Improving whole Farm Forage Utilization for Sheep and Goat
- 1. “Improving whole farm forage utilization for sheep and goat production” Richard Ehrhardt Small Ruminant Specialist Michigan State University
- 2. Outline: • Fundamentals of forage systems Forage budgets Annual forages to compliment a forage plan • Annuals as part of a pasture improvement/rotation plan • Annuals as part of a cover crop grazing program
- 3. How much forage do sheep and goats need each year? Key factors: 1. Size of animals (female base) 2. Production state (growing, pregnant, lactating, etc.) 3. Quality of forage: • Determines intake • Determines waste 4. Feeding system: grazing or stored feed • Determines waste/utilization 5. How much concentrate is fed
- 4. Food intake Food intake: expressed as pounds of dry matter consumed per pound of body weight Adult sheep/goats: Maintenance: 1.8 -3.2% (2.4) Late pregnancy: 2.4-3.0% (2.8) Lactation: 2.5-5.5% (3.8) Growing lambs/goats: 6% (early weaned) to 4% (finishing) Forage intake: • Dependent on forage quality (digestibility) for all animals in all feeding systems (stored or grazed forages) • Dependent on stand density and allocation (amount offered and amount allowed to consume) in grazing systems
- 5. Summary on flock/herd forage needs: Forage estimates vary according to production program and female size (includes needs of lamb/kids <12 mo): • Ewes: 1.0 to 1.7 tons DM per year • Does: 0.7 to 1.4 tons DM per year Forage budget for ewe/doe flock consumes a huge proportion of the forage budget (67-85%) • 40-60% of the total budget is for maintenance of this group Forage budget for late pregnancy and lactation: • 25-30% Forage budget for lambs/kids: • 15-33% depending on finishing system
- 6. • Allocation of forages in your budget: High quality (over 62% TDN) 40-60% of budget Growth, pre or post weaning Lactation Pre breeding (a.k.a. “flushing”) Average quality: 40-60% of budget Maintenance: pre breeding early pregnancy? mid pregnancy
- 7. Forage costs and quality according to source: Pasture Silage Dry hay small bales Dry hay large bales Cost $/ DM ton $30-70 $100-200 $150-450 $80-300 Quality (TDN) 60-80 58-76 50-74 50-74 Cost of grain? $110-600/ton, TDN up to 90%
- 8. $$$
- 9. 0 50000 100000 150000 200000 250000 Jul-14 Aug-14 Sep-14 Oct-14 Nov-14 Dec-14 Jan-15 Feb-15 Mar-15 Apr-15 May-15 Jun-15 kgDM Total Feed Supply & Demand Trading Total Supply Total Demand
- 10. Methods to match animals needs to forage availability in pasture-based systems: 1. Alter Demand: • Change birth period • Diversify system (add another animal species) • Add liquidable animal units • Strategic use of stored forage supplements 2. Alter supply: • Alter grazing management Deferred grazing (mob, stockpile, etc.) • Diversify perennial pasture base • Substitute in annual crops • Expand grazing area into land more dedicated to crops 3. Combinations of any and all of the above!!!!
- 11. Forage use on Ehrhardt Farm 2011/12 and 2013/14 (30 acres total land base): Estimate of total forage need: •2011/12: 150 ewes and 1.34 tons/ ewe= 200 tons •2013/14: 155 ewes and 1.42 tons/ewe= 235 tons Foragedrymatter(tons) Foragedrymatter(tons) Home farm vs. rental Forage Source 0 50 100 150 200 250 0 50 100 150 200 250 Home Rental Dry hay Grazing Silage 2011/12 2013/142013/14 2011/12
- 12. Major strategies to improve whole farm forage utilization: 1. Improve grazing management of perennial pastures 2. Improve harvest management of perennial excess 3. Include annual forages in perennial rotation to improve forage availability (quality and quantity) for grazing or machine harvest
- 13. How can annual forages improve a forage budget? • Fill in deficits in perennial pasture production extend the grazing season reduce reliance on stored forage • Improve forage quality at times of need replace grain for finishing “flush” females pre breeding late gestation nutrition • Provide “safe” forages, low in GIN infectivity • Improve productive capacity of the land Replacement of low productivity pastures Addition of soil amendments (manure, lime, etc.) Replace with more productive and/or palatable species Rests perennials to improve productivity and resilience Annuals can out-yield perennials if strategically planted Allows in increase in total forage output including stored forage • Add value to product (forage finished premiums?)
