Forage Types

Grazing corn stover has long been used to supplement winter grazing for cattle in many parts of the country.

Alfalfa diseases such as aphanomyces root rot and anthracnose, as well as heavily saline soils, are common in different parts of the U.S.

For those of us working in agriculture, knowledge of improved technologies and new resources demand we look twice at our management strategies.

Many plants produce compounds called phytoestrogens that are very similar to estrogen, the primary female sex hormone. When phytoestrogens are consumed in large quantities by livestock or humans, they can act like estrogen in the body.

Whether producers are wanting to grow more homegrown feedstuff without increasing acreage, improve soil structure, add organic matter into the ground, increase soil fertility or all the above – cover crops are an effective and quick way to achieve their goals, says Jerry Hall, director of research for Grassland Oregon.

At the 2017 NCBA Cattlemen’s College in Nashville, Dennis Hancock from the University of Georgia discussed managing forages to meet beef cattle nutritional needs.