I haven’t consulted the “Drought Monitor” website at all this year – a reflection of the favorable growing conditions we’ve enjoyed!  More than one rancher I’ve visited with this summer has assessed pasture conditions with a statement along the lines of, “I could’ve run twice as many cows in this pasture.” 

Providing feed for the cowherd represents the largest expenditure in a cow-calf operation and winter feed is the single largest expense in most operations.  In light of this season’s favorable growth, what management strategies could be employed to reduce winter feed expenses with a view to improve profitability?  Grazing is generally the least expensive way to harvest available feed, so the opportunity to expand the harvest of this year’s abundant supply is worth considering.

Making a feed inventory at the end of the growing season is straightforward – it’s already accumulated.  There’s no need to attempt to anticipate what future conditions may deliver as is necessary in the spring.  A Northern Great Plains cow-calf operation must include some inventory of hay – few winters in this region allow uninterrupted grazing. A strategy which identifies access to feed resources for a “worst case” winter is prudent.  This might include hay on hand, hay which could be purchased if needed, and supplemental grain, either owned or available.

In addition to the quantity of available feed, knowing its nutritional value is essential. Nutrient content of dormant forage is generally adequate, especially for the needs of a mature, dry cow.  Recently weaned, growing animals have higher nutritional needs, but even they can be maintained and grow slowly on dormant forage that is allocated appropriately.  If the rationale for winter grazing is to limit costs, expenditures for supplemental feed should be minimized.  Protein is likely to be the first limiting nutrient in dormant pasture. Based on research completed in Montana with grazing cattle, the estimated crude protein for range forages is 5% in November and December, confirming the fact that protein is the first limiting nutrient when grazing winter range.

When supplementing, we often think about only meeting the needs of the cow and the growing fetus and we often forget about the rumen microbes that also need protein to help digest the bulky fibrous forage.  Research indicates when a diet drops below 7% crude protein, the rumen microbes ability to digest forages is reduced.  Additionally, supplementing with grain to provide energy is generally not a good practice as the negative associative effects of high starch products limit the digestion of fibrous feeds such as dormant pasture.

Testing the nutrient content of the vegetation animals are selecting provides the best guidelines for determining needs for supplementation.  Visual “estimates” are really not useful in evaluating nutrient content.  A much better practice is to clip or hand pluck vegetation most likely to be consumed by cattle – concentrating on leaves and upper portions of the plant.  Chemical analysis of samples provides guidance to develop supplementation plans that meet, but don’t exceed requirements, thus avoiding the delivery of unneeded expensive supplemental nutrients.  If you have tested your winter forage and it is less than 5% CP in November and December, it is because cattle will select a higher nutrient diet than humans can by clipping. 

Winter grazing requires prudent planning.  Provision must be made for adequate water accessibility, protection from severe conditions and contingency plans to provide feed during blizzards or heavy snow cover.  Nonetheless, grazing dormant pasture could provide an alternative to reduce winter feed costs.

This article written with contributions from Robin Salversion, SDSU Extension.