Heart of America Grazing Conference: Kicking the Hay Habit

Hay is an important part of ruminant livestock systems in transition zone states like Kentucky.  However, it tends to be an expensive feed source compared to allowing animals graze during the winter months.  We organized and hosted the 2019 Heart of America Grazing Conference that was held in Boone and Christian counties.  This multi-state conference attracted more than 350 producers from Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, Indiana and Illinois. The focus of the conference was reducing hay feeding by extending the grazing the grazing season.  Jim Gerrish, a national renowned expert on extended grazing systems was the keynote speaker.  It is estimated that using techniques learned at this conference, participants could reduce hay feeding by 60 days.  This would result in a cost savings of more than $10,000 for a 100-cow operation.