GrazeFest 2005

1
GrazeFest 2005

• Grazing Notes from
• Anibal Pordomingo of Argentina
• Jackson, MS

2
Anibal Pordamingo

• Grazing Systems
• These notes were taken by Angela Pridie
• On Thursday, July 21st, 2005.

3
Their system

• Carbohydrate finishing
• Protein gaining for backgrounding
• Year-around production needed.
• Cheapest method is fattening on grass.
• FORAGE CHAIN FINISHING PROGRAM
• Summer annual pastures
• Legume perennial pastures
• Small-grain winter annuals

4
Their Summer grazing

• Legume and grasses
• Alfalfa
• Red clover
• White clover, Red Clover, Yellow Clover
• Fescue, orchard, brome, and rye grass
• Summer Annuals
• Corn, sudan, sorgham, millet, soybeans

5
Summer Grazing continued

• Grazing corn in summer is very good
• Good for finishing
• Late maturing
• 2nd Best option
• Sorghums, millet
• Soybeans
• Graze soybeans in July. Efficient use of water.

6
Their Winter Grazing

• Small Grain Winter Annuals (SWGA)
• Annual Ryegrass
• Oats, triticale, barley, wheat
• Triticale Cereal Oats are the best for them
• Vetch (mixed with SGWA)
• Hay (oat, grass, alfalfa)
• Silages
• Corn, sorghum, alfalfa

7
The must haves

• Intensive grazing
• Annuals in the pastures
• At least 2lbs per day gain
• Steady gain
• Under 2 years of age
• 14 mo growing, 6 mo finishing
• No nitrogen input on pastures
• Last 60-90 days need gt2.5/lbs per day. Fat is put
  on in the last stage of finishing. Need
  carbohydrates for gain.
• Keep calf on mother for 10 months.

8
Most common problems

• Underestimating daily intake needs of the
  stockers
• Energy shortage at finishing
• Older animals having less tender beef
• Not keeping a steady gain of gt2/lbs ADG
• Not having the right cattle genetics
• Limited metabolizing energy extraction by
  ruminants from fibrous diet.
• Rushing at the end to catch up on gains not
  achieved during growing stage.
• Maintain the gains during the growing stage.
  (backgrounding)

9
How to produce Grassfed Beef

• Proper cattle genetics
• yield, tenderness, gain, docility
• Environmental adaptability
• Low-stress handling
• Forage Chain Finishing Program
• High gains during the last 60-90 days gt 2/lbs ADG
• Carbohydrate finishing, low starch
• Bring 450-500 lb steer into the system in spring
  for best gain
• First 2 mo 1.6/lbs ADG
• Last 3 mo 2.7/lbs ADG
• Finish at 22 months of age at 1100-1150 lbs
• 15 month growing-finishing period

10
Finishing Gains on forage

• 1 - Winter annuals
• 2 Legumes
• 3 Cool Season perennials
• 4 Winter Annual Silage
• 5 Summer Annuals
• 6 Hay

• Winter Finishing
• Annual Ryegrass
• Triticale
• C. Wheat/Oats

• Spring Finishing
• Fescues
• Orchard Grass
• Red Clover, Rye Grass

• Fall Finishing
• Too Risky
• Too Difficult

• Summer Finishing
• Warm-Season Annuals

11
Finishing Tips

• Reduce size of stocker group
• Design the system first
• Let stockers have first pick of the grass
• Follow behind stockers with cows/calves
• The stockers will pick the best grass in the
  first 24 hours
• Rotate daily
• 1 steer per acre
• Laying on of fat in the last 90 days is most
  difficult