The grass is always greener on the other side. It is too dry. It’s flooding. We had too many hard freezes. If it’s not one thing it’s the other.
Among our times of challenges due to bad weather and economic downfalls, we should take a moment to remember what we know and make sure we are doing the best we can to ensure that the grass is greenest on our side of the fence.
Greg Highfill, northwest area extension specialist at Oklahoma State University, reminds us that we are always at the mercy of Mother Nature. “To get the most out of a pasture and grass feeding operation, we must remember that the driving force is the value of the additional pound of gain,” he added.
High corn prices in recent years have made the value of an additional pound of gain much more for stocker cattle. This has also led to a significant difference in the value of additional gain since the 1980s.
“What this tells us is that the feedlot buyers are sending a signal to the producers,” Highfill said. “They want heavier calves brought to market. The price of corn is high, so we need to decrease days in the feedlot. Thus our forage is worth more. And the gain is worth more.”
Craig Roberts, state forage specialist at the University of Missouri, works with other MU researchers to help Missouri producers improve economic and environmental status of the state’s forage and grassland agriculture.
Considering the economic aspect, Roberts recommended, “Adding more pasture in the summer but especially winter. Winter feed costs are often way too high, and this is simply because there is not adequate pasture supply.”
Highfill added that producers need to stock their acres appropriately, so they don’t restrict future production and secure a good economic return for the future. “This is a continuous balancing act, he said. “In addition to forage production and management, stocker cattle producers also need to always pay attention to buy/sell margins and health programs to be profitable.”
“To get the most out of a grazing system, it is important to focus on the smaller animals,” Roberts recommended. “This is because they gain at a fast rate and are the marketable product.”
Highfill recommended that producers conduct soil tests and consult with their county extension educator to calculate the proper nutrients required.
“Early extensive stocking, rotational grazing, burning schedules, and other management practices can increase total ranch productivity,” Highfill added.
Also, while these individually may decrease individual animal gain, together they should increase total gain, when managed to complement their forage program.
Using these considerations properly, a producer should have a developed year-round grazing program that will provide sufficient economic gain for their herd, Highfill added.
