As the weather cools down, North Dakota ranchers have several options to consider for extending their grazing season, according to North Dakota State University Extension specialists.
Extended season grazing systems provide ranchers the opportunity to graze longer into the fall or even the winter, reducing winter feeding and overall production costs. These systems also have the potential to improve nutrient cycling, enhancing soil health and forage quality.
Several winter grazing strategies are available, including grazing annual forages, swath grazing and bale grazing. Extended season grazing options should be selected based on resources available and production goals.
“It is critical to select an approach that works as part of your production system,” says Kevin Sedivec, NDSU Extension rangeland management specialist.
Source : ndsu.edu