Consider using alternative feeds — distillers grains, wheat middlings or corn — to stretch hay supplies so you don't have to turn out cattle on grass before it is ready to be grazed, advises John Dhuyvetter, Extension livestock systems specialist at North Dakota State University's North Central Research Extension Center in Minot, N.D.

In mixed rations containing silage corn stalks or cereal straw could replace hay with the addition of a protein or energy supplement such as distillers grains.

In cows being fed hay to appetite, the hay can be limited to about 70% of their intake. Then the cows can be provided with a grain or grain byproduct supplement at 5 to 10 pounds daily. Actual feeding rates and feed choice will depend on availability, feeding equipment and nutritional needs.

"If feed resources are not completely exhausted, producers may want to consider feeding on pasture or hayland to get cows out of muddy lots and reduce the risk of disease issues in newborn calves," advises Janna Kincheloe, Extension livestock systems specialist at NDSU's Hettinger Research Extension Center. "However, this strategy will put additional stress on pasture or hay land."

Grazing readiness
Grazing readiness for most domesticated pasture is at the three-leaf stage, whereas grazing readiness for most native range grasses is the 3 1/2-leaf stage,

"Early spring grazing, especially following a drought, can be costly in terms of total forage production during the entire grazing season," says Miranda Meehan, NDSU Extension livestock environmental stewardship specialist.

If you must start grazing earlier than normal, graze domesticated pastures such as crested wheatgrass. This prevents damage to native rangeland and still allows producers to turn cattle out on pasture.

Stocking rates should be moderate if livestock are turned out early with no supplemental feed because grass growth will not be able to keep up with the traditional stocking rate.

Culling strategies
Selective culling can help reduce feed needs, Kincheloe says. Culling targets include cows that are old, have poor disposition or physical structure, and that lost calves or had a difficult time giving birth this spring.

If heifers have been retained for replacements, consider whether adequate grazing will be available for cow-calf pairs and replacements. You may have to develop heifers in a dry lot rather than allow them to graze. Some feedlots are willing to custom feed heifers. Some of them specialize in heifer development and offer artificial insemination breeding services.

It may be necessary to sort heifers again to select only those most likely to breed on time with the least feed inputs.

Heifers that were born in the first 30 days of last year's calving season out of dams with no calving difficulty or other issues as the ones to keep. If heifers have been wintered on a high-roughage ration, the fleshy, heavier heifers will be more likely to breed earlier.

"The importance of records is magnified in times when tough culling decisions need to be made," Dhuyvetter says. "Good calving and production records can help producers pinpoint cows that could be culled and make the best decisions for retaining replacements."

Source: NDSU