Extension

Native Grass Haying

Josh Bushong, Area Extension Agronomist

 

 

Annual haying of native grass is just around the corner. There are some basic production practices to maximize production potential of these hay meadows. Since native hay meadows are a long-term investment, they should be managed in such a way to sustain long-term productivity.

The most important management practice is cutting date. In most years, the optimum cutting date will be between late June to early July. Harvesting native hay at this time will achieve a good balance of forage yield and forage quality while also allowing the native stand to recover the rest of the year to sustain production for following years.

The main key to managing any perennial hay field is to maintain a balance between forage yield and forage quality. Time of cutting will be the primary production practice that will determine the forage yield and quality. The maximum forage yield and maximum forage quality hardly ever occur at the same time. Hay tonnage will typically peak in late August, while crude protein and digestibility are usually highest in May.

The second most important management practice is proper cutting height. Cutting height can easily be overlooked but can be highly detrimental to the life of the stand. Native grasslands should never be cut shorter than 4 inches. Growing points on these grasses are elevated during this time of year. If the growing point is cut off, then production will be greatly reduced the following year.

Cutting height is also important because most of the native grass species need time to re-grow to build root carbohydrate reserves. To sustain a native hay meadow, it is recommended to only harvest it for hay once a year. Native grass species grow rapidly through May and June but will exhibit slow re-growth in July after harvesting a hay crop. In addition to the slow growth, the regrowth is often less palatable as well. Native species have adapted through natural selection for these traits to ensure grazing animals will not exhaust the root carbohydrates prior to winter dormancy.

 

Instead of a second cutting, grazing the regrowth late summer can be an option. Adequate soil moisture is often the main limiting factor for how fast the regrowth occurs. Ideally grazing shouldn’t be initiated until the native grasses reach 15-18 inches in height. To acquire this height sooner, raising the cutting height at haying to 8 inches is recommended.

Field research conducted by Oklahoma State University has shown that forage tonnage can be increased with an application of fertilizer in haying operations. However, it is rarely economical to do so in solely grazing operations. When adequate moisture is available during spring and early summer, 30-80 pounds of actual nitrogen fertilizer can increase hay yield and crude protein. Herbicide applications are rarely warranted on native grasslands. If managed properly, there should be a mix of native forbs and legumes that benefit the grass production.

Some small plot studies conducted by OSU have shown an increase in grass production is possible when broadleaf weeds (forbs) are controlled with an herbicide application. However, increases varied depending on growing conditions and thickness of grass stand. Previous mismanagement of the pasture often leads to thinner grass stands and more weeds. Herbicides such as 2,4-D and/or dicamba are effective when applications are made to small weeds. As weeds get bigger, more costly herbicides are often needed.

Good management practices include harvesting prior to mid-July, leave at least 4 inches of stubble, harvest only once during the growing season, and manage the re-grown forage in the dormant season with either fire or grazing.

For more information about harvesting native grasslands for hay, contact your local Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension Office. Information can also be found from the OSU factsheet “NREM-2891 Native Hay Meadow Management”.

 

Some Straight Talk about Minerals

Dana Zook, NW OK Area Livestock Specialist

 

In the past 6 months, I have had several inquiries about cattle mineral. They involve questions like, “How do I make sure my cattle are receiving the right mineral?”, “Is there mineral specific to my cows and property?”, “How do I get my cattle to eat mineral?”. My favorite and the most common question is “Do my cattle even need mineral?” These are all great questions and show that mineral nutrition is a confusing topic to address in the beef business. As producers, we want to provide the right thing but how do we know what is right?

Earl Ward, Northeast OSU Area Livestock Specialist hit the nail on the head recently when addressing mineral nutrition at one our Cow Calf Boot Camps. He said “You don’t always know the mineral is working. It’s hard to tell if, by providing mineral, you inadvertently avoided a breakout of respiratory disease in your weaned calves”. Earl is right. The reality is that a producer may not know what was avoided or helped by providing mineral.

Researchers in land grant Universities across the country have done extensive research on mineral nutrition but the variation across the United States is extensive. Weather patterns and seasonality also play a role in the availability of minerals in our forages. The question still stands. How do we know what is right?

 

Well let’s first look at the extreme answer to that question. If a producer wanted to determine the exact mineral status of a herd, extensive sampling would need to be done to the cows and on each and every part of their diet. Mineral status of the cows could be documented by first doing liver biopsies on a subset of the herd. It is an option that your consulting veterinarian might consider if health related issues are identified in your herd. Then, each part of the diet that the cattle consume would need to be analyzed. This includes water, forage, hay, grain, cubes or other supplements. Keep in mind that a forage resource may vary seasonally and within each pasture. As you can see, there are ways to figure out this mineral thing, but it’s not easy or without cost.

Let’s look at a less extreme option for mineral nutrition. For the average producer without any apparent mineral issues, keep it simple. First, ask your consulting vet if there are any issues that could be addressed in your herd. Second, find a local retailer and investigate what mineral supplements they have in stock. Next, try out a bag or two of the mineral and place in a mineral feeder that is in the vicinity of the water source. Finally, keep record and track consumption over the next days, weeks, and months. It may take some time for your cattle to adapt to a new product; they may over or under consume at first. Keep in mind that many commercial feed products contain a mineral package, and they may limit the need for an additional mineral supplement. Products like breeder cubes, tubs, and liquid feed are the first that come to mind.

Regardless of where you live, salt is the one mineral that should be standardly offered to all cattle. Dr. Larry Corah, former Beef Cattle Extension Specialist from Kansas State University, wrote in the proceedings of the 1995 Range Beef Cow Symposium that “Salt is the only nutrient that cows have the nutritional wisdom to consume at a level to meet their requirements”. Most mineral supplements provide salt but be sure to look at the label. If you are providing a mineral supplement mix that contains salt, additional salt will not be needed. Salt often drives mineral intake and by providing a salt block, they may not be consuming the mineral at the appropriate level.

Bottom line. Don’t overthink mineral and don’t buy mineral that breaks your budget. Do provide a good quality mineral that your cattle consume consistently. Start simple. Work with your veterinarian, nutritionist and/or extension educator to get an idea of mineral needs for your beef cows.

 

Farm Management Resources Available 24/7

 

The e-Farm Management website showcases resources to inform producers about farm financial management and production, marketing, and risk management topics. This site contains videos, tools, and publications for farmers and ranchers to strengthen their farm financial management skills.

One example is the Tax Issues for Farmers: Rules and Tax Management video. In this video, viewers can learn about self-employment taxes and how to manage their taxes. The video explains effective tax rates and taxes under the cash method of accounting. It shows how to manage taxes for variable income such as farm income. Lastly, the video lists some objectives of income tax management.

 

To view this video and find additional information on tax issues for farmers, visit the  
Farm Income Statement & Tax Issues for Farmers webpage.

 

More information on this and other farm management topics may be found:

1. by contacting your nearest Extension Educator
2. on the e-farm management website
3. on the OSU Ag Econ YouTube Channel