- 14. Efficient pasture-based systems strive to match animal needs and forage availability Year Seasonal pasture growth Flock Requirements Harvest Excess (Hay/Haylage and/or deferred grazing) Feed Stored Excess Feed Stored Excess Lambing & Lactation May & June
- 15. 0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 3,000 3,500 4,000 4,500 5,000 J F M A M J J A S O N D 2003 Bristol Pasja/IRG • Ave. 2000 LGD/A • $70/A seed & fert. • $.035/LGD • .58 lbs. gain/day Cost of $0.06/lb gain!! Pasja forage rape in central MI Pasja @ 2,000 LGD/A Total
- 16. Annual forage systems: • Part of a perennial pasture rotation – Use a series of annuals to either graze or machine harvest for stored forage – Allows land improvement opportunities – Can be planted strategically to maximize use of land • Double crop with perennial pasture • Long season annuals to stockpile for winter grazing • Part of a rotation with crops on your own or neighboring land • Cover crop grazing or machine harvest for stored forage
- 17. Step 1 of annual/perennial rotation: How do you get it started? Considerations in replacing pastures with annual forages: • Best time for tear-up or burn-down? After major spring/early summer growth (2/3 of total yield achieved)-late June? Lowers risk if annuals fail Soil moisture may be low, need crops that can germinate under limited moisture Soybeans/sudan Forage brassicas Can add bi-annual(s) or shorter persistence perennial(s) like Italian ryegrass to start phase 2 of the rotation No-till seeding will limit moisture loss
- 22. Teff grass
- 23. ”Graza” ”Goliath””Winfred” “Calvin” 60 days after planting
- 24. Step 2: Annual options to consider for year 2+ of a rotation: • Getting started: Option A: Add more manure/compost and add or introduce new species with no till drill Option B: Add manure, till field and seed with conventional drill to add new species • When and what type of forage do you need to optimize your budget? Long season annuals to stockpile for grazing late fall/winter? Annuals or perennials that can provide quality forage for grazing continuously over the summer and fall? Annuals that can provide stored forage needs? Combinations of the above!
- 26. Leafy Brassica (Turnip x Chinese cabbage)
- 28. BMR sorghum sudanBMR sudan
- 30. Ok, great but how do animals perform on these crops! Issues to consider: • Optimizing gain per acre vs. individual gain, can you have it all? • Grazing management is a key component that dictates performance (individual and group) Stage of plant maturity at start of grazing Density/amount of forage in the paddock at start How much you allow animals to remove How much you leave to allow for regrowth Grazing duration/intensity: how long animals are left in paddock and at what stocking density
- 31. 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 2 3 4 6 7 8 Dailygainperlamb(pound/day) Dailygainperacre(pound/acre/day) Pasture allowance (pound of dry matter/lamb/day) Gain/acre/day (lb/acre/d) Daily gain (lb/d)
- 32. Study Species Date planted Grazing period (days) Yield (lbs DM/acre) Intake target Gain per lamb (lbs/day) Gain per acre (lbs/acre) Cost of gain ($/lb) 1 ‘Graza’ radish June 30 66 10780 60% 0.340 507 0.44 1 ‘Goliath’ rape June 30 66 7920 60% 0.284 443 0.49 2 BMR sudan June 4 86 11548 60% 0.302 703 0.44 2 BMR sorghum June 4 86 15110 60% 0.203 669 0.46 3 ‘Hunter’ turnip and BMR sudan mix June 2 112 8154 45% 0.683 709 0.41 3 ‘Hunter’ turnip June 2 112 9793 45% 0.683 729 0.37 3 ‘Hunter’ turnip and BMR sudan strips June 2 112 9123 45% 0.612 751 0.38 3 BMR sudan June 2 112 7850 45% 0.454 454 0.68 4 Red clover and Italian ryegrass April 22, Biennial 153 8887 45% 0.612 1275 0.20 5 Orchard grass, tall fescue and alfalfa Perennial 194 11890 50% 0.190 630 0.35
