Lower cost back grounding

Back grounding calves over winter on swath grazing systems, as opposed to a feed yard can reduce costs by 30 to 50 percent, says a senior researcher with the Western Beef Development Centre (WBDC).

Bart Lardner, who conducted research at the WBDC’s Termuende Research Farm, near Lanigan, Sask., told producers attending the Western Canadian Grazing Conference in Edmonton, that putting calves on barley or millet swaths held cost of production to 63 to 87 cents per head per day, respectively. While, a group of calves  back grounded on a more conventional hay and supplement ration in a feed yard cost $1.17 per head per day to feed.

Performance wise calves on the golden millet swaths gained 1.3 pounds per day, calves on the barley swaths gained 1.9 pounds per day, and dry lot calves gained 1.6 pounds per day.

On top of the feed and yardage cost savings, Lardner said nutrients in the manure left by calves over wintering on pasture added about 35 pounds of nitrogen per acre.

Lardner points out his figures are based on a research farm situation, but says the study does show the potential of swath grazing as an economical option for back grounding calves.

For more details on Western Beef Development Centre research visit their website at www.wbdc.sk.ca

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