When and where to turnout to make the most of available grass
Krista Ehlert – SDSU Extension Range SpecialistMay 4, 2021Agriculture News
Photo Lauren Chase, Montana Stockgrowers Association
BROOKINGS, SD – There’s nothing like green grass to remind many of us how much we love the livestock business. Amid market highs and lows, droughts, blizzards and floods, it is encouraging to remember how reliable the progression of seasons is. Every year at green-up, grass managers must make decisions about when and where to begin grazing.
Considerations include hay reserves, the cost of purchasing additional feed and the impact of early grazing on pasture grasses. How long should you continue to feed, delaying the impact of grazing on pastures? How early can you turn out, relieving the cost of feeding? Which pasture do you graze first? The answer to these questions is: It depends! You may have several options, depending on your pasture resources, your stored feed resources and your abi