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As
September rolls in, cattle producers’ attention will soon move toward
making sure that they have sufficient feed stuffs for winter feeding.
This is also the time that most producers decide on the use of and
implementation of winter annuals. The use of winter annuals is very
popular in the Southeast because of mild winter weather and adequate
moisture for winter grazing. It is also very popular in low hay years as
a way to stretch available forages to make it through the winter until
the grass greens up again in the fall. While discussing the use of
winter annuals may not seem to be related to nutrition, this year, with
a reduced hay crop, adequate stands of winter annuals will be very
important in meeting the nutritional needs of your cattle.
The
first consideration is the type of annual you want to plant. Most
producers decide between ryegrass, wheat, oats or rye along with a
clover for nitrogen uptake and protein quality. Ryegrass continues to be
the most popular of winter annuals. Ryegrass can be drilled, broadcast
or incorporated into a prepared seedbed. Ryegrass will provide grazing
in late fall through winter and into mid-spring. Ryegrass is mostly used
by cattle producers who want to turn cows out in early spring on lush
green grass. It will not only provide early grazing, but will afford the
opportunity to feed hay early and reduce hay demands in the late winter
and early spring.
Another
popular choice is the use of small grains such as wheat, oats and rye.
Small grain seed will give earlier grazing, but the seed should be
covered with one to two inches of soil. Therefore, it is best to use a
grain drill when planting small grains.
When
implementing winter annuals, it is also profitable to plant an annual
legume, such as Crimson or Arrowleaf Clover. The use of clover will
increase the overall quality of the forage, thus improving animal
performance. Clover, when inoculated, will fix nitrogen making this
important nutrient available to your winter annuals and reducing
fertilizer cost. If the legume makes up 25 percent or more of the stand,
it is possible no additional nitrogen will be needed.
Although
most producers understand the benefits of these forages, they are
useless if stand failure occurs. Let’s look at some steps to consider
to help assure an adequate stand with quality forages.
One
of the first considerations is the method of planting. If you’re
planting into an established grass, you must make sure that the stubble
of the summer grass is less than one inch. Excess stubble makes it
difficult to drill or broadcast seeds and have proper soil contact.
Also, excess stubble will reduce sunlight the new plants will need to
thrive. Heavy grazing and clipping are the two most popular ways to
reduce stubble. If planting into a prepared seedbed, make sure of the
seeding depth and do not plant the seeds at a depth that is more than
seven times greater than the diameter of the seed.
Another
consideration is determining the best date for planting. While winter
annuals are relatively easy to establish, there is still the fact that
the weather in some years is more suitable for growing annuals than in
other. While we cannot control the weather, we can control being
prepared when the weather is best for planting. Have the needed seed,
make sure the land is prepared and have your equipment in good working
condition to be in the fields at the proper time. If a window of
opportunity is missed, you could have a reduced stand with poor results.
Also, planting too early may expose the seed to excessive heat and
competition from established summer grasses, while planting too late in
the fall may lead to winter kill. It is always good to be prepared for
planting in mid- to late-September.
Another
concern when preparing for planting winter annuals is the seeding rate.
Know the recommended seeding rates of the crop you are trying to
establish. If conditions are less than favorable, increase the seeding
rate to help assure an adequate stand. It is better to seed at a heavier
rate, if in the end you have a higher stocking rate.
Now
that you have made the decision of what to plant and when to plant, the
next consideration is to determine factors that could possibly affect
the quality of the grass stand.
One
of the first considerations is proper soil nutrients. It is always best
to do a soil test and to fertilize according to the results. In a
prepared seedbed, you should add fertilizer to the seedbed; while in
drilled situations, you should fertilize after the emergence of the
grass.
Another
decision is to make sure to reduce insect pressure. I have seen problems
with army worms in winter annuals. Remember you must always be on the
lookout for insect pressure in young, tender grass no matter the time of
year.
The
last consideration when establishing and grazing winter forages is to
make sure not to graze the stand early. One of the biggest detriments to
a good stand is letting cows on the grass too early. Do not graze if the
fields are soft and muddy; always make sure that you can not pull the
plant up by the root before grazing. Once the plant has been pulled by
the root the plant is done and will not continue to grow.
After
establishing good winter forage, there are nutritionally related
concerns that must be considered as well. One of the first concerns is
realizing the high moisture content of the grass. Cattle grazing high
moisture grass will have a tendency to have very loose stool, may
maintain winter hair longer and may have a "washed out" look
about them. The loose stool really speeds up passage rate of nutrients
and the cattle may not perform as well as you would like on the grass.
The addition of hay or other high roughage products will reduce the
problems mentioned and the cattle will look better and perform at a
higher level. Also, if you have the ability to graze the cattle for only
a couple of hours a day, you will see less problems and the grass will
last longer as well.
Another
concern in winter grass, especially with the addition of clover, is
bloat. If you are grazing winter annuals on a continuous basis, I would
recommend a bloat block for at least 21 days before grazing begins. This
will reduce any problems with bloat and help the cows be more efficient
in utilizing the grass.
A
final concern is grass tetney. Grass tetney is caused by a build up of
potassium nitrate that binds to magnesium reducing the intake from the
plant. This can be deadly in cows and is more prevalent on cool cloudy
days when the grass is actively growing. To reduce grass tetney, a
mineral that is at least 14 percent magnesium should be provided to your
cows on a free choice basis at least 28 days prior to grazing winter
forages.
While
there are some considerations in deciding, establishing and grazing
winter forages, the advantages far outweigh any disadvantages from using
this method as a way to meet some of the nutritional needs of your
cattle. Your local Co-op store is prepared with the seed, fertilizer,
lime, bloat products, high magnesium minerals, as well as the knowledge
to help you develop a very successful grazing program. I am also
available to answer any questions you might have in this process. I can
be reached at 256-947-7886 or jimmyh@alafarm.com.
Jimmy
Hughes is AFC’s animal nutritionist.
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