Fall and Spring Stockpiled Perennial Forages
Stockpiled forage refers to perennial pasture that is grazed early in the growing season and then reserved for late-season or early spring grazing. On the Canadian prairies, winter feed is the primary cost of production of a typical cow herd. One strategy to reduce feed costs is to lengthen the grazing season, since costs on pasture are about 50 percent of those for stored feeds.
Stockpiled forage options:
- Grazed as a standing crop, or
- Swathed and grazed directly from the swath, depending on forage species and characteristics.
Stockpiled forages works well with tame species although native species can be used with additional management. Pastures should not be grazed after the end of June to allow for sufficient regrowth before the first killing frost.
Is Stockpiled Forage Quality Adequate Beyond the Typical Grazing Season?
- October–December: Stockpiled grass meets nutritional needs for dry, mature cows in early to mid-gestation.
- Alfalfa: Adequate until late November; quality declines rapidly after leaf drop.
- March–April: All stockpiled forage falls below minimum requirements—supplementation is necessary.
Pastures must not be grazed after early July to allow sufficient regrowth before the first killing frost.
Maintaining Forage Quality
- Forage quality declines as plants mature.
- Best practice: Harvest mid-summer (grazing or haying), then allow regrowth for fall grazing.
- Regrowth provides higher nutritional value than fully mature forage left unharvested.
· Grazing before plants reach the 3 leaf stage causes a reduction in total forage production – you loose 3 days grazing in the fall for every 1 day too early grazing in the spring
· Old growth combined with new growth provides shelter for newborn calves
· Yields of native pastures are much lower than tame species
· Soil testing is critical to simulate new growth
· Feed supplements are necessary
Spring Stockpiled Pastures – Nutrient Composition and Yield
Suitable Livestock Classes
- Best suited for: Mature dry cows in early to mid-gestation.
- Not adequate for: Young growing stock, early lactation cows, or thin cows—especially later in the season.
Nutritional Trends
- TDN: Grasses retain >50% TDN through winter (Figure 1); alfalfa declines sharply by December.
- Crude Protein: Dry cows need 7–8%; most forages meet this until mid-October (Figure 2). Young stock and lactating cows require 11–13%, which is not met after October.
- Relative Feed Value: Adequate for dry cows until late November; insufficient for growing stock by late October (Figure 3).
Yield and Grazing Management
- Target 1 ton of dry matter per acre for cows that are fall grazing.
- Harvest timing:
- Early summer = lower yield, higher quality.
- Late summer = lower quality, higher yield.
- Mid-July harvest offers best balance within most of Manitoba.
- Leave 3–4 inches (≈1000 lbs/acre) residue after grazing to maintain intake and stand health.
Consider forages known for good regrowth potential, such as meadow brome, alfalfa and tall fescue. See Figure 4 for average regrowth yields over 4 years of sampling.
Example Yields:
- Meadow Brome: ~3,250 lbs/acre
- Tall Fescue: ~4,050 lbs/acre
Forage Structure
- Upright species (e.g., tall fescue, Russian wild rye) are easier to graze under snow.
- Soft grasses (e.g., meadow brome, orchard grass) should be grazed earlier to avoid snow burial
Grazing Tips and Production Guidelines
- Fertilization: Apply 50 lbs of nitrogen per acre in July to optimize fall forage growth. Manitoba trials have shown dry matter increases of 75–100% and TDN improvements of up to 6%.
- Timing: Use stockpiled pastures for growing animals until November and for maintenance animals until December or later. Due to weathering and reduced forage quality, dry pregnant cows or ewes are best suited for late-season grazing.
- Species Selection: Choose forages that remain palatable, upright, and shatter-resistant into late fall. Grass-legume mixtures are preferred over pure stands. Avoid legumes prone to leaf shatter.
- Alfalfa Management: Prior to frost, moderate grazing of alfalfa tops causes less stress than cutting for hay.
- Carryover Use: Stockpiled forage can be reserved for early spring to support newly calved cows or yearlings during the first six weeks post-snowmelt. Supplemental feeding may be required.
- Pasture Recovery: Allow adequate regrowth after spring or fall grazing to maintain stand health.
- Efficiency Practices: Use strip grazing and temporary electric fencing to improve forage utilization and reduce waste.
SPECIES TO CHOSE:
Tall Fescue, Russian WildRye, Meadow Brome, Reed Canary, Cicer Milk Vetch
AVOID: Orchard Grass |