Amazing Graze

A publication of The Ohio State University Extension, Edward M. Vollborn, Editor
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July, 1998

Dear Friend:

With each passing storm, I count my blessings that I have not been in the path of major destruction. A hail totaled car and a lot of washed out fences are very minor in comparison to what many have had to face. A master grazer from Athens County, once quoted to a magazine reporter, "remember, Mother Nature always deals the last blow." One of my mentors, retired OSU Extension Specialist, Jim Clay, once tried to convince me that it was foolish to worry about things that I had no control over. I understood what he was telling me, but I still sorry a lot. My concern is with our friends in Eastern Ohio as they deal with the tragedy of this recent storm.

Controlling forage quality this spring may have been as big a challenge as trying to stop a hail storm. In fact, a hail storm did a pretty effective job of taking out the mature fescue seed heads on several paddocks that had gotten ahead of us on our family farm. Chris Penrose reported at the Jackson Branch, OARDC Field Day, that the May 21 grass quality analysis was almost identical to the same plots (39 samples) stockpile last February 20. We found the same to be true at the OARDC Southern Branch grass plots harvested May 26. None of the 48 samples had a relative feed value higher than 96. With poor hay, even that cut in mid-May - it's time to get in gear to produce a lot of high- energy fall grown stockpile for winter pasture!

Remember, if problems really start piling up, give your OSU Extension Agent a call - they are really good listeners!

Sincerely,

Edward M. Vollborn

Leader, Grazing Program

OSU Extension, South District

HOLMES COUNTY VICINITY AUGUST-SEPTEMBER PASTURE WALKS By: Dean Slates, ANR Extension Agent, Holmes County

As summer continues, several "on-site" pasture sessions are planned to help producers learn how to implement our intensively managed pasture program for their farm.

The August Pasture Walk will be held on Monday, August 10 at the Paul R. Miller farm located in Clark township at 3801 TR 162, Sugarcreek. This is a new pasture setup that is in the early stages of development. This walk starts at 7:00 p.m. Chris Penrose, Athens County OSU Extension Agricultural Agent will join us as a resource. He is experienced in the development of pasture systems on hilly sites.

The September program will be on Monday, September 14 at Dale E. Beachy family's Martin's Creek Farm in Berlin Township at 6234 CR 203, Millersburg. This program will "focus on fencing for pastures." The field demonstrations will begin at 1:00 p.m. and will be repeated at 6:00 p.m. This program is a cooperative effort with Bunker Hill Hardware Company and Gallagher Power Fence, Inc. Regardless of what make of fence equipment you choose, there are basic principles that need to be covered. This will be the focus of this program.

There is no charge to participate and everyone is welcome at any of these programs. Contact the Holmes County Extension office at 330-674-3015 to get additional information and directions to the farms.

ANNUAL MEDICS AND BERSEEM CLOVER AS EMERGENCY FORAGES

Severe winter-kill of legumes in some years prompted researchers at Michigan State University (Hesterman, et al) to investigate the use of annual medics and Berseem clover as emergency forages. These crops offer the potential to provide high protein animal feed and fix atmospheric N2 in the soil for the next crop. They also avoid potential problems such as prussic acid and nitrate poisoning.

Annual medics are native to the Mediterranean region, but found in the major regions of the world. When planted in the spring in a northern temperate climate, they can be grown as summer annuals. Berseem clover is an erect, non-reseeding, cool season, annual legume. Berseem clover is considered non-bloating.

In the Michigan State study, forage mass was measured at 60 days after planting and again 30 days later. Their results indicate that both annual medics and Berseem clover can be used as emergency forages in northern locations; however, annual medics have the potential for only one harvest, whereas Berseem clover can be harvested twice during the growing season. This study was reported in the March-April 1998 "Agronomy Journal." Thanks to John Underwood, OSU Extension Agronomist, retired, for providing the study to us. Call 740-286-2177 for a copy of the article.

Note: Berseem clover was planted at several on-farm and research sites in southern Ohio during the spring of 1997. Seeding methods included a range from over-the-top into marginal existing sod, to drilled into conventional prepared seedbed. This was done as an observational demonstration to see if further replicated work could be warranted. The only successful demonstration site was at the OARDC Southern Branch near Ripley, Ohio. At that location, manager Phil Dotson, drilled the Berseem into a conventional seedbed along with oats around April 10.

