Bale Grazing - Extending Grazing Season with Efficiency

By Andi Anderson

Bale grazing is a management practice used in livestock farming to extend the grazing season and provide supplemental feed during the winter months. It involves stockpiling pasture, placing round bales of hay strategically throughout the pastures, and allowing livestock to graze in a controlled manner. Here's a summary of the key points:

Bale grazing is a strategy to add grazing days to the calendar, reducing the need for stored or purchased supplemental feed during the winter months. This can lead to cost savings and reduced labor.

Key Strategies for Successful Grazing:

• Rotationally Grazing: Using a rotational grazing system can help in making the most of available forage.
• Diverse Forage Species: Planting multiple forage species with varying growing seasons can help ensure a continuous supply of forage.
• Stocking Rates: Managing livestock numbers to match available forage is essential.
• Fertility Management: Adding fertility to pastures when needed can enhance forage growth.
• Fencing and Water: Adequate fencing and water sources are necessary for successful bale grazing.

Bale Grazing Process:

• Bale grazing involves stockpiling pasture and placing round bales strategically in the pastures before winter sets in.
• Temporary fencing is used to allocate an area containing several bales to control livestock access.
• Once the hay is consumed, animals are moved to the next section of pasture.
• This practice helps reduce damage to pastures, allows for nutrient dispersal, and minimizes mud and manure accumulation.

Challenges with Bale Grazing:

• Nutrient and dry matter loss can occur from the hay while bale grazing, especially in Ohio's humid climate.
• The source and quality of the hay used for bale grazing can impact results.
• Issues like weed content in hay and herbicide carryover can affect the success of bale grazing.

Considerations for Purchased Hay:

• When using purchased hay for bale grazing, gather information about its source, quality, and potential weed or herbicide concerns.
• Have the hay tested to ensure it meets your livestock's nutritional needs and doesn't contain harmful weeds.

Variability in Success:

• Success with bale grazing may vary from farm to farm and year to year.
• The number of bales needed depends on factors like livestock species, numbers, lifecycle needs, and hay quality.

Resources for Further Information:

• Land Grant Universities and local Extension Offices can provide additional information and customized recommendations for bale grazing practices.

Bale grazing can be a valuable tool for farmers looking to reduce winter feeding costs and improve pasture management. However, it requires careful planning and consideration of factors like forage quality, hay source, and pasture conditions to achieve the best results. Farmers interested in implementing bale grazing should consult with local agricultural extension services and consider starting on a smaller scale to assess its feasibility for their specific circumstances.

Photo Credit: istock-123ducu