This article was published in the November 2000 issue of the West VirginiaFarm Bureau News.
During November, most livestock producers in West Virginia decide the number and typeof livestock they plan to keep during the winter. The availability of fall pasture,the amount of stored feed, and the quality of the feed will help the farmer determine thenumber of livestock to retain. A winter feeding system then needs to be designed tomeet the livestock's needs and to protect natural resources.
This feeding system should accomplish several objectives:
Reducing the amount of time cattle spend close to surface waters is important becauseregulatory enforcement occurred this spring in West Virginia. Operations that dischargedpollutants (sediment and bacteria) into surface waters were notified by Division ofEnvironmental Protection to improve their winter feeding areas. Using temporaryelectric fence is a good method of keeping cattle away from surface streams. Single-or double-strand high tensile electric fencing is an economical and effective way toprotect stream corridors. It is unlikely to trap debris during flooding. Thesefences should be located a minimum of 50 feet from surface streams and sinkhole areas toallow the riparian or sod buffers to capture the sediment, nutrients, and pathogens thatescape the feeding areas during runoff.
The sod buffers that are located down slope of a feeding area should have cattleexcluded during the fall to allow the grass to grow to a 6-inch height.
This thickened stand of grass will reduce sediment transport during storm runoff. The critical feeding areas that are left with no vegetation should be reseeded atrecommended rates as soon as cattle are removed in the spring. Seed can beincorporated into the disturbed area by letting livestock walk it in.
A permanent feeding areas needs a system to collect, sore, and then apply theaccumulated animal waste. A properly designed permanent feeding area will have amethod (a diversion ditch or earthen berm) to restrict water flowing into the area. Using sawdust or straw on concrete pads is recommended to absorb liquids and improvefooting for the livestock. A feeding area that is roofed needs a gutter and drainagesystem to keep water from accumulating with the animal waste. For permanent feedingareas that store manure, a nutrient management plan needs to be developed and followed tobest utilize the nutrients for crop production while protecting water quality.
Rotation of feeding areas every 30 or 40 days during the winter can eliminate the needfor designing and building a permanent feeding area. These temporary feeding areasmaintain some vegetation and tend to recover quickly. These areas can be located onpastureland so nutrients from the manure and urine are recycled directly to the field. Locate these feeding areas so the livestock have a protected area away from winterwinds. Areas with more than 50% loss of vegetative cover need to be reseeded in thespring.
Extending the grazing season as long as possible is the best way to reduce the timethat cattle spend in the feedlot. Stockpiling tall fescue during the fall and thengrazing off this accumulated forage during December and January keeps the cattle on thepasture and out of the feedlot. Deferred grazing is a good addition to a winterfeeding program and can be accomplished with an August application of nitrogen on tallfescue.
Waterborne bacteria can affect herd health when streams and ponds are used forlivestock watering. Herds can pick up bovine leptospirosis and mastitis from thistype of water source. Use streams and ponds only if no alternative watering sourceis available. To reduce stream and pond bank erosion, design a single access pointfor the cattle that is stabilized with stone.
Designing a winter feeding system that ensures the health of the livestock, returns aprofit to the farm, and protects the environment is an increasing challenge to theproducer. For help in putting all the parts together to manage your winter livestockfeeding area successfully, contact the local USDA Natural Resources Conservation Servicedistrict conservationist, your county Extension agent, or a certified nutrient managementplanner. They can evaluate your operation and assist you with modifying orredesigning your winter feeding system to meet your goals.