Forage and Grazing Opportunities

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Grazing Basics
Central Wisconsin Grazing Meetings March 2008
Craig Saxe UW-Extension, Juneau Co. 211 Hickory
Street Mauston WI 53948 [phone] craig.saxe_at_
ces.uwex.edu
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Well be covering

• What is rotational grazing
• Why use rotational grazing
• Understanding plant growth
• Setting up a grazing system
• Fencing, watering and frost seeding
• Grazing tips

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Why use Rotational Grazing?
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Managed Intensive Grazing Advantages

• We control where animals graze
• Increases yield
• Increase carrying capacity
• Extend grazing season in the fall
• Increases forage quality
• Increases animal performance
• Lowers cost of production
• Maximizes efficiency of your time and resources
• Offers greater management flexibility

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It could be argued that managed intensive grazing
comes at an added cost

• Fence
• Water systems
• Labor
• Higher level of management required

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Why manage grazing?

• Reduces erosion
• Improves water quality
• Enhance wildlife habitat
• Improves range or pasture condition

Texas Creek, Colorado, BLM website on Health
Riparian Areas
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CIAS 2006
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CIAS 2006
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Gross Returns Per Acre
Penn State 1992
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Direct Costs Per Acre
Penn State 1992
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Profit Per Acre
Penn State 1992
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Dairy Economic Comparison(15,000 vs. 18,000
lbs/cow/yr)
Researchers caution that this study is based on
simulated dairy models
CIAS Study
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Livestock Enterprise Comparison
Ohio State
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Livestock Enterprise Comparison
Ohio State
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Livestock Enterprise Comparison
Ohio State
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Livestock Enterprise Comparison
Ohio State
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Understanding Plant Growth
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http//www.uwex.edu/ces/crops/teamforage/index.htm
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http//www.uwex.edu/ces/cwas/