With stock soon to begin transitioning onto winter forage crops, Beef + Lamb New Zealand is urging farmers feeding these crops to make sure they have winter grazing plans in place.
Tom Orchiston, B+LNZ’s Environment Project Lead, says winter grazing plans (available at Winter grazing workshop and templates) are a useful management tool.
They can help farmers ensure livestock remain well-fed and healthy through the winter months, plan for adverse events and identify any risks to soil and water resources so they can take steps to mitigate them. This includes fencing off waterways or protecting critical source areas
Tom says it is important farmers measure crop yields and drymatter percentages before grazing begins to ensure the appropriate amount of feed is allocated. Tools such as B+LNZ’s Farmsmart app can calculate the daily allocations of different stock classes to help ensure animals remain healthy and meet their production goals.
He says successful transitioning onto winter forage crops begins with allowing animals access to small amounts of crop, while the rest of their feed requirements are made up of their existing diet (such as pasture or supplement). The key is to allow sufficient time for the rumen to adjust and slowly increase the proportion of crop that makes up the diet,
“While it is a time-consuming process, it is important to help prevent ruminal acidosis and ensure cattle make the most of the high-quality feed on offer.”
Additional bale feeders can be useful during the transition phase, so cattle can easily access supplementary feed. Better quality feed can also be offered during this time so animals will want to eat more supplement and less crop.
Each day, slightly more crop and slightly less supplement is offered. This transition should take 10-14 days for brassicas (starting with an hour a day) and up to three weeks with fodder beet (starting with 20 minutes per day).
Tom says it is important to keep a close eye on animals, especially during the transition phase. Individuals will behave and consume differently, which can put them at risk of ruminal acidosis.
For example, dominant feeders may compete well at the crop face and not bother to eat any supplement. This puts them at increased risk of ruminal acidosis. Others may prefer baleage and eat less crop or are less able to compete on the crop. This puts them at risk of underperforming, particularly if the supplement offered is of average or poor quality.
Breakouts are always a risk with cattle on forage crops. Well-functioning electric fences and double fences can help prevent this, particularly in the transition phase.
Stock should always have access to clean water. Ideally, water troughs should be placed well away from bale feeders. This means dominant cattle must move away from the bale feeder to get water, allowing other cattle access to supplementary feed.