During this episode of Cattle HQ, Taylor Grussing, SDSU Extension Cow/Calf Field Specialist sits down with Doug Sieck, 4th generation rancher from Selby, SD shares with us some tips on getting cows to feed themselves a good ration at an economical price by grazing standing corn. Alternate grazing systems are a great way to decrease harvest and fuel inputs during harvest. Going about fall harvest differently by grazing standing corn is one of those systems.
Highlights include:
- Pick a field that has good fence, water and some protection.
- Determine bushels per acre by harvesting strips of the corn field and calculate how many rows to allocate per day so cows have access to 10 pounds of corn and 10 pounds of corn stalks per day.
- Set cows up to graze the field by working them up on a ration to 10 pounds of corn and 10 pounds of hay before turning them out.
- Get a big fencer and make sure cows are trained to respect the electric fence and stay in their allocation each day.
- Always have a backup plan to manage feed intake and compaction if winter weather hits.
