Bale Grazing and the Bale Grazing Calculator © Acknowledgements

The authors, Lorne Klein, PAg, and Travis Peardon, AAg, would like to thank the following individuals who assisted with the development of Bale Grazing and the Bale Grazing Calculator©: Dennis Haak, Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration (PFRA), Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada; Dr. Bart Lardner, PAg, Western Beef Development Centre, University of Saskatchewan; Dale Weisbrot, PAg, Livestock Development Branch, Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture; Mark Neuman, Livestock Producer, Group Plan Advisor with the Upper Souris Agri-Environmental Group Plan, Frobisher, Sask.; Jeremy Brown, PAg, Saskatchewan Watershed Authority; and Grant Lastiwka, PAg, Agricultural Research and Extension Council of Alberta.

The authors would like to thank Harvey Tedford, a Saskatchewan producer, for reviewing the book.

For more information

For more information about bale grazing, contact the authors through the Agriculture Knowledge Centre at 1-866-457-2377.

This document is also available on the Saskatchewan Agriculture website at www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca.

Cover: Examples of intensive bale grazing (top) and extensive bale grazing (bottom). Photos: Saskatchewan Agriculture Table of Contents

Introduction...... 1 Intensive and extensive bale grazing ...... 2 Choosing a site...... 3 Land use Seeded perennial forage Annual cropland Native prairie Soil texture, nutrient leaching, and water runoff considerations Soil fertility considerations for bale placement Physical impacts on the bale graze site Logistics of site selection Wind protection and watering Bale placement...... 7 Time of year and amount of feed placed Bale setting and density Feed rationing: quantity and quality Livestock and electric fence management ...... 10 Site management after bale grazing...... 12 Bale twine and bale feeder management...... 14 Wildlife considerations...... 16 Conclusion...... 16 Introduction to the Bale Grazing Calculator© ...... 17 Bibliography ...... 20 Introduction %DOHJUD]LQJRQ¿HOGVLVDPHWKRGRISURYLGLQJ VKRZQLQFUHDVHGQLWURJHQFDSWXUHLQWKHVRLO IHHGWREHHIFDWWOHGXULQJWKHZLQWHUPRQWKV SUR¿OHFRPSDUHGWRLQWHQVLYHIHHGLQJLQD :LWKWKLVV\VWHPOLYHVWRFNDUHDOORZHG FRUUDOIROORZHGE\PDQXUHVSUHDGLQJZLWK DFFHVVWREDOHVSUHYLRXVO\SODFHGRQD¿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

Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture 1 Bale Grazing and the Bale Grazing Calculator© Intensive and extensive bale grazing

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Above: Intensive bale grazing on a selected site. Electric fencing controls livestock access to the bales.

Below: ([WHQVLYHEDOHJUD]LQJRQWKHKD\¿HOGZKHUHWKHEDOHVZKHUHPDGHDQGHMHFWHGIURPWKH baler. Photos: Saskatchewan Agriculture

Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture 2 Bale Grazing and the Bale Grazing Calculator© Choosing a site

Land use RUJDQLFPDWHULDOOHIWEHKLQG7KLVFRQVLVWVRI 3URGXFHUVFDQVHOHFWEDOHJUD]LQJVLWHVWKDW PDQXUHPL[HGZLWKVRLOHGDQGOHIWRYHUIHHG DUHVHHGHGSHUHQQLDOIRUDJHDQQXDOFURSODQG 'HSHQGLQJRQWKHDPRXQWRIVQRZRQWKH RUQDWLYHSUDLULH 7KHSUHIHUUHGEDOHJUD]LQJ VLWHOLYHVWRFNWUDI¿FPD\FUHDWHDQLFHSDFN VLWHZRXOGEHVHHGHGSHUHQQLDOIRUDJH $QQXDO XQGHUQHDWKWKLVOD\HU7KHRUJDQLFOD\HULV FURSODQGLVOHVVVXLWHGIRUEDOHJUD]LQJ 1DWLYH HIIHFWLYHDWLQVXODWLQJDQGVORZLQJWKHZDUPLQJ SUDLULHVLWHVDUHnotUHFRPPHQGHGDVEDOH RIWKHVRLOLQVSULQJDUWL¿FLDOO\FUHDWLQJD JUD]LQJ ORQJHUZLQWHUVHDVRQ

$IWHUEDOHJUD]LQJHYHQZLWKJRRGOLYHVWRFN Seeded perennial forage PDQDJHPHQWUHVXOWLQJLQUHODWLYHO\KLJKIHHG 6HHGHGSDVWXUHVDQGKD\¿HOGVDUHWKH XWLOL]DWLRQWKHUHZLOOEHDVLJQL¿FDQWOD\HURI SUHIHUUHGODQGXVHIRUEDOHJUD]LQJVLWHV

Bale grazing straw on a bunchgrass pasture (Russian wild ryegrass). A 12-inch layer of straw was left behind after grazing. After four years, “dead spots” remain where straw bales were placed.

Bale grazing alfalfa/grass hay on a bunchgrass pasture (Russian wild ryegrass). A three-inch layer of material was left behind after grazing. After four years, the stand is slightly thinned where bales were placed. Photos: Saskatchewan Agriculture

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Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture 4 Bale Grazing and the Bale Grazing Calculator© Soil fertility considerations DEOHWRVXSSRUWOLYHVWRFNWUDI¿F 2SWLRQVWR for bale placement PLQLPL]HSXJJLQJGXULQJVSULQJWKDZDUHWR :KHUHWKHUHDUHYDULDEOHVRLOFRQGLWLRQVDQG EDOHJUD]HRQUKL]RPDWRXVJUDVVDUHDVKLJKHU RUUROOLQJWRSRJUDSK\SURGXFHUVPD\ZDQWWR HOHYDWLRQVDQGVRXWKIDFLQJVORSHV SODFHEDOHVRQ¿HOGVRUWDUJHWDUHDVZLWKLQD ¿HOGZKHUHWKHQXWULHQWVPDQXUHDQGUHVLGXH Logistics of site selection IURPWKHEDOHVZLOOSURYLGHWKHJUHDWHVW $PDLQJRDORIEDOHJUD]LQJLVWRUHGXFHZLQWHU HFRQRPLFEHQH¿W 2QHH[DPSOHZRXOGEH IHHGLQJFRVWVZLWKRXWFRPSURPLVLQJWKHKHDOWK SODFLQJEDOHVRQKLOOWRSVZKHUHWKHUHLVVKDOORZ FRPIRUWRUSHUIRUPDQFHRIWKHOLYHVWRFN WRSVRLODQGORZIHUWLOLW\$QRWKHUH[DPSOH :KHQFKRRVLQJDORFDWLRQLGHDOO\WKHVLWH ZRXOGEHSODFLQJEDOHVRQ¿HOGVZLWKWKH VKRXOG ORZHVWRYHUDOOIHUWLOLW\$YRLGORZO\LQJDUHDV EHHDV\WRPRQLWRURQDUHJXODUEDVLV DQGGHSUHVVLRQVZLWKKLJKQDWXUDOIHUWLOLW\ EHRQRUQHDUWKH¿HOG V ZKHUHWKH DVH[FHVVQXWULHQWVDQGKLJKHUOHDFKLQJUDWHV EDOHVZHUHPDGHWRUHGXFHEDOHKDQGOLQJ ZLOOLQFUHDVHWKHSRWHQWLDOIRUJURXQGZDWHU DQGWUDQVSRUWDWLRQFRVWV FRQWDPLQDWLRQ EHRQODQGWKDWLVDOUHDG\SHULPHWHU IHQFHGRUFDQEHIHQFHGDWORZFRVW Physical impacts EHRQVHHGHGSHUHQQLDOIRUDJHLQD on the bale graze site QXWULHQWGH¿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

The two photos above illustrate forage production two years after bale grazing took place on a low fertility, rhizomatous grass pasture (smooth bromegrass, Kentucky bluegrass). The lefthand photo shows an area between bales where low levels of nutrients were deposited by livestock. The righthand photo shows the area that was underneath and adjacent to a bale, where high levels of nutrients were deposited by livestock. This area is now dominated by smooth bromegrass. Photos: Saskatchewan Agriculture

Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture 5 Bale Grazing and the Bale Grazing Calculator© SODQWHGVKHOWHUEHOWVRUSRUWDEOH ZLQGEUHDNV DQG KDYHDFFHVVWRDKDQGOLQJIDFLOLW\LI QHHGHG

Wind protection and watering 3RUWDEOHZLQGEUHDNVVKRXOGEHXVHGIRUZLQG SURWHFWLRQLIWKHUHLVLQVXI¿FLHQWQDWXUDO VKHOWHU7KHZLQGEUHDNVQHHGWREHPRYHGRQ DUHJXODUEDVLVWRIDFLOLWDWHXQLIRUPGLVWULEXWLRQ RIOLYHVWRFNDQGVXEVHTXHQWO\XQLIRUP GLVWULEXWLRQRIQXWULHQWVIURPPDQXUHDQG XULQH

:KHQSRVVLEOHDYRLGWKHQDWXUDOVKHOWHURI ULSDULDQDUHDV ,IULSDULDQDQGXSODQGZRRGHG Permanent electric fence to protect the shelterbelt from livestock damage. DUHDVPXVWEHXVHG\RXPD\QHHGWROLPLWRU Photo: PFRA VWRSOLYHVWRFNDFFHVVZLWKIHQFLQJWRDOORZ IRUUHJHQHUDWLRQRIWUHHVDQGWRDYRLGH[FHVV FDWWOHIDOOLQJWKURXJKWKHLFH 7KHVHV\VWHPV QXWULHQWRYHUORDGLQJ DOVRUHGXFHWKHSRWHQWLDOIRUPDQXUHDQG QXWULHQWFRQWDPLQDWLRQRIWKHZDWHUVRXUFH :KHQVXUIDFHZDWHUERGLHVVXFKDV GXJRXWVDQGVORXJKVDUHXVHGDVDZDWHU VRXUFHSXPSLQJWRDZLQWHUL]HGV\VWHPLV UHFRPPHQGHG 7KLVZLOOPLQLPL]HWKHULVNRI

To discourage lingering and the deposit of manure at the winter watering site, place portable windbreaks, feed, mineral feeders and oilers well away from the watering site. Note the high concentration of manure at this wintering site. Photo: PFRA

Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture 6 Bale Grazing and the Bale Grazing Calculator© Bale placement Time of year RIWKHEDOHVFDQEHSODFHGLQIDOODQGWKH and amount of feed placed UHPDLQGHUFDQEHSODFHGGXULQJWKHZLQWHURQ %DOHVFDQEHSODFHGGXULQJVXPPHUIDOO DZHHNO\RUPRQWKO\EDVLVIURPWKHVWDFN\DUG RUZLQWHU7KHUHDUHVHYHUDODGYDQWDJHVWR ,QWKLVVLWXDWLRQVRPHRIWKHFRVWDGYDQWDJH SODFLQJEDOHVHDUO\LQWKHVHDVRQ ZLOOEHORVWEHFDXVHEDOHVDUHKDQGOHGDQH[WUD WLPH )LUVWWKHUHDUHORZHUHTXLSPHQWFRVWVLIEDOHV DUHJUD]HGRQWKHKD\¿HOGZKHUHWKH\DUH Bale setting and density PDGHRULIWKH\DUHWDNHQGLUHFWO\IURPWKH :KHQHOHFWULFZLUHLVXVHGWROLPLWDFFHVV KD\¿HOGWRWKHZLQWHULQJVLWH WKHEDOHVDUHXVXDOO\SODFHGLQURZVRQDJULG V\VWHPWRVLPSOLI\PRYLQJ 6HFRQGWKHUHLVOHVVZHDU . . . current research WKHHOHFWULFZLUH RQHTXLSPHQWDQGWKHUHDUH suggests a maximum ORZHURSHUDWLQJH[SHQVHV )RUH[DPSOHLIEDOHV GXULQJPLOGZHDWKHU bale density of 25 hay DUHQHHGHGWRIHHGDJURXS bales per acre. RIOLYHVWRFNIRUWKUHHGD\V 7KLUGWKHSURGXFHUKDV WKHQEDOHVDUHVHWLQURZV HOLPinDWHGWKHFRVWRI RI 0RVWRIWHQEDOHV PRYLQJVQRZ)RXUWKWKHUHDUHORZHUHGFRVWV DUHSODFHGRQWKHLUURXQGVLGHMXVWWKHVDPH RIRSHUDWLQJHTXLSPHQWLQWKHVQRZ)LIWKWKH DVZKHQWKH\DUHHMHFWHGIURPWKHEDOHU7KLV SURGXFHUKDVWKHRSSRUWXQLW\WRUHPRYHSODVWLF ZD\WKHEDOHVVWD\UHODWLYHO\LQWDFWDIWHUWKH WZLQHSULRUWRIUHH]LQJUDLQRUZHWVQRZ WZLQHLVUHPRYHG

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%DOHVSODFHGLQIDOOKDXOHGGLUHFWO\IURPKD\¿HOG 7ZLQHFDQEHUHPRYHGSULRUWRIUHH]LQJUDLQRU wet snow. Photo: Saskatchewan Agriculture Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture 7 Bale Grazing and the Bale Grazing Calculator© Photo above and photo at right: These photos show the manure and leftover material following bale grazing at a density of 25 bales per acre (40-foot centres). At this rate, the overall average nutrient deposition from urine and manure is considered environmentally safe and economically optimal. Photos: Saskatchewan Agriculture

Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture 8 Bale Grazing and the Bale Grazing Calculator© $WWKLVUDWHDQRYHUDOODYHUDJHUDWHRIDERXW WRGHWHUPLQH OESHUDFUHRISODQWDYDLODEOHQLWURJHQZLOO LIWKHIHHG DFFXPXODWHLQWKHVRLOSUR¿OHWKHIROORZLQJ SURYLGHV . . . bale grazing VSULQJ 7KHQXWULHQWVZLOOQRWEHHYHQO\ DGHTXDWH must be managed GLVWULEXWHGEXWRYHUDOOWKLVLVFRQVLGHUHG QXWULWLRQ so that all animals DQHQYLURQPHQWDOO\VDIHDQGHFRQRPLFDOO\ get a relatively RSWLPXPUDWHIRUQLWURJHQDSSOLFDWLRQ +RZHYHU equal chance ZKHQEDOHVDUH at better quality ,QDIROORZXS\HDUEDOHVFDQEHSODFHGLQWKH IURPGLIIHUHQW ORZHUIHUWLOLW\DUHDVRIWKHJULG IHHGVWXIIVDQG feed. RIGLIIHUHQW :KHQVWUDZEDOHVDUHLQFOXGHGRQWKHEDOH IRUDJHTXDOLW\ JUD]LQJVLWHRYHUDOOEDOHGHQVLW\FDQEH WKHQVRPHSODQQLQJLVQHHGHG 7KHSODQQLQJ LQFUHDVHGEHFDXVHVWUDZUHVXOWVLQDORZHUOHYHO LQYROYHVWKHPL[RIGLIIHUHQWW\SHVRIEDOHV RIQXWULHQWVEHLQJH[FUHWHGE\WKHOLYHVWRFN DQGWKHQXPEHURIEDOHVDVVRFLDWHGZLWKHDFK 2QDSHUEDOHEDVLVDVVXPHWKDWDVWUDZEDOH PRYHRIWKHHOHFWULFZLUH 'LIIHUHQWIHHGVWXIIV FRQWDLQVDERXWSHUFHQWRIWKHQXWULHQWVRI FRXOGLQFOXGHDOIDOIDDOIDOIDJUDVVPL[JUDVV DQDOIDOIDJUDVVKD\EDOH JUHHQIHHGRUVWUDZ

Feed rationing: %DOHVRIGLIIHUHQWIHHGVQHHGWREHZHLJKHG quantity and quality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o ensure that RIFRZVZRXOGQHHGDFFHVVWROERIKD\ DWWKHEHWWHU IRUHDFKGD\ [ ,IWKH TXDOLW\IHHG all animals have HOHFWULFZLUHIHQFHLVWREHPRYHGHYHU\WKUHH relatively equal GD\VWKHQWKHKHUGZRXOGQHHGOERI )RUH[DPSOH access to the KD\IRUHDFKPRYH [ VXSSRVHD better quality feed, FRPELQDWLRQRI allocate three straw WKUHHKD\EDOHV :KHQDOOWKHEDOHVEHLQJJUD]HGDUHRIVLPLODU bales and nine hay IHHGVWXIIDQGIRUDJHTXDOLW\WKH\DUHVLPSO\ DQGRQHVWUDZ SODFHGLQURZVDQGDOORFDWHGWRWKHOLYHVWRFNDV EDOHZLOOPHHW bales for a QHHGHG $VZLWKDQ\ZLQWHUIHHGLQJSURJUDP WKHGDLO\LQWDNH three-day period. LWLVUHFRPPHQGHGWRVDPSOHDQGIHHGWHVW DQGQXWULWLRQDO

Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture 9 Bale Grazing and the Bale Grazing Calculator©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¿UVWGD\DOO WRWKHFKDQJLQJ DQLPDOVZLOOKDYHWKH QXWrLWLRQDOUHTXLUHPHQWV RSSRUWXQLW\WR¿OOXS RIWKHFRZV 7KHVH RQWKHKLJKHUTXDOLW\ UHTXLUHPHQWVZLOO KD\%\WKHWKLUGGD\ FKDQJHRYHUZLQWHU DOOWKHDQLPDOVZLOO LQUHODWLRQWRDLU KDYHWRHDWVWUDZRUD WHPSHUDWXUHERG\ VLPLODUORZHUTXDOLW\ FRQGLWLRQVFRUHDQG UDWLRQ VWDJHRISUHJQDQF\

Photo: Saskatchewan Agriculture

Livestock and electric fence management

/LYHVWRFNDFFHVVWRWKHEDOHVQHHGVWREH FRQGLWLRQVFRUHWKHIHHGFOHDQXSVKRXOGEH FRQWUROOHG 7KLVPLQLPL]HVIRXOLQJRIIHHGDQG PRQLWRUHGDQGPRYLQJGRQHDFFRUGLQJO\ UHGXFHVWKHSRWHQWLDOIRUSDUWLDOO\JUD]HGEDOHV WREHEXULHGXQGHUGULIWLQJVQRZ &RQWUROOLQJOLYHVWRFNZLWKHOHFWULFIHQFHLV PRUHGLI¿FXOWLQZLQWHUWKDQLQVXPPHU7KH /LYHVWRFNDFFHVVLVFRPPRQO\FRQWUROOHGZLWK LQVXODWLQJYDOXHRIVQRZKHDYLHUKDLUFRDWV DQHOHFWULFIHQFHEXWFDQDOVREHDFFRPSOLVKHG RQWKHOLYHVWRFN ZLWKDVHULHVRIVPDOOSHUPDQHQWSDGGRFNV DQGUHODWLYHO\GU\ Controlling /LYHVWRFNDFFHVVWRLQGLYLGXDOEDOHVFDQEH IUR]HQVRLODUHDOO IXUWKHUFRQWUROOHGXVLQJEDOHIHHGHUV IDFWRUVWKDWPDNH livestock with LWPRUHGLI¿FXOWWR electric fence is 7KHRSWLPXPWLPHSHULRGIRUHDFKPRYHRIWKH GHOLYHUDVKRFNWR PRUHGLI¿FXOWLQ HOHFWULFIHQFHDSSHDUVWREHWKUHHWRIRXUGD\V WKHDQLPDO winter than in 7KHHOHFWULFIHQFHGRHVQRWQHFHVVDULO\KDYH 0RQLWRUWKH summer. WREHPRYHGDWVSHFL¿FDOO\VHWLQWHUYDOV :LWK YROWDJHRQD FKDQJHVLQWHPSHUDWXUHDQGOLYHVWRFNERG\ UHJXODUEDVLVWR Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture 10 Bale Grazing and the Bale Grazing Calculator© Electric wire fencing is held by rods using the bales as support. Photo: Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives

