Ohio State University Extension Bulletin

Maximizing Fall and Winter Grazing of Beef Cows and Stocker Cattle

Bulletin 872-98


Maximizing Fall and Winter Grazing

Extending the grazing season can reduce production costs (Fowler and Stout, 1990). Labor for the winter period can be reduced to 25% of conventional wintering of beef cows in Ohio (Van Keuren, 1970). Rotational grazing takes about three hours/acre/year versus hay production which requires seven hours/acre/year (Undersander et al., 1991). The cost for feeding hay or stored feed is between $0.75 to $1.00 a day per cow, compared to $0.20 to $0.25 a day per cow for winter grazing fescue. A well-planned grazing program can provide stockpiled pasture well into winter across much of the Upper South and Lower Midwest (Gerrish, 1996).


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