of how to combine forages throughout the year to reduce feeding time. We will discuss how increasing the number of grazing days while decreasing the time spent feeding supplements, improves the bottom line of an operation. Livestock nutritional needs are often better met with improved forage varieties than with hay or supplements. We will also compare the growth of many different summer annual forages. In part 2, Paige starts by addressing specific needs of participants and discusses silvopasture systems.

16 thoughts on “VIDEO: Forage Crops for Maximum Livestock Nutrition Part 2

  1. I think the corn that was grazed by Jim Gerrish was probably a silage type that was planted with the intention of grazing it. I have a hard time believing it was the waist sowed by the combine. Likely having high nitrates at the younger stage it would reach in the fall. I'm not hating on this speaker, her presentation is great and I love her enthusiasm for grazing.

  2. 30% tree coverage for silvopasture is about ideal.
    Obviously depending on your specific environment such as climate, latitude, general weather patterns and your season duration. These all manipulate this percentage, there is no standardized percent it varies region to region but 30% is a good starting point.

    Using a Keyline plow in the correct manner with contour lines on pastures is a great way to accelerate pasture performance and greatly reduces the effects of drought.

    Keyline plowing can be done without the need of reseeding because its minimal damage to pasture surface. It simply explodes the subsoil leaving the surface mostly undisturbed. Also a great time to plant silvo trees while keyline plowing due to the small ripping lines created by the plow. Allowing you to simply insert saplings in the crevices created by the plow.

  3. 38:00 as for strip grazing. Joel Salatin's father had built up the pasture of a farm they got for cheap (not in good shape) over years. They already moved the cattle often, but when they switched every day it was a very noticeable (positive effect). He said that in the Justin Rhodes interview, not sure what it was that made such a difference.

    Optimal grass growing cycle ?
    Growing gass just to the maximum, have it all eaten very equally (in the small space), and then giving it the optimum time to regrow.
    The small patch forces the cows to eat ALL grass also what they do not like so much ?

    If it is all fairy equally eaten down (but not too much) it mayb be easier to oversow and to introduce the seeds you want to see there.
    But the cows also poop on the ground and they may do a lot of the reseeding (plus fertilizer).

    Plus he has chickens (and maybe goats) that deal with weeds. Goats (at least cashmere) like to eat what cattle cannot eat (or it would be dangerous for them).

  4. The presenter is very good, her presence and enthusiasm and clearly highly informed (also on the practical aspects aside from the academic side).

  5. Glad to see the current concerns still on going.. I went to Clemson, majored in Agronomy and minored in Animal Science, could have gone either way . The Animal science Dr would pick at the Forages prof and say, " ' why don't you develop a forage that will give a high weaning weight and top out a USDA Prime? The Forage prof would counter with "if you worried about having enough feed for your cows, you got it ass backwards.. Granted, this conversation might have been overheard at the Esso Station.. But you are so right. Clemson is cool season forage but I am from the lower Coastal Plains and sure enough warm season. Its tough. I know nothing of counting calories and fad diets. All I know is CP, DP and TDN. It's amazing to me to see how little these 12 t0 18 % rations have changed over the years.

  6. Oddly a native species of sage brush made its way into our pasture and after spending years trying to poison, dig out, kick over, bush hog before seeding…on and on we decided to over seed the pasture and just turn the sheep loose on it. They ran to the sage and stripped the tender leaves and shoots and never let it seed! It’s like CRACK COCAINE TO SHEEP! They love pumpkins throughout the pregnancy and birthing cycle but if I brought in fresh sage they would prefer it!

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