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Frequently Asked Questions - Swath Grazing
Where should I set up for swath grazing? To get an answer to your own question, click here
Updated: June 2006 Where should I set up for swath grazing? A field with natural or man-made shelter (including portable windbreaks), near handling facilities and water is ideal for swath grazing. Perimeter and cross fences to divide a large field into smaller paddocks should be put in place in the fall. A one wire high tensile electric fence is usually satisfactory for subdividing the field into paddocks. Hilly fields may create problems for swath grazing as snow can accumulate in low lying areas, making it difficult for livestock to access swaths. Low lying areas can be baled or grazed early in the year before snow accumulates. What crops are best for swath grazing? The cost saving benefits of swath grazing can be achieved with any spring sown crop. Producers have utilized oats, barley, wheat and mixtures of cereals, as well as warm season crops such as millets. The objective is to produce low cost grazing. In most cases, cereals will produce feed that meets or exceeds the feed requirements for a cow in mid-gestation with 30 below temperatures. Feed testing is recommended, as quality will vary depending on the maturity of the plants at harvest. In order to produce a crop that is ready to swath in late August, planting is delayed until June 10th to 15th. Seeding later than the 15th can work, but usually results in lower yields. Swathing of cereals for swath grazing is done in late August when the cereals are in the late milk to early dough stage.
How much land should I set aside? In general, a cow will eat and waste between three per cent and 3.5 per cent of her weight in a day. Decide how many days of swath grazing are required and calculate the amount of feed needed. For example, 50 – 1,500 lb. (680 kg) cows would require 2,625 lb. (1,193 kg) of feed per day (see calculations below). 1,500 lb./cow x 3.5% = 52.5 lb. feed/day. 52.5 lb./cow x 50 cows = 2,625 lb./day 680 kg/cow x 3.5% = 23.8 kg feed/day. 23.8 kg feed /day x 50 cows = 1,190 kg/day Forage yield in cereals is generally double the seed yield (that is the entire plant, e.g. leaving no stubble) so a 50 bu./ac. barley crop will yield approximately 4,800 lb./ac. (2,181 kg/ac.) of forage. Adjustments must be made to account for cutting height. Usually an allowance of 300 lb./acre is what is left behind as stubble. 50 bu./ac. x 48 lb./bu. = 2,400 lb./ac. 2,400 lb./ac. x 2 = 4,800 lb./ac. forage. 50 bu./ac. x 21.08 kg/bu. = 1,090 kg/ac. 1,090 kg/ac. x 2 = 2,180 kg/ac. forage. Knowing this information, we see an acre will feed the cows for about 1.7 days. 4,800 lb./ac. ÷ 2,625 lb. forage/day = 1.82 days/ac. 2,180 kg/ac. ÷ 1190 kg forage/day = 1.82 days/ac. To feed six weeks, you’ll need about 23 acres (42 days grazing ÷ 1.82 days/ac. = 23 acres) Can I swath graze with all my livestock? Swath grazing is best suited to mature cows in good condition. Cow condition must be monitored throughout the swath grazing period. During severe weather, such as a blizzard, cattle may need to be fed in a sheltered location. Once the weather improves, the cattle can return to swath grazing. Swath grazing can begin in the fall when pastures deteriorate and before cows lose condition. Swath grazing can be done until two weeks before calving.
How should I manage my swaths? Electric fencing is utilized to limit feeding the swaths to the cows. Strip grazing is the preferred method of swath grazing. Two portable electric fences are used for strip grazing the field. Long, narrow fields work best, as it reduces the length of wire moved and the number of rebar posts required. Electric fence is important to swath management. It is best to allocate one and one-half to two days feed at a time, as this will decrease wastage and reduce the risk from bad weather. Many producers allocate swaths for up to five days at a time and are getting reasonably good clean up. The amount that the animals leave behind will be dependant not only on the management but also on the snow depth and other environmental conditions. Proper swath management provides for uniform nutrition to the animals and little feed wastage. Links and Further Reading: Golden Millet Prepared by André Bonneau – Forage Conversion Specialist, Agriculture Knowledge Centre. For more information, please contact the Agriculture Knowledge Centre at 1-866-457-2377. | ||||||
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