By Andi Anderson
Managing pastures during winter poses challenges in maintaining livestock health and ensuring future productivity. Several critical factors need consideration to sustain pastures and meet livestock needs through this season.
Grazing Management: Adaptation to changing weather conditions is crucial. Rotational grazing can minimize pasture damage caused by wet and muddy conditions. Options like heavy-use pads or sacrifice lots help protect pastures. Reducing stocking density and dispersing feed, water, and mineral sources can prevent pasture degradation.
Forage Quality: Testing stored or purchased forages ensures nutritional adequacy for livestock. Key values like Total Digestible Nutrients (TDN), Crude Protein, and Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF) indicate feed quality. Forages with lower TDN may not suffice for pregnant livestock or young offspring.
Supplemental Feeding: During low hay supplies or low-quality feed, supplementing with high-energy feeds like corn becomes necessary. Balancing corn and hay maintains rumen function while stretching hay supplies.
Plan for the Future: Winter serves as a reflective period to assess past pasture performance. Questions regarding productivity, forage quality, and unforeseen challenges help strategize improvements for the upcoming year. Reseeding or implementing new strategies can enhance pasture health.
Managing winter pastures demands careful consideration and planning. Evaluating past performance and making necessary adjustments can optimize future pasture productivity and livestock welfare.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-r-j-seymour
Categories: Ohio, Livestock, Dairy Cattle