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Cool-Season Forage Considerations for Fall and Winter
As we quickly approach the fall months, it is time to think about your annual cool-season forage production program. Each year presents a different and sometimes unique set of circumstances and challenges, and this year is no different in that respect.
Weather Conditions Increased amounts of rainfall this year have prevented producers from getting into the field for timely hay cuttings, which could lead to a shortage of hay and stored feed going into the winter. Pastures have been able to produce an excess of forage since mid-June. Cattle cannot keep up with this excess growth and have been seen in “brisket-deep grass” losing body condition, especially near the coast due to the dominant species there. The rapid growth and increased water content in perennial grasses has caused the forage to decline rapidly at a much faster pace than what we would expect as we approach the latter part of summer. Because of the wet, humid and lower-than-average temperatures this summer, it has been a perfect setup for increased internal parasite infestations in cattle. Producers should monitor cattle’s 18
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body condition scores closely and may need to implement an additional deworming to what they would usually do in most years. Consider offering your cattle a high-quality protein supplement to help improve rumen microbe function to utilize all of the low-quality, abundant forage that is available and ensure that a high-quality mineral is available at all times to reduce loss of body condition. Products can be found that contain both in the same package. This loss in body condition can lead to expense in trying to catch them up and lost performance in terms of reproduction, calf vigor, overall health and weight gain.
Cost of Production Winter annual forage programs vary significantly across our region, but increased cost of production of cool-season annual forages will certainly affect most producers this year. Increased cost of seed can be attributed to several factors. One major factor is the sheer demand driven by government policies and industries looking to offset their carbon emissions. Cover crops are a big part of this and most of the annual forages used double as cover crops. Another factor is the