- 33. Summary on lamb growth studies: • Optimizing gain per acre and individual animal performance requires careful selection of forage species and grazing management • Annual forages consisting of pure brassica stands or brassica mixes produced the highest gain per acre as well as individual gain • Red clover and Italian ryegrass offer high individual performance and the highest gain per acre • It is easy to “beat” permanent pasture in individual animal performance but harder in gain per acre
- 34. Cost comparison of finishing lambs on forage vs. grain Rape forage Grain finishing diet Feed/gain 6.5 5 ADG (lb/day) 0.7 0.8 Feed cost per lb DM $0.047 $ 0.14 Feed cost per ton DM $94 $280 (1.75 tons utilized/acre) Cost per lb of gain $ 0.30 $0.70
- 35. Comparison of annual forage lamb grazing systems: Corn Sudan Brassica ADG, lb/day 0.32 0.32 0.60 Feed:Gain 11 10 7 Dry matter intake,% BW/d 5 5 5.8 Gain potential per acre (lbs) 720 700 750 Cost of crop per acre ($) 420 330 270 Cost of gain ($) 0.58 0.47 0.36
- 36. Comparison of annual forage systems for lambs: Corn Sudan Brassica Length of grazing season ***** *** ****** Yield ****** ***** ***** Lowest crop risk *** *** * Lowest input cost * *** ***** Management ease ** **** **** Ease of grazing * * ** Animal performance *** *** **** Multiple graze * ***** *** Energy ***** **** ***** Protein * *** **** Lowest acidosis risk * **** ****
- 37. Summary on annuals: • Annual forages when planted strategically after spring flush offer an excellent opporunity to realize high gain per acre and well as individual gain if managed intensively. • Performance on annual forages can rival that of gain on a grain diet • Cost per unit gain on annual forages can be less than half of grain diets • High performance (individual or acre) lamb grazing requires precise management (parasite/health, allocation/utilization, species selection, fertility management and planting)
- 38. Annual forages can be part of a comprehensive crop rotation/pasture renovation plan. • Example: 20% of land is in permanent pasture 80% of remaining land in on a 8 year complimentary forage rotation Year of rotation Paddock 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 A Perennial Perennial Perennial Perennial Perennial /Rape Biennial Biennial Corn silage/ rye B Corn silage/ rye Perennial Perennial Perennial Perennial Perennial /Rape Biennial Biennial C Biennial Corn silage/ rye Perennial Perennial Perennial Perennial Perennial /Rape Biennial D Biennial Biennial Corn silage/ rye Perennial Perennial Perennial Perennial Perennial /Rape E Perennial /Rape Biennial Biennial Corn silage/ rye Perennial Perennial Perennial Perennial F Perennial Perennial /Rape Biennial Biennial Corn silage/ rye Perennial Perennial Perennial G Perennial Perennial Perennial /Rape Biennial Biennial Corn silage/ rye Perennial Perennial H Perennial Perennial Perennial Perennial /Rape Biennial Biennial Corn silage/ rye Perennial
- 39. Perennial pasture can be stockpiled for winter grazing if sheep are switched to annual forages during early fall •Quantity of forage •Date of last harvest (machine or grazing) •Fertilizer application (date and amount) •Typical stockpiled yields without fertilizer -1000-2000 lbs/acre. • Hard to exceed 3500 lbs/acre with fertilizer •Quality of forage •Date of last harvest •Weather conditions •Forage specie(s)
- 40. 3,600 lbs DM/A Stockpiled @ 16.1% CP & 63% TDN
- 42. Long season annuals for late season grazing: • Common practice in New Zealand and other countries • Can we get enough yield, utilization and quality to justify replacement of permanent pasture or annual forages for machine harvest in Great Lakes region? • How long into winter can they retain quality? • Examples used in rest of world: Kale, Rape, Rape x Kale, Fodder beet, Swedes. • Examples in USA and Canada-Corn!
- 43. Osvaldos kale in North Dakota
- 44. Fodder Beet, a.k.a. Mangel
- 45. Swedes in NZ Rape x Kale hybrids in NZ
- 46. “Grazing cover crops” • Opportunity for synergy between crop and livestock programs Within your farming program Partnership with neighbors • Crop farmers use cover crops for nutrient scavenging, soil protection, weed control. • Cover crops provide quality feed that can be stockpiled and can fill a hole in a forage program
- 47. •Growth during cool weather •Erosion control following grazing until spring planting •Complementary nutritional profile •Nutrient scavenging from throughout the soil profile •Maintenance of forage quality into winter •Germination under limited soil moisture conditions Rationale for cover crop choices:
- 48. •Brassicas and small grains: Provide complementary nutritional profile Combination lowers risks of crop failure Small grains help control mud issues during wet weather grazing • Brassica choice: Bulb turnips Bulbs stockpile well into february, tops are lost after extended cold <15 ° F Rape and Kale hybrids Tops hold quality longer than turnips, loose quality after extended cold at < 0 ° F Radishes Only top part of bulb available but tops hold quality longer than turnip bulbs but less than rape Perhaps a good compromise between land and livestock benefits Cover crop combinations:
- 50. Rape/kale Leafy Turnip Jan 15, 2013 Eaton Rapids, MI Early winter cover crop grazing: Oats, bulb turnips and forage rape
- 51. Rape/kale Leafy Turnip Jan 15, 2013 Eaton Rapids, MI
- 52. Brassica candidates for cover crops :Rape, Turnips, Radishes 40 days post emergence, Sept. 28, 2012; planted following break in 25 year drought
- 53. Cover Crops: Oil seed radish and oats
- 54. Forage water (oats plus radishes) in mid January = 76%
- 55. 115 lb lambs fed no grain, 7 mo. old
- 57. Cost per ton of forage ($) No seed Turnips and Oats Radishes and Oats Turnips, Radishes and Oats No fertilizer 0 32 29.7 32.5 46 lbs N 102 37.7 42.8 35.6
- 58. No seed Turnips and Oats Radishes and Oats Turnips, Radishes and Oats Crude Protein (%) 21 12 12 12 ADF 1(%) 23 24 25 24 NDF2(%) 43 38 38 36 TDN3(%) 77 75 75 76 48 h dry matter digestibility 93 90 90 91 1 ADF=acid detergent fiber 2NDF=neutral detergent fiber 3TDN=total digestible nutrients Nutritional composition of the cover crop mixes.
- 59. Summary: •Inexpensive ($35-68/ton of dry matter utilized) quality forage (TDN >72%) Energy content is high enough to meet the needs of late pregnancy and/or finishing programs. Low risk crop as poor yields are still economical (<$70/ton of dry matter utilized) •Fills a “hole” (forage quality and mass) in perennial based grazing systems Allows resting/stockpiling of perennial pastures •Benefits crop production Weed control, fertilizer credit, residue recycling, soil health benefits (reduced erosion, increased percolation)
- 60. Contributors: Kim Cassida Santiago Utsumi Joe Paling Alan Culham Tony Boughton Jimmy from MSU land management Thomas Yaros Anna Makela John Snider-PGG Seeds Gerry Davis-Byron Seeds Brian Haynes-Cisco Seeds
- 61. Richard Ehrhardt Ph.D. Email: ehrhard5@msu.edu Office: (517) 353-2906 Cell: (517) 899-0040
- 62. Does the value of planting annual forages exceed the cost? • If replacing permanent pastures, the value must be that much greater than pasture to cover the cost of establishment. Must be high yielding, high quality and low risk. • Example: Kill run-out pasture in July with glyphosate and seed with forage rape Pasture Rape Forage dry matter utilized by lambs 1170 3500 (July to Dec, lbs/acre, 50% utilization) Forage energy concentration (TDN, %) 64 78 Growth rate (lbs/day) 0.18 0.68 Feed / gain 14 6.6 Pounds of lamb gained per acre 84 530 Value of lamb gain per acre ($1.50/lb) $125 $795 Value of replacing pasture with rape: $670/acre Will this pay for seed, fertilizer and planting ? land, spray, seed, fertilizer, planting=50+10+25+50+30=$165/acre