Frequently Asked Questions: Swath Grazing - Feeding on Frozen Crops

• My cereal crop was seeded with the intention of harvesting the grain, but the crop was damaged heavily by frost. What can I do with the crop now?
• What are the salvage options for livestock forage?
• What costs will swath grazing save?
• The land with the frozen cereal crop has no fence or water. How could we possibly swath graze?
• Is it necessary to have handling facilities and shelter?
• Do we have to wait for winter to swath graze?
• A grain producer said he would consider allowing my livestock to swath graze on his land, but he is worried about soil compaction and residue left behind that will cause problems during seeding next spring. Are these issues a concern?
• Is there more information available about swath grazing?
• Is there a way to buy or sell feed grain and forage?

Updated: June 2006

My cereal crop was seeded with the intention of harvesting the grain, but the crop was damaged heavily by frost. What can I do with the crop now?

The crop can be salvaged for livestock forage. Because of the frost, there is a chance the plants will have accumulated nitrates. The crop should be cut when the weather is suitable. If there is a chance of nitrates, the forage should be tested.

What are the salvage options for livestock forage?

The traditional methods of salvaging the forage are baling, silage bales, and chopped silage. An alternative, and potentially cost saving method, is swath grazing.


What costs will swath grazing save?

When a producer intends to bale a forage stand, the material is normally crimped to speed the drying process. With swath grazing, the crop can be cut with a swather because drying the material is not a concern.

After cutting, swath grazing saves the costs of baling or chopping, hauling, stacking or packing, and feeding the material. If the bales or silage are fed in a central location, swath grazing saves manure removal costs as well.

The land with the frozen cereal crop has no fence or water. How could we possibly swath graze?

At a minimum, swath grazing requires fence and a water source. Producers with electric fencing experience can fence parcels for swath grazing relatively quickly. The cost of electric fencing, including labour and materials has been estimated by one producer at 20 cents/head/day.

If there is a source of water near the land parcel, livestock can trail up to two miles for water. Another option is hauling water. If the field is swath grazed during winter, livestock can lick snow as a water source. A minimum of about three inches of relatively soft snow is needed.

Is it necessary to have handling facilities and shelter?

Handling facilities, or access to handling facilities, may be needed to sort or treat animals. Livestock could be trailed to nearby handling facilities.

Wind protection will be necessary if swath grazing continues into cold weather. Natural trees can be sufficient. Where no shelter is available, portable windbreak fences have been used successfully.

Do we have to wait for winter to swath graze?

Swath grazing can begin immediately after the crop is cut. Traditionally, swath grazing has been reserved for late fall and winter. Removing grazing pressure from perennial pastures will allow rest and residue carryover to help improve pasture condition.

A grain producer said he would consider allowing my livestock to swath graze on his land, but he is worried about soil compaction and residue left behind that will cause problems during seeding next spring. Are these issues a concern?

Soil compaction can occur if grazing takes place on moist soil, prior to the soil freezing. Compaction area can be reduced if the livestock are confined to relatively small areas at a time. If the soil is muddy, the livestock may need to be moved or confined to one location and fed until conditions are drier.

The amount of material left behind is mostly dependent upon the management of the livestock. When the animals are allocated a four- to five-day supply of feed at a time, the remaining residue can be negligible. When livestock have access to feed supplies of eight or more days, potential losses due to trampling, fouling and drifting snow are significantly higher and may cause seeding problems the following spring.

Is there more information available about swath grazing?

Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food has additional information in the publication entitled Swath Grazing

Is there a way to buy or sell feed grain and forage?

The Feed Grain and Forage Listing Service with Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food is capable of listing standing crops for grazing. To register a new product, go to www.agr.gov.sk.ca and go to Programs and Services. You can note details, such as the type of crop, crop conditions (for example, frozen), nitrate testing, fencing, and access to water

For help registering your feed, call the Feed Grain and Forage Listing Service at
1-800-667-7564.

Production information is available through the
Agriculture Knowledge Centre at
1-866-457-2377.