Frequently Asked Questions & Answers for Grazing
1. I have 60 dairy cows and I want to start grazing. What is the most common mix for dairy pastures in the Upper Midwest?
This depends on the soil type, fertility, rainfall and what forages you are raising on the rest of the farm. But typically, a mix to renovate a pasture after destroying old sod would be:
25 # BG-34 Perennial Ryegrass
8 # Barliza Timothy
2 # Alice White Clover
1 # Forage Feast Chicory
2. I have sandy soil - what seed mix should I consider if I am going to graze?
If this is a low organic matter, sandy soil, than consider the new Barolex Fescue which has very good palatability. I would recommend the following:
10 # Barolex Fescue
4 # Baridana Orchard Grass
8 # Baralfa 32 IQ (alfalfa)
4 # Green Spirit as a nurse crop
3. My cows don't like the orchard grass -- What is wrong?
Orchard grass tends to rank low on the scale of palatability compared to other grasses. Older varieties tend to be early maturing and can develop seed heads, which stock do not like. We have found that if the stock do not like the orchard grass, even if grazed young, the calcium, phosphorus, sulfur and sodium are likely low, while the potassium and nitrogen are high. I would suggest not guessing at the mineral levels in forages. Collect a sample grass in a good growing pasture and have a tissue test done of 15 minerals (Ca, P, Mg, K, S, Na, Cu, Zn, Mn, Mo, Co, Se, and others.) to determine what minerals are needed. Consider converting some paddocks to more palatable varieties.
Balanced minerals and Good Varieties = Good Production
4. My neighbor tells me that perennial regress will winter kill in Wisconsin and Minnesota. Is that true?
Many perennial regress varieties are not adapted to harsh winter conditions. BG-34 is one that has worked well from Minnesota to New York. It does require adequate levels of calcium, nitrogen and phosphorus to do well. Many graziers will use biennial applications at 200 # to 300 # of gypsum and some ammonium sulfate each year. Other organic farmers rely on the Alice White Clover and manure for nitrogen, but apply rock phosphate and spray Nutrapathic Soil Restore and liquid fish. The benefits of BG-34 outweigh possible persistency problems and it is very easy to establish.
5. My nutritionist says that milk production will fall if I graze my dairy cows. What would you suggest?
If milk production per cow is an important criteria for your farm, then consider getting 50% to 80% of your summer forage from pasture and the balance from a TMR. I suggest that you consider and monitor profit per cow and profit per acre. These are more important factors for most farms than production per cow. Many graziers do have slightly less production per cow, but have more profit per cow, less culling, improved cow health and more time for family. I might also suggest looking for another nutritionist.
6. How much grass (acres) do I need for my 100 cows?
An old 'rule of thumb' was 1/2 acre per cow for spring, one acre per cow for summer and 1.5 acres per cow in the fall if stockpiling forages for after frost. Many graziers will start off with 1/2 acre per cow and then supplement with corn silage as needed to maintain adequate rest period for the pastures.
7. Should I grow a mixture of cool and warm season grasses for my stockers?
The management of cool and warm season grasses are different and so we normally wouldn't suggest mixing them in the same pasture. You could mix some Barolex Fescue in with BG-34 perennial ryegrasss or other cool season grass, because they are managed similar. If you want to have warm season grass, plant them in a separate area so that they can be managed (grazed & fertilized) properly.
8. My vet suggests that I put my dry cows on pasture for better foot health and exercise. Is this good use of my $2,500 per acre land?
Good grazing land for dairy (milking or dry cows) and stockers can easily produce $500 to $700 of milk/ meat on grass each year. This compares favorably with: Alfalfa valued at $4.00 per ton X's 100 tons per acre = $400 per acre
-or- Corn Silage at $18 per ton X's 20 tons per acre = $360 per acre
-or- Corn Grain at $2.50 per bushel X's 150 bushels per acre = $375 per acre
All cows will be healthier on pasture, if pastures are managed well (mud, not overgrazed).
Consider putting milk cows on pasture to take off the best grass and put dry cows behind them in rotation to eat some of the remaining grass.
9. I have fields that grow good corn but alfalfa does not produce good or stay productive over three years. Would this field be better for grass?
If alfalfa is not doing well, I would suggest a complete soil audit (A complete soil test can be done for $12.50) to help in determining why this piece of land is not producing. Many of the highly digestible grasses will not do well on fields that are lacking in calcium or other minerals. You most likely will be disappointed in the results. Many times a couple of tons of high calcium lime plus manure will help greatly.
10. Should I innoculate my clover seed?
Yes, you never know how long ago it was "pre" innoculated. Adding "fresh" innoculant just before planting is a good idea.
11. Can I add new grass seed to my old pastures?
In the Spring, perennial ryegrass is a good choice for frost seeding on no-dill drilling because
it establishes very quickly and can compete with the spring grasses of old sod.
To reduce that competition, using a spray can improve your chances to get new seed established. Fall (late August to mid September for the Midwest) is a good time to plant most species when adding to old pastures.
12. My alfalfa field is getting 'thin'. What can I due to 'thicken' up the stand?
If you will keep the field just another year, use Green Spirit Intalian Ryegrass. For longer term stands, use Tetra Plus Perennial Ryegrasss ( Both are planted at a rate of 10 # to 15 # per acre).
13. Why should I use Tall Rescue ? Most people say it is a "bad" grass.
Tall Fescue's reputation is the result of a variety of issues including: a fescue variety called KY31 which is infected with an endophyte; many varieties have rough edged leaves; most varieties are early maturing, which causes management troubles with seed heads. Barolex is a late maturity, soft leaf, endophyte free variety. It is a great grazing tall fescue. TF-33 is a late maturing, more up-right, grazing, endophyte free, variety that works well with alfalfa.
14. What grass works well with alfalfa hay?
Using a late maturing variety of any grass is preferred because it will be higher quality when the alfalfa is ready. Orchard grass varieties are earlier maturing than some Tall Fescue and some of the perennial ryegrass. Tall Fescues and Perennial Ryegrass are higher in energy than Orchard grass. Perennial Ryegrasss can be slower drying for hay and works best for haylage.
15. Is Italian Ryegrass the same as Annual Ryegrass?
Yes & No! When you plant Italian Ryegrass (Green Spirit ) in the spring, it will not produce seed heads. Annual Ryegrass will produce seed. When Italian Ryegrass goes through the winter
it 'vernalizes' and will produce seed the second year (like Annual Ryegrass). Planted in the Spring, Green Spirit can be a tremendous high quality grass because it does not produce seed heads that year.
16. What is chicory?
Forage chicory (Forage Feast or Puna Chicory) is a herb. Nature provided grasses, legumes and herbs for animals to graze in the original prairies. Using chicory allows us to also provide herbs for our livestock.