MANAGING EXCESS - PLANNING FOR SHORTFALL

The concept of full utilization of your forage resource is what a few year-round graziers are excited about doing. Whether it is saving current excess production on-site for future use, or just timely harvest to get the growth cycle started again, the small round bale could be a management aid. Research conducted by Dr. R. W. VanKeuren at Ohio Research Stations dating back into the mid-1960's showed that leaving hay in the field and allowing cattle to feed on the small round bales and standing regrowth all winter adequately maintains beef cows for less labor and cost than confinement winter feeding. At that time the small bale/regrowth system took only one-fourth the time of conventional feeding systems. During the late 60's the Allis Chalmers rotobaler was used to make a small round bale weighing some 40-60 pounds each.

Year-round graziers are again, 30 plus years later, looking at this system. Several European companies have small round balers on the market. These balers look like a child's toy compared to our modern day large round balers. On May 22, an Abbriata mini-roto was demonstrated at McKarns' Shamrock Vale Farm in Carroll County. The bale is about the same height and weight of the AC bale, but a little shorter in length and wrapped a little tighter. After some thought, this baler was purchased and will be available for field days this summer and fall. At the EOARDC (June 20) Hay Day, it was pretty much demonstrated that it will not bale wet hay. We plan to re-explore the use of the small round bale to temporarily store excess production in the field for later use. The use of strip grazing to allocate daily forage will be recommended to control utilization.

CONSIDERATIONS FOR INSTALLING LIVESTOCK WATER PIPELINES by: Robert Hendershot, Grasslands Management Systems Conservationist USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

Locate the pipeline from the source to the destination in as straight a line as possible, avoiding the obvious obstructions. Pipelines operating by gravity must always run down grade, since high spots create air locks that may stop the flow or reduce its velocity. Vents should be installed to improve flow in long, gravity delivery lines or at major changes in grade. The pump capacity, desired outlet pressure, amount of rise from the source to the destination and length of line must be used to calculate the line pressure at the pump.

Traffic, farm operations, frost depth and soil cracking can all cause pipelines to fail. They may require a greater depth of cover, sheathing in a protective material or seasonal drainage to avoid the hazard. Always test a pipeline before backfilling. Fill the line with water and test at the designed working head or a minimum head of ten feet, whichever is greater. Repair all leaks and retest.

Where flexible plastic pipe is used, remove all stones from the bottom of the trench. Do not lay the pipe in a straight line in the trench. Instead, curve it from side to side to allow for contraction in cold weather. Install 101 feet of pipe for every 100 feet of trench. The initial backfill materials should be free of rocks and sharp edged material. Compact initial material around the pipe. Complete the backfilling before putting the line into service. Prepare a seedbed over the disturbed area, then seed and mulch the area.

The proper pipe size is determined by the type of system pressure or gravity, length of the proposed ;pipeline, the gallons of water required per day by the livestock and the type of pipe used. Most producers will need a one and one-quarter inch pipe. Assistance can be obtained from your local USDA-Natural Resource Conservation Service or Soil and Water Conservation District office.

MANAGING INTERNAL PARASITES OF SHEEP IN THE SPRING Prepared by: William P. Shulaw, DVM, Beef/Sheep Extension Veterinarian

Managing internal parasites in sheep is really a function of pasture management for most of the year. Delays in management or failure to recognize the necessity of managing the pasture for the control on internal parasites can lead to late summer situations where the pasture is extremely dangerous for the sheep, and even frequent deworming will fail to completely control the harmful effect on the sheep.

Pastures upon which sheep were grazed the previous season will have varying amounts of surviving over-wintered worm larvae. This number will depend upon the intensity of grazing the previous season, the class of sheep grazed (mature animals versus lambs) and their level of infection, and the amount of heat and dryness during the previous season. When sheep consume these larvae in the spring, they become egg-laying adults in about 21 days, and the eggs result in a new generation of larvae which can infect grazing lambs and ewes. As relatively non-immune lambs develop infections, they magnify the pasture larval burden which may result in very dangerous pastures late in the summer. At that time 95% of the total farm worm burden is on the pasture. Fortunately, over-wintered larvae usually die by late June or early July.

Controlling parasite populations then centers around attacking the over-wintered larvae by strategic spring treatments, by treat and move strategies, or by using alternate species grazing.

