Yes, it is true. Growing Fescue can save you money. Because of the nature of the grass, Fescue will continue to grow in colder weather when other grasses falter. This fall, or cool weather, growth can be beneficial for both cattle and horses and is a great opportunity to use for winter grazing.
Tim Schnakenberg, an agronomy specialist at the University of Missouri Extension, says, "One of the best ways to reduce the outflow of cash on a farm is to save money on feed costs and use the Fecue growth that is available."
Fescue has been around for at least 50 years and farmers have come to depend on it as a feed source, because it is found all over and it can tolerate tough conditions and it has excellent forage values well into the colder weather. Fescue can stay in good condition throughout the winter.
For example, Fescue growth in October can test as high as 20 percent protein. Schnakenberg says that it will lose only about 2 percentage points per month through the winter. That is, of course, if there is no heavy snow or ice early on.
Now consider if you could feed your cattle or horses on 15-20 percent Fescue in the winter, or buy in hay that is, likely, only 8 percent. Grazing Fescue can greatly increase your margin by decreasing your overall feed bill.
"The fewer days you have to bring the feed to the cows, involving time and tractor fuel, the less it is going to cost the farmer," said Schnakenberg.
Management Intensive Grazing techniques can help in efficiently grazing Fescue, by rationing it out over time. Another approach might be strip grazing.
I am pretty sure I can get Fescue to grow here. The last time I checked, Fescue seed was about the cheapest seed out there, yet another cost saver.
2 comments:
Our friends down the way that do grass fed beef on a much larger scale than we do start stockpiling the fescue areas for winter forage. They swear by it. We had a friend who was allowed to cut down a field for hay. He gave us some, and our animals wouldn't eat it. We were told it is probably fescue and they don't like it in the hot part of summer.
Scott, I really like your blog, we have alot in common. I found your site from Northern Farmer blog. We grow alot of fescue here in southern Kentucky to graze cows,chickens and pigs. God Bless, Tim S.
Post a Comment