As soon as pastures green up, beef producers start thinking about turnout. They don’t want to keep feeding harvested feeds any longer than needed.
Pasture turnout is an important time in a cow herd management calendar. It is critical to make sure both the forage and cattle are ready before opening the pasture gate.
Extension specialists explain it is important not to turn out just because the calendar date says it is time. Turning out too soon can result in reducing the forage production potential for the entire grazing season.
What Should Producers Consider Before Turnout?
Aaron Berger, University of Nebraska beef systems educator, says there are three things to consider ensuring a successful and safe pasture turnout:
1. Forage readiness
“The first and most crucial step is assessing grass conditions,” Berger says. “Producers should ensure there are at least three leaves present.”
This is important during drought conditions, when grass availability may be limited. Berger says turning out cattle too early can exacerbate feed shortages and potentially damage pasture vegetation.
Ron Lemenager, Purdue beef specialist, says forage height is important. He explains cool-season grasses should be at least 6” tall.
“Leaf material is critical for photosynthesis and plant recovery after grazing,” he says. “The early-season forages are typically high in water, potassium and soluble nitrogen content but low in energy. We used to refer to this as ‘washy grass.’”
The challenge here is that cattle cannot eat enough dry matter to meet their energy requirement. This is especially true for replacement heifers coming off a gaining diet to reach approximately 60% of their mature weight by the beginning of the breeding season. When turned out to lush early-season pasture, they can crash on energy and go into negative energy balance.
“This results in a reduction in the number of heifers cycling and early embryo death,” Lemenager says. “If the breeding season coincides with this energy crash, fewer heifers will become pregnant until they adapt.”
Kansas State University Extension veterinarian A.J. Tarpoff says it is important to scout pastures before opening the gate: “Be sure to check forage availability and make any stocking rate adjustments, if necessary.”
2. Water source evaluation
Water availability and quality are paramount. Berger reminds producers to carefully inspect water sources, especially during drought years.
Stock ponds, dams and dugouts may not be recharged as usual, potentially leading to poor water quality. Water with high solid content can be unsuitable for livestock consumption, making thorough assessment critical.
3. Noxious plant identification
Berger says scouting the pasture for potentially harmful plants is essential. Drought conditions can make cattle more likely to consume plants they would normally avoid. Identifying and addressing these potential hazards can prevent livestock health issues.
Get Ahead of Weeds
As winter gives way to spring and pastures begin to green up, it is critical to have a plan in place to control weeds before they become a problem. Abe Smith, Corteva Agriscience range and pasture specialist, encourages producers to get ahead of weeds this spring to set their operation up for success.
“We see long-term impacts throughout a season that if you don’t get to weeds early, we see residual effects of that later into the season,” Smith says. “This has impacts in terms of seed production or getting additional weed seeds produced if they don’t remove those weeds early in the season.”
Smith says the true benefit of managing weeds in range and pasture is really maximizing the amount of forage that producers have available, and the economic benefits play out pretty simply if producers look at pastures as pounds of grass.
“Pounds of grass correlate to pounds of beef at the end of the day,” he says. “I have generally used the math that if we remove a pound of weeds through control measures from the pasture, we can put a pound or more of grass back into the pasture.”
Lemenager says soil condition is another factor to consider.
“If it is cool and soils are water-logged, the root system is compromised,” he explains. “Additionally, hoof action on wet soils will result in pugging (deep depressions). The challenge here is that weed seeds that have accumulated and laid dormant over the years but [are] buried below the germination zone. When soils are pugged, these weed seeds are now closer to the surface and germinate.”
Be Sure the Cow Herd Is Ready
Along with the forage, it is important to make sure the cows are ready for turnout. Tarpoff shares four tips producers should consider before sending cattle to pasture:
- Perform spring herd health program
Tarpoff reminds producers of the importance of doing bull breeding soundness exams before putting the bull to work. He also encourages producers to do pre-breeding vaccinations, consider synchronization options and plan for common pasture ailments such as foot rot and pinkeye.
- Make a plan for internal and external parasites
Now is the time to decide how you are going to tackle flies, ticks and internal nematodes. Berger reminds producers there are several options available to help control flies and to consider the option that works best for your management plan.
- Establish summer mineral program
Tarpoff encourages producers to prepare mineral feeders and calculate needs and delivery intervals.
- Check cattle identification
Be sure cattle are identified before turnout. This can include brands if required in your area or tags. Along with identification, Tarpoff shares these strategies for protecting cattle from theft: Lock gates, and don’t leave cattle penned up overnight in an easily accessible location. He also encourages producers to communicate with neighbors who share a fence line when turning out about what types of cattle are going and how the cattle are identified.
Minimize Grass Tetany Risk, and Look Out For Bloat
Lemenager encourages producers to watch for two potential health issues that can occur at grass turnout: grass tetany and bloat.
Early season lush pasture grasses are high in water content, potassium and soluble nitrogen but low in magnesium and energy content. It should be noted that pastures containing legumes provide a grazing diet that is somewhat higher in magnesium.
“Grass tetany can be a problem, especially in older lactating cows that are less efficient in mobilizing magnesium from body stores,” Lemenager explains. “Feeding a high-magnesium mineral for several weeks prior to turnout is a standard recommendation to minimize the incidence of grass tetany.”
He reminds producers that magnesium, usually in the form of magnesium oxide, is not palatable. Therefore, it is important that mineral intake be monitored.
Lemenager says legumes are beneficial to diet quality, providing nitrogen for companion grasses and increased forage production, but lush legumes can cause bloat. As legumes advance in maturity, the risk for bloat does decrease.
Good Fences Matter
Tarpoff says it is important to walk fence lines and scout pastures.
“Be sure to check forage availability and make any stocking rate adjustments, if necessary,” he says.
Berger adds it is important to look for fence damage, especially from winter weather and to ensure fenced-out areas remain inaccessible. He also says it is beneficial to consider potential fence-line interactions with neighboring herds.
Tarpoff encourages producers to have an open line of communications with neighbors. It’s a good idea to share, when turning out, what types of cattle are going out (yearlings, pairs, bulls) and how the cattle are identified — tags or brands.
“This open communication helps identify strays earlier,” he adds.
Through following these strategies with accurate planning and preparation, pasture turnout can be stress-free for both the producer and the cow herd.
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