With everything coming back to life after a long winter, producers are eagerly anticipating putting cattle out to grass and ending the daily feeding required of wintering livestock.
With the shift in season often comes question of how early is too early for turnout and what mineral package — if any — needs supplied early in the season?
In the interview below, Stacey Domolewski, with the Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC), helps tackle these questions and more, including how often to move cattle for optimum grass growth and cattle production.
Pasture management, including a good rotation and leaving leaf litter behind grazings, can make land more resilient to drought, enhance carrying capacity, and contribute to the health of livestock, she says.
The spring season is an important time to be monitoring and testing water sources, as well as working with a local nutritionist to ensure that animals are getting a mineral package that fits the environment and the herd.
Adaptability is key, and Domolewski says that it’s great to have a plan, but that plan can change. “As the season goes on the grazing plan is going to have to change and adapt based on what your forage resources are.”
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