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About Us
County Impact Statements - Stone County
Extension Forage Demonstrations Provide Longer Grazing Days and
Added Profits $$
"Stockpile Fescue and controlled grazing has saved me a bundle, "according to
Claud Watters, forage and livestock producer in Stone County. Claud also
stated"that this is most likely the best management practice in livestock
production."
Claud Watters reported that, "along with stockpile fescue, rotational grazing
play a major roll on amount of forage intake, maybe as much as 60-80% more."
This means more grazeable forage for more days out of the year. This will
produce more beef per acre and potential for greater net profit.
Stockpile fescue and rotation grazing were designed to improve forage and
amount consumed, extended grazing days and increase net profit returns by
limiting supplements.
Stone County is blessed with many natural resources, which include pasture
land for grazing of livestock or hay production. Forage management is an
important component of the livestock industry. Many demonstrations and other
forage educational methods are being used to teach the principles for forage
production and harvest. Forage database, grazing school and demonstrations
(legumes, stockpile forages, proper fertilization, weed control, etc.) are being
conducted to demonstration cost-effective forage practices.
Claud Watters demonstrating strip grazing on stockpile fescue.
ABIP Stockpile project.
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Impacts
- Stockpile fescue forages extended the grazing season by 30% and reduce
the cost of production by $13.96 per cow.
- Improved the fescue forage stands by 50%.
- Improved fertilization practices to increase crude protein and TDN
levels. Forage samples were taken to follow crude protein and TDN levels
(October forage sample shows a 27.4% crude protein and 80.5% TDN, after a
2-3 week ice storm in December, samples in early February still contained
13.4% crude protein and 61.2% TDN)
- Cows maintain a body condition score of 5 during stockpile fescue
grazing period.
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