Stockpiled Forage For Beef Cows

Summary of 3 Year Study at ISUKeith Vander Velde, Marquette County Agriculture Agent

Stockpiled Forage Study Three Year Study Mid-gestation medium Framed Cows Four systems

Strip grazing tall fescue and alfalfa Strip grazing smooth bromegrass and

red clover Strip grazing corn residue Drylot feeding hay

Stockpiled Grazing Study Stocking Rate two acres per cow Start Day Oct 23 Grass/legume hay offered to

maintain BCS Average termination date was March

10

Stockpiled Grazing Study Results

Days before hay offered was: 85 for tall fescue/alfalfa 83 for smooth brome/red clover 57 for corn stalk grazing

Stockpiled Grazing Study Drylotted cows required 3,691 lbs of

hay Tall fescue/alfalfa required 1,334 lbs

of hay Smooth brome/Red clover required

1,418 lbs of hay Corn stalk residue required 2,370 lbs

of hay

Stockpiled Grazing Study 62.7 % decrease in hay needs by

both tall fescue/alfalfa and smooth brome/red clover grazing