Beef Cattle Management: Improve Forage Management

*This is an excerpt from Beef Cattle Management in Uncertain Times

Evaluate and adjust your stocking rates as needed. Learn more about animal stocking rates and pasture management guidelines to help provide a balance between livestock and pasture resources.
Implement rotational grazing to optimize the utilization of available forage resources. Rotational grazing increases forage utilization compared to continuous grazing, thus increasing efficiency. This system will also extend the life of your forage stand and make it more resilient against drought and flood events. Temporary electric is an inexpensive and easy way to begin rotational grazing in your herd.
Consider adding annuals to fill the forage gaps. Perennial grasses, such as tall fescue, bermudagrass, and bahiagrass, should be the foundation of any pasture system regardless of your location in the state. However, no forage grows year-round. Using warm- or cool-season annuals increases yearly pasture grazing days and is an easy way to decrease production costs. Many factors influence successful forage production, but the establishment of the crop is a key to profitability. It is essential to choose the appropriate crop species for the needed yield, quality, and persistence. It is then critical to choose a variety that is recommended for your area. Refer to the Alabama Planting Guide for Forage Grasses and the Alabama Planting Guide for Forage Legumes.

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