Success StoryBale grazing demonstration



Bale grazing demonstration

Author: Colby Guffey

Planning Unit: Clinton County CES

Major Program: Beef

Plan of Work: Livestock, Poultry, & Crops

Outcome: Initial Outcome

Bale grazing is a technique of winter-feeding stored forages to beef cattle that has gained in popularity in recent years.  A local cow/calf producer inquired about utilizing bale grazing on his farm to help get better distribution of animal manure during the winter-feeding period and to minimize the damage done to feeding areas by his tractor while setting out hay.  Aerial maps as well as on farm visits were used to select the areas that the bales will be staged at prior to winter feeding.  The producer set out hay at a rate of roughly 1-2 tons per acre to start.   The hay rolls were then sectioned off so that cows only had access to 3-4 rolls at a time using polywire fence.  As the cows consume the hay the polywire was moved to give access to more hay.  The producer indicated that it was a little more manual labor than normal, but he felt that he was saving time and money since he only had to start his tractor a few times during the winter to stage out more bales.  The manure distribution during bale grazing was evident, and very little damage was done to the feeding areas.  The producer plans to continue bale grazing in the coming years to help increase fertility in these areas and to cut down on the amount of time he is using his tractor during the winter to feed his hay.    






Stories by Colby Guffey


Twin Lakes Cattle Association heifer development field day

about 3 years ago by Colby Guffey

The Twin Lakes Cattle Association partnered with Clinton County Extension Service ANR Agent and UK E... Read More


Cereal Rye Project

about 3 years ago by Colby Guffey

The ANR Agent helped enroll a cooperating producer in the cereal rye project being conducted by UK E... Read More


Stories by Clinton County CES


Commodities

about 3 years ago by James Cecil

Clinton County Cooperative Extension has stepped up to the plate again this year with helping our co... Read More


Field Day

about 3 years ago by James Cecil

Clinton County 4-H has been able to help with with Field Day at the Clinton County Middle School for... Read More