Tips for Winter Grazing

Characteristics of a good grazing hybrid:

• Early silage hybrids are the best option for winter grazing.
• Choose hybrids that will reach 50% milk at first killing frost. 
• Select hybrids that produce high forage yields and high digestibility.
• Choose hybrids with known standability. 

Paddock Management 

• Use a high-quality electric fence to partition off your corn field.
• In the beginning, slowly introduce your herd to corn.
• Limit exposure and supplement with hay until the cows start to become comfortable.
• Limit cows to three or four days of feed at a time. This limits their ability to overindulge on cobs and ensures they clean up the stalks. It also minimizes the risk of potentially life-threatening rumen acidosis
• Clear alleyways for your fence. This allows the cattle to move through the paddock in the initial turnout.
• Having a shelter for the herd is ideal; it can be bush or a portable windbreaker shelter.
• Access to soft fresh snow or a viable water source is a MUST.

Agronomy tips

• Take whole plant samples to ensure you know what nutrients your cows are getting.
• Watch for signs of grain overload during years of full cob development as cows eat the cobs first and come back for stalks afterwards.
• Wait for the cattle to clean up stalks before moving them to the next paddock.
• Wait until ground is firm/frozen as this will minimize the loss of feed that is trampled and lost in the mud.
• Always have a supply of back-up feed. Heavy snow or extreme cold and bad weather can add challenges to the cattle grazing.
• Plant two or three different hybrids spread over your maturity range. This allows for you to spread out your maturity and acres for a given area.
  

PRIDE Seeds Best Grazing Hybrids

Why winter grazing is a win, win

• No need to start your tractor in harsh cold conditions.
• No manure management; it’s already in the field.
• Winter grazing can provide beef cattle with a high-quality nutrient source into mid and late stages of pregnancy.
• Minimal summer feed harvesting is needed.

Acres of corn needed

• Plan for 200 cow days per acre of corn.
• Acres required for 200 cows for 30 days of grazing:
• 200 cows X 30 days = 6,000 cow grazing days required.
• 6,000 cow grazing days / 200 cow days per acre = 30 acres corn.
• Insert your own numbers for your specific farm needs.

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