Strategic Preventive Treatments - If sheep are to be grazed upon pastures that were grazed last year, treating them three weeks after turnout kills worms that have developed from the ingested pasture larvae before they can produce very many eggs. Repeating the treatments at 21-day intervals until late June or early July kills maturing worms in the sheep before they can significantly contaminate the pasture. This usually means three or four treatments depending upon when sheep are turned out. Ewes lambing at pasture in April and May should be treated in the same fashion, and will not need a separate treatment to control the "periparturient rise" in parasite egg production that occurs with onset of lactation. Very young lambs do not eat much grass and do not need treated. Lambs older than about 30-40 days and grazing with the ewes may need to be treated if they are to remain on the pasture in order to prevent significant pasture contamination by the worms they have picked up in the late spring. Lambs that will be weaned in mid-summer and moved to drylot for feeding don't need treated until they are moved to the drylot.

Once July arrives, the over-wintered larvae on the pasture are no longer a threat, and pasture contamination is a function of the effectiveness of the spring treatments. Pastures may be safe for ewes for the rest of the summer and early fall. Experience at the Eastern Ohio Resource Development Center and the OSU Sheep Center has suggested that because of their lack of immunity, lambs will significantly magnify even very low levels of pasture larvae and may need anticipated. Fecal egg counts can be done by a veterinarian to assess the immune response and the potential of lambs to contaminate the pastures. As a general rule of thumb, average worm egg counts of 100-200 eggs per gram of feces may indicate a need to worm the sheep to prevent serious pasture buildup. Egg counts do not accurately reflect worm burdens; they do indicate the potential to contaminate the pasture.

Treat and Move Strategies - If sufficient unused pasture, hayfield regrowth, or other grazing opportunities exist, shepherds can graze pastures grazed by sheep the previous year until early July, treat them with an effective wormer, and move them to the new pasture. Such pastures will have few, or no over-wintered larvae on them, and clean sheep going to clean pastures will stay clean for a considerable time. Weaned lambs, which have no acquired immunity yet, should still be monitored after moving as late summer or fall approaches because wormers are seldom 100% effective, and larvae on pastures can build to significant levels if the weather is warm and damp and if the pasture will be grazed on into October. Fecal egg counts can suggest whether the pasture is being significantly contaminated. Alternatively, a second treatment and move to another safe pasture can also be used to avoid this concern. This practice reduces the cost of parasite control and places less selection pressure for drug resistance on the worms.

Alternate Species Grazing - This strategy is somewhat similar to the treat and move strategy and takes advantage of the relative specificity of worms for their normal host. Spring grazing of last year's sheep pastures with another species, such as cattle, followed by sheep grazing again in July allows use of the contaminated pasture in the spring which will become uncontaminated for the sheep my mid-July. Likewise sheep can graze contaminated pastures in the spring without treatment until their move to safe pastures in May or June. The pasture grazed by the sheep can then be safely used by an alternate species.

Shepherds frequently ask whether intensive grazing practices lower the risk of parasitism in the belief that frequent moving of the sheep moves them away from the worm larvae. Worm larvae on pasture can survive several months if the weather is not hot and dry and if they have some shelter such as tall forage. When the sheep are moved back to the paddock in rotation, the larvae are usually there waiting for them. Because stocking density on intensively grazed pastures tends to be higher than conventional grazing, pasture contamination could actually be greater in some cases. Age and immune status of the grazing sheep, mixed species grazing, weather, season, and presence of drug resistance (partial or complete) all complicate the decision making process. Monitoring of fecal egg output can give the grazier insight as to what is happening to the pasture with respect to its infectivity just as watching forage growth helps him plan the harvest.

WISCONSIN SCHOOL FOR BEGINNING DAIRY FARMERS

This program was created to make it easier to get started in grass-based dairying. The 17-week winter classroom learning is followed by a four month internship (April-July) on one or more grass-based dairy farms. The goal of the school is to move new farmers into grass-based dairy operations by offering classroom instruction, and on-farm internship, field training, mentoring, and matches with retiring or exiting farmers. Applications for the next session are available through August 3. To receive more information, contact Kathy Martin-Taylor, Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems at 608-262-5200 or Dick Cates, WSBDF Coordinator at 608-588-2836.

"QUOTES"

"Those who know a job best and what could be done to improve performance are frequently those doing the job." . . . Dr. Danny Klinefelter, Texas A&M University

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All educational programs and activities conducted by Ohio State University Extension are available to all potential clientele on a non- discriminatory basis without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, gender, age, disability or Vietnam-era veteran status.

Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Keith L. Smith, Director, Ohio State University Extension.

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Updated on July 13, 1998 by Stan Smith