Economics of Fall Grazing
Connecting Farmers To Soil Health
Hello, Friends.
Today we wanted to touch on how some planning in the spring can lower your feed costs for winter. First, let's go through some basic math of feeding a hay bale:
Cost Analysis
Approx. Cost of Feeding Hay Bales
Assumptions: 1400 Ib cow
**a ruminant animal will consume roughly 3% of body weight per day.
=42 Ibs/day
Average cost of quality hay: $0.06/Ib
42 Ibs/day x $0.06/Ib
=$2.52 per day
A 200 head cow herd will consume roughly $500/day. (plus depreciation, fuel, time/labour, manure removal)
Extended Grazing
CORN & HAIRY VETCH
Corn was harvested as a cash crop.
2019 residual grazing: 100 head/acre/day
Based on the above calculations, not feeding hay - provides additional value to the farm of $200-$250/acre.
Click here to learn more about corn/hairy vetch intercrop.
Extended Grazing
SUNFLOWER & hairy vetch
Sunflowers were harvested for a cash crop.
2019 residual grazing: 100 head/acre/day
Based on the above calculations, not feeding hay - provides additional value to the farm of $200-$250/acre.
Click here to learn more about sunflower/hairy vetch intercrop.
Extended Grazing
Swath graze warm season cover
Click here to learn more about the warm season cover and implementing it into your operation.
Extended Grazing
FULL SEASON COVER CROP
With re-growth potential.
2019 re-growth: 100 head/acre/day
2020 re-growth: 70 head/acre/day
Based on above calculations, not feeding hay - provides additional value to the farm of $200-$250/acre.
Click here to learn more about implementing the full season cover on your farm.
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With Gratitude,
Covers & Co. Team
Joseph Gardiner, Travis Avery, Mark Fallis, Owen Taylor