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Livestock Nutrition Consultant Harvest the Grass when Very Nutritious The strategy of the management of the pastures of the Flint Hills of Kansas is an example of a system to maintain a good stand of grass year after year. The method also achieves consistent cattle production. The strategy uses a heavy stocking rate when the grass is very nutritious. They call this double stocking compared to season long grazing. The system uses planned timing to harvest the grass at maximum value followed by a tactic to remove the old grass. Maintain a Good Pasture Year After Year The management tactics for the Flint Hills pastures are: (1) double stock the pastures with light yearlings when the grass will promote rapid gain and fattening during May, June and early July, (2) remove the cattle at the critical time depending on cattle performance, (3) follow the double stocking time with no grazing during the remaining summer period, (4) use mature cows to graze the mature grasses or use prescribed burning to remove the old grass and reduce the problem of weeds and trees. Planned Timing of Management The Flint Hills system will not work in every area but there are several key points to consider: (1) harvest the grass when nutritious, (2) the grass can recover and store up energy in the roots for the next season and (3) timing is important. |
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