May 2012 Articles

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Forage Management Strategies

Forage Management Strategies Source: Ross Pruitt, Department of Economics and Agribusiness, LSU AgCenter
Forage conditions in Louisiana are vastly improved over a year ago with some areas of the state a couple of weeks ahead of normal in terms of forage production. Hay production has already begun which will help rebuild hay stocks for the state which were 30% below the five year average this past December. That production will not likely be reflected in the May 1st hay stocks, but increased production of hay should be reflected in USDA data later this summer/early fall. An estimated 440,000 acres will be devoted to hay production this year in Louisiana, an increase of 10,000 acres from last year according to USDA NASS’ Prospective Plantings report released last month.
The abundance of forage is a welcome relief from last year, but it does necessarily not mean the forage is of higher quality than normal. While winter ryegrass pastures may be in better shape than they were this time last year, concerns about warm season grasses is warranted in situations where growth is beginning to occur. Abundant rainfall and a lack of cold stress during the winter may have limited the damage incurred from last year’s drought, but assessment of warm season grasses is still warranted. If the stand was lost last year, adjustments to stocking rates may be necessary and potential expansion plans may need to be temporarily postponed.
While medium and long term weather forecasts are predicting an equal chance of below, normal, or above average precipitation for this year, above average temperatures are forecasted for Louisiana for the remainder of 2012 according to NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center. There is no guarantee this forecast will prove to be correct, but there’s no guarantee that it will be wrong either. Moisture levels will be key for warm season grasses, but warmer than normal temperatures will add a different dynamic to forage management following last year’s drought.
If above average temperatures do occur, the nutritional value of summer annuals could decline more rapidly than normal. Supplementation, though costly, might be necessary to keep cows in proper body condition. There is the chance that pregnancy percentages may decrease due to stress females endured last year and proper nutrition will be needed to make sure calving percentage is not lowered for next year. Additional tweaks to other commonly employed strategies may be warranted as the spring becomes summer and fades into fall. Providing your operation flexibility from a forage management and calf marketing perspective should be developed now that allows for different tactics to be employed should situations develop.
Tuesday afternoon saw the confirmation of the 4th U.S. cow confirmed to carry bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE/mad cow disease). The animal did not enter the U.S. food supply as it was never presented for slaughter for human consumption and safety protocols. As of this writing, Indonesia is the only country to cease accepting certain U.S. beef products, but Indonesia is a small market for U.S. beef. No other country has ceased importing U.S. beef, although many are increasing testing of U.S. beef, namely South Korea. One South Korean retailer has voluntarily suspended importing U.S. beef.