HQVXUHLWUHPDLQVDQHIIHFWLYHEDUULHU,IWKH JURXQGV\VWHPZLWKPRUHJURXQGURGVPD\EH YROWDJHLVORZFKHFNIRUDVKRUW,IWKHUHLV QHHGHG QRVKRUWDPRUHSRZHUIXOHQHUJL]HUPD\EH UHTXLUHG ,IWKHYROWDJHLVDGHTXDWHDQGWKH $QDOWHUQDWLYHIRUJURXQGLQJLVWRXVHDVHFRQG DQLPDOVDUHVWLOOFKDOOHQJLQJWKHIHQFHDEHWWHU ZLUHDVDJURXQG 6HWWKHKRWZLUHDWDKHLJKW

A producer controls access to bales with portable electric fence. Photo: Saskatchewan Watershed Authority

Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture 11 Bale Grazing and the Bale Grazing Calculator© DERXWLQFKHVDQG ZLQGVEORZLQJIHHGRQWRWKHZLUHDQGZLOGOLIH Livestock WKHJURXQGZLUH LQWHUIHUHQFH 3RVWVFDQEHSODFHGLQIDOOEHIRUH trained to WRLQFKHVEHORZ WKHVRLOIUHH]HV respect 0DQ\SURGXFHUV SUHIHUJDOYDQL]HG 2SWLRQVIRUPRYLQJWKHZLUHGXULQJZLQWHUDUH the electric DLUFUDIWFDEOHGXHWRLWV GULOOLQJKROHVZLWKDFRUGOHVVGULOODQG fence in ÀH[LELOLW\DQGHDVHRI PDVRQU\ELWDQGSODFLQJPHWDORU summer will KDQGOLQJ ¿EUHJODVVURGV be less likely RSHQLQJKROHVPDQXDOO\ZLWKDSLORWKROH to challenge /LYHVWRFNWUDLQHGWR GULYHU the fence in UHVSHFWWKHHOHFWULF SRXQGLQJPHWDOURGVDQGUHPRYLQJZLWK IHQFHLQVXPPHU DSLSHZUHQFK winter. ZLOOEHOHVVOLNHO\WR IUHHVWDQGLQJSRVWVZLWKEDVH FKDOOHQJHWKHIHQFH WXPEOHZKHHOV LQZLQWHU$VDVDIHW\ VKDUSHQHGURGVLQVHUWHGLQWREDOHVRU SUHFDXWLRQDVHFRQGZLUHRUVHWRIZLUHV SRVWVVXSSRUWHGE\VQRZ6QRZFDQEH VKRXOGEHSODFHGRQHPRYHDKHDGMXVWLQFDVH SDFNHGE\VQRZPRELOHWUDI¿FWKHGD\ OLYHVWRFNFURVVWKHLQLWLDOZLUH 6LWXDWLRQVWR EHIRUHSODFLQJSRVWV PRQLWRUDUHIURVWZHLJKLQJGRZQWKHZLUH

Site management after bale grazing

:KHQEDOHJUD]LQJRFFXUVRQDQQXDOFURSODQG ORZHUDQGKDUURZLQJLVOLNHO\XQQHFHVVDU\ WKHVLWHPD\QHHGKHDY\KDUURZLQJLQHDUO\ 'XULQJWKHVSