Grazing

Spring is an exciting time for agricultural producers as it represents one of the high points of optimism for the year. New beginnings, new births, new growth and renewed hope for the production year. As spring arrives, the yearly plans are brought into implementation.

While bovines as a species are a pretty resilient animal, there are times where consuming too much of the wrong things can be detrimental to their performance – and maybe their life.

Producers are showing a greater interest in cover crops as a forage source for grazing livestock. Cover crops can be intensively managed as a great forage source – but with some caution and considerations.

Often, the last thing cattlemen care to do is crunch numbers, but arguably this is the most important aspect of managing a successful cattle operation.

Grass and grazing animals evolved together. In North America, bison, pronghorn antelope and elk grazed the plains. In mountainous Western areas, elk, deer, bighorns, mountain goats and mountain buffalo grazed the more rugged regions.

You’ve seen the acronym “AUM.” Do you know what it really means? Let’s guess: Abandoned uranium mine? Air-to-underwater missile? All ungulates meditate?