Managing Winter Grazing Opportunities to Manage Cattle

171 Cold Winter Climates example, if snow becomes too deep for grazing earlier than anticipated, or early rain reduces the quality and quantity of swath grazing reserves. The Plan B program has a focus on coninement feeding; either in yards or on wintering sites. With this in mind, planning the winter feed management program requires that preparation for both eventualities are completed well before the onset of winter, including feed budgeting and securing the total reserve quantities of feed required to sustain Plan B.

7.5.3. Managing Winter Grazing

It is essential that cattle begin the winter grazing program in good body condition, at least BCS 3.0, that they are able to maintain good body condition throughout winter, and that shelter, water and feed are always available. Planning, management, close monitoring and responding to the environment are absolutely critical. To maintain body condition, cattle should be segregated into ‘like’ groups for grazing; for example old cow groups, heifer groups, and steer groups. Before winter grazing commences, the quality of the feed should be tested to determine the energy, protein, and ibre concentrations in the feed. This will help understand whether the feed will meet the nutritional needs of the cattle, and therefore whether the cattle will need to be given supplements while grazing the particular forage. It is also a good practice to provide the cattle with access to a source of supplementary minerals, salt and vitamins. Throughout the winter grazing period, the cattle need to be checked daily. Although the cattle are grazing in paddocks, bedding is still required for the cattle, and this should be placed in the sheltered area set aside in the paddock to provide protection against extreme cold and unpredictable bad weather events. Bedding straw will ensure that cattle have insulation against the freezing efect of the ground when they lay down. Also, in freezing conditions, cattle cannot be allowed to get wet to the skin, as the water in the hair coat will freeze and can rapidly lead to hypothermia. Contingency plans Plan B need to be in place whenever a winter grazing program is implemented, as bad weather can quickly impact on feed accessibility and cattle condition e.g. where the snow becomes too deep, an ice crust forms on the swath, or when a ield turns to mud when the snow melts. If the snow is icy or crusted over, animals can wear the skin of their noses and the hair of their lower legs. In these circumstances, the cattle need to be removed immediately and an alternative feeding and management strategy applied; such as feeding in coninement or bale grazing.

7.5.4. Grazing Stockpiled Forage