How to translate text using browser tools
4 December 2017 Annual and perennial forages for fall/winter grazing in western Canada
E.J. McGeough, D.J. Cattani, Z. Koscielny, B. Hewitt, K.H. Ominski
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

Extending the grazing season by maintaining beef cattle on pasture in the fall/winter has been adopted by many producers on the Prairies as it reduces the need for mechanical harvesting and can lower labour and manure management costs relative to feeding cattle in confinement. Annual and perennial forages, alone or in combination, offer the potential for low-input grazing while maintaining animal productivity. Using a range of data sources, this paper will review the methods available for extending the grazing season of beef cattle using annual and perennial forages and discuss level of adoption and the practical implications and considerations for producers. These methods included stockpile grazing, bale grazing, swath grazing, and corn grazing, with the suitability of methods based on a range of factors including the nutritive requirements of the target class of cattle, environmental conditions, and costs of inputs. In an effort to maximise the efficiency of maintaining cattle on pasture in the fall/winter period, the ability to be flexible and adaptive to changing climatic and economic conditions within and between years is essential. Furthermore, a combination of the aforementioned methods may be employed in an integrated effort to enhance the productivity and sustainability of overwintering of beef cattle.

Copyright remains with the author(s) or their institution(s). Permission for reuse (free in most cases) can be obtained from RightsLink.
E.J. McGeough, D.J. Cattani, Z. Koscielny, B. Hewitt, and K.H. Ominski "Annual and perennial forages for fall/winter grazing in western Canada ," Canadian Journal of Plant Science 98(2), 247-254, (4 December 2017). https://doi.org/10.1139/cjps-2017-0228
Received: 17 July 2017; Accepted: 17 October 2017; Published: 4 December 2017
JOURNAL ARTICLE
8 PAGES

This article is only available to subscribers.
It is not available for individual sale.
+ SAVE TO MY LIBRARY

KEYWORDS
andains
annual forage
bales
balles
beef cattle
bovins de boucherie
fourrage d’annuelles
RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS
Get copyright permission
Back to Top