Firing up a tractor every day to haul two bales 1¼ kilometres to feed cattle adds at least $10 to $15 to the cost of each bale.
It’s not just the cost of fuel, says Lorne Klein, a forage development specialist with Saskatchewan Agriculture.
“You’re starting a diesel tractor, so there’s the wear and tear on the machine, the hours you’re putting on it, and your time,” he told the 2008 Grazing School in Brandon last month.
“If somebody’s actually doing that, it’s costing them a lot more than they might think it is.”
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Some would claim that it’s necessary to winter the cows near a water source, but Klein said research shows it doesn’t hurt cattle to lick snow.
“The topic has been researched to death. Your animals are not being compromised in terms of health or production by using snow as a water source.”
Besides cost savings, the other obvious advantage is in the potential for boosting fertility in areas suffering from a nutrient deficiency.
In a study of a bale grazing site where 1,385 pound bales of alfalfa-grass hay were fed to cattle on a pasture, 34 percent of the nitrogen in the feed ended up in the soil, compared to one percent if the cattle were wintered in a dry lot and the manure hauled out and spread in spring.
Each bale contained an estimated 27 lb. of nitrogen, he added.
“So at 34 percent recovery, you get back nine pounds of nitrogen over the next two or three growing seasons,” Klein said. “What are the economics of that? What number do you put on a pound of nitrogen?”
Work at the Western Beef Development Centre found that 25 bales per acre, which would be placed roughly 40 feet apart, left a nitrogen value equal to about 75 lb. per acre, according to soil test results the following spring.
“That’s a responsible number,” he said.
“But if you are putting out 100 bales an acre, or 20 feet apart, you might be ending up with 300 lb. of nitrogen.”
Underfertilized, perennial grass pastures are Klein’s first choice for getting the best results from bale grazing.
His second choice is on annual cropland, mainly because it leaves a “mosaic” pattern of high and low fertility spots, as well as excess residue in some cases.
“But if you have the real, true native prairie, with the western wheat grass and needle-and-thread, and all those good, true native grass species, don’t bale graze on it because you’re going to upset that pristine environment.”
That’s because bunch grass pastures can’t cope with the residue and spike in fertility. As well, bale grazing could create dead spots that may linger for a couple of years.
On the other hand, weakened smooth brome and Kentucky blue grass pastures will “explode” in higher yields.
Klein said it amazes him that some ranchers persist in feeding their herds every year on the same 10 acre field.
“In my opinion, it’s the worst of both worlds. You aren’t going to clean up the manure and spread it on your fields, so you don’t get that benefit. Plus, by super overfertilizing, you are actually going to kill the grass in that area.”
He said it’s important to remove twine from bales, even biodegradable sisal, because it can become trapped in the rumens of cows and possibly affect the animal’s feed efficiency.
