New Years Resolutions for Georgia Cattle Producers

1
New Years Resolutions for Georgia Cattle
Producers
Presented by Mr. Billy Moss Area Livestock
Teacher, North Region Agricultural
Education Information Provided by Dr. John
Andrae, UGA Extension Forage Agronomist
2
ONE

• INCREASE tall fescue pasture thickness by
  interseeding clover
• Dilutes toxins
• Improves forage distribution
• Provides 75-100 lb. of nitrogen per acre to grass

3
TWO

• SUBDIVIDE large pasture and rotate grazing
• Increases stocking rate and forage utility
• Reduces forage waste
• Evenly distributes manure
• Improves pasture management

4
THREE

• TEST your soil and follow recommendations
• Low soil potash and phosphate
• Thins Bermuda grass
• Takes away valuable forage in South Georgia
• Low soil pH, potash, and phosphate
• Limits clover persistence and productivity in
  North Georgia
• Cheap soil tests and timely fertilizer
  applications solved problems and saved money

5
FOUR

• CONSIDER burning Bermuda grass or Bahia grass hay
  fields
• Removes excess thatch
• Excess thatch ties up nutrients, reduces water
  infiltration, slows greenup, and harbors insects.
• Burn just before greenup
• Removes weeds
• returns nutrients to the soil
• For safe, legal, and effective burning
• Consult local forest service and county agent
• Visit www.georgiaforages.com

6
FIVE

• RESOLVE to replace 5-10 of toxic tall fescue
  each year with non-toxic forage
• Will revolutionize beef production
• Slowly replace old toxic Kentucky 31 pastures
• Increases herd conception rates
• Increases weaning weights
• Will consistently improve weaning weights by more
  than 50 lb.

7
SIX

• SHIFT year-round calving to a 60-90 day season.
• Improves calf marketing options
• Allows herd nutritional needs to match forage
  quality and availability

8
SEVEN

• IDENTIFY and remove weed problems
• Weeds limit forage production
• Forage production is decreased 8 pounds for every
  pound of weedy species
• Buttercup and Thistle
• Easily controlled by cheap, timely herbicide
• Broomsedge
• Decreased with proper fertility and grazing
  management
• Contact your county agent for assistance

9
EIGHT

• COVER hay to minimize weathering losses
• Georgias climate fosters mold growth in stored
  hay
• 30 of hay is lost to weathering
• 20 of hay is refused by animals
• 50 loss is unprofitable and unacceptable
• Store hay under barns or under tarps
• Low quality hay
• Leave outside
• Feed first

10
NINE

• PLAN now to reduce next winters stored-feed
  needs
• Hay- largest expense of beef cattle enterprises
• Options for decreasing hay needs
• Use grazing crop residues (corn, cotton stalks)
• Stockpile Bermuda grass or tall fescue pasture
• Use cheap byproduct feeds
• Establish cool-season forages (tall fescue,
  winter annuals)

11
TEN

• HARVEST Bermuda grass hay at 4-5 week interval
  and test hay quality
• Frequent harvests improve hay quality
• Easier and more cost effective to harvest quality
  hay than to supplement poor quality hay
• Testing hay allows for matching forage quality to
  animals

12

• CATTLE PRODUCERS
• RESOLUTIONS
• Increase forage by interseeding
• Subdivide and rotate
• Soil test annually
• Burn hybrid Bermuda fields annually
• Resolve to replace toxic grasses
• Shift to 60-90 day calving
• Identify and remove weeds
• Cover hay
• Plan to reduce hay needs
• Harvest Bermuda grass hay