Early Grazing Management for Beef Cattle
William Johnston, Beef/Sheep Adviser, Enniskillen Campus, CAFRE.
Grazed grass is by far the cheapest feed available for beef cattle. The cost of producing a kilogram of liveweight gain from grazed grass is around four times cheaper than liveweight produced on silage and meal. With this cost advantage farmers should aim to maximise the liveweight gain of stock on grazed grass. Exploiting grass based production must be the priority on beef farms if production costs are to be lowered and returns maximised.
Early turnout – the advantages
Turning stock out to grass as early as possible in spring brings a number of benefits:
- Feed costs are reduced
- Less winter feed is required
- Lower machinery costs for feeding and slurry spreading
- Spring grass has a high nutritive value
- Performance at grass is higher than when housed
- Increased total weight gain over the grazing season
Early fertiliser – the best results
Early grass will be stimulated by fertiliser nitrogen. Nitrogen is available as urea, calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN) or as products containing a blend of both.
Under dry conditions or whenever soils have been freshly limed CAN will be expected to be more effective. However under wet conditions urea will be the preferred choice as it is less susceptible to leaching and is cheaper per unit of nitrogen.
The best results from fertiliser nitrogen are achieved when:
- An application of around 50 kgN/ha (40 units/acre) is applied to areas that favour early growth, from late February and as soon as ground conditions allow.
- Fertiliser application is delayed until March on heavy soils.
- Nitrogen is applied approx six weeks before the proposed turnout date.
- No heavy rain is forecast for at least three days after application.
- Fertiliser is applied to sheltered, drier fields that were not grazed bare last autumn.
- Nitrogen is applied to swards with a high content of perennial ryegrass.
Phosphate (P) and Potash (K) requirements are much lower for grazing swards than silage swards because of the nutrient recycling in the dung and urine of grazing animals. P is usually more important than K which should not be applied until mid season to minimise the risk of grass tetany.
Early grazing – the strategy
If early grass has been produced then it is important that this valuable resource is used as efficiently as possible. Aim to:
- Turn out small numbers of stock as early as ground conditions and grass growth allow.
- Turn out lighter cattle first.
- Get cattle out before grass covers are too high (15cm or 6 inches). High covers require a high stocking density, to control grass quality, which can be difficult to achieve with ground which is slow to dry out in the spring.
- Match grass supply and stock requirements.
- Adopt a rotational grazing system and the use of paddocks or a well managed set stocking system.
- Graze tightly until June (down to 6 – 8 cm or 2 – 3 inches). This will minimise seed head production and promote a leafy sward for the rest of the season.
- Have a flexible approach – take out areas for silage in times of excess grass and if grass is scarce increase the grazing area.
Grazing performance – you weigh, we pay
Where good grassland management is practised it is possible for cattle to gain over 200kg over the grazing season. Growth rates of, on average, over 1 kg per head per day can be achieved but what level of performance are you achieving?
If you are a commercial suckler producer who has completed the learning programme of the Beef Quality Initiative (BQI) and have cattle from an elite or superior bull and have access to a weigh crush then you could be eligible to receive an allowance for weighing your stock and measuring their performance at grass. The preferred times for weighing stock are at turnout, midseason and at housing so apply now if you are interested. The annual rates of payment are:
| Number of cattle | Cost (£) |
|---|---|
| 15 - 30 cattle (minimum) | 350 |
| 31 - 45 | 425 |
| 46 - 60 (maximum) | 500 |
If you would like more information about BQI Progeny Performance Recording and the details of what is involved please contact your local adviser or BQI Administration –telephone 028 94426880.
Summary
- Apply fertiliser nitrogen carefully and efficiently.
- Turn small numbers of lighter stock out as early as practical on drier fields.
- Graze tightly in spring to maintain grass quality.
- Operate a controlled grazing system.
- Consider weighing your stock under BQI if you and they are eligible.