MU Extension hosts free pasture management workshops
As Missouri livestock producers prepare for the transition from summer grazing to fall and winter pasture management, University of Missouri Extension will host free fall pasture management workshops in Maries and Miller counties to provide practical information producers can use to improve forage utilization and extend the grazing season.
The first workshop is 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 1, at the Heartland Regional Library System Vienna Branch, 315 Third St., Vienna. A second workshop is 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 8, at the MU Extension Center in Miller County, Tuscumbia.
The program is designed for livestock and forage producers who want to make better use of available pasture resources while maintaining forage quality and animal performance, says MU Extension agronomy field specialist Rudra Baral.
Both workshops will cover practical pasture and livestock management strategies producers can use as they prepare for the fall and winter grazing season, Baral says. Topics include fall and winter grazing options, extending the grazing season, stockpiling tall fescue, hay quality and forage testing, and body condition scoring.
Fall is an important time for pasture management in Missouri, he says. “Decisions made during late summer and early fall can determine how long livestock can remain on pasture, how much stored hay will be needed during winter and how well pastures are positioned for the following spring.”
Fall pasture management provides producers with an opportunity to make the most of the forage they already have. “With proper planning and management, producers can extend the grazing season, reduce dependence on stored hay and improve the efficiency of their grazing systems,” Baral says.
One key topic will be stockpiling tall fescue, which can provide valuable winter grazing when properly planned. Producers will learn about managing stockpiled forage and making decisions about when and how to utilize it.
The workshops will also address hay quality and forage testing. Understanding the nutritional value of hay and available pasture can help producers match forage resources with livestock requirements and make more informed supplementation and feeding decisions during winter.
Another important topic will be body condition scoring, which provides producers with a practical way to evaluate the nutritional status of their cattle. Monitoring body condition before and during winter can help producers identify nutritional needs early and make appropriate management adjustments.
The programs are part of MU Extension’s ongoing efforts to provide Missouri livestock producers with practical, research-based information to improve pasture management, forage utilization and livestock production, Baral says.
Both workshops are free and open to livestock producers, forage producers, landowners and others interested in pasture management. Participants are encouraged to register in advance:
For more information, contact the MU Extension Center in Miller County at 573-369-2394.
PHOTO: Beef cattle in pasture at sunset. (iStock │ #207406680 – Steve Lovegrove)
