The 300-Day Grazing Program is designed to reduce expenses and maximize profits according to Dr. John Jennings, University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service animal science professor and forage specialist. This program has helped improve forage systems across the state. Benefits of this program include extending the number of grazing days and reducing the amount the days of hay feeding.
The University of Arkansas has developed eight different management practices or demonstrations to help producers maximize their forage. The management practices or demonstrations are: 1. improving grazing management, 2. stockpiling fescue, 3. stockpiling bermudagrass, 4. growing legumes 5. growing summer annual forage, 6. growing winter annual forage, 7. reducing hay losses in storage and 8. reducing hay losses during feeding.
Because getting started and deciding which practices should be used can be difficult for producers the 300-Day Grazing Program has been divided into five steps to help producers succeed. Dr. Jennings shared those five steps with Ozarks Farm & Neighbor.
1. Inventory the forage base to find what forages are available for grazing during each season. This step determines what forages and species you have in place, how much and their potential. By inventorying your forages you can determine if you have forages that can be grazed in each season
2. Improve forage management practices to extend the grazing season with the existing forages. Do this before adding any additional forage to your pasture. This step helps you optimize what you have and shows you ways to get more out of your pastures.
3. Add complementary forages to fill in seasonal gaps if needed. Plan short-term and long-term options.
4. Plan forage and grazing practices ahead for the year and get the schedule on the calendar. By planning ahead you will know when you need to clip, plant, fertilize, stockpile and graze your forages. Having a plan in place will make the 300-Day Grazing Program easier to establish and more successful.
5. Monitor and adjust forages and livestock as needed by keeping records of each practice. Keeping records of your grazing system will allow you to see exactly how the system worked and make it easier for you to make adjustments for the upcoming year.
Implementing a new grazing system can be overwhelming, the University of Arkansas suggests starting with one field or pasture the first year and going from there. Producers interested in participating with one or more of the 300-Day Grazing Program demonstrations can contact their local county extension agent for more information and assistance. In order for a producer to be considered for the program an application must be completed by the livestock producer and their county agent.
300-Day Grazing Program – Schedule for a Fescue-Based System
Year 1
Spring
• Start rationally grazing fescue at greenup to control sequence – Mar.
• Determine forage need and fertilize specific pastures for the spring only if needed – March
• Select thin pastures to lightly disk and overseed with crabgrass in mid April to mid-May.
• Weed control – February-March
• Soil sample – when soil is moist
• Plan summer grazing sequence and rotation – March
Summer
• Rationally graze fescue to protect accumulated growth in case of drought conditions
• Fertilize emerging crabgrass with N fertilizer and rationally graze – June/July
• Graze off or clip fescue pastures in late August that will be stockpiled for winter grazing
• Plan fall grazing sequence and rotation – June/July
• Decide if perennial warm season forages will be needed in the long-term and if so start planning renovation of specific pastures for planting next spring
• Plant brassicas on lightly disked pasture for grazing in fall before fescue is ready – Sept 1.
Fall
• Fertilize fescue with N in early September and stockpile for winter grazing
• Rationally graze non-stockpiled fescue pastures during fall Sept.-Nov.
• Graze crabgrass before frost Sept-Oct.
• Graze brassicas in late October to allow better growth of fescue pastures for fall grazing
• Plan winter grazing sequence and strip-grazing for stockpiled fescue – Sept./Oct.
Winter
• Strip-graze stockpiled fescue Dec.-Feb.
• Overseed clover and/or lespedeza on closely-grazed fescue pastures – Feb.
• Manage hay feeding to reduce hay waste
• Apply herbicide for weed control in Nov./Dec for thistle, buttercup, hemlock
• Plan spring grazing sequence – Dec./Jan.
Year 2
Spring
• Follow Year 1 plan
• Graze fescue/legume pastures early to control canopy so legumes can establish
• Do not apply N fertilizer or litter to fields overseeded with legumes
• In late spring, graze fescue/crabgrass pastures closely to allow emergence of volunteer crabgrass – Do not apply N to those pastures until early summer for crabgrass
• Plan summer grazing sequence – March
Summer
• Follow Year 1 plan
• Plan fall grazing sequence – June/July
Fall
• Follow Year 1 plan
• Graze pastures with lespedeza and crabgrass before frost
• Plan winter grazing sequence.
Winter
• Follow Year 1 plan
• Overseed clover or lespedeza on fescue pastures where needed
• Manage to reduce hay waste during feeding
• Plan spring grazing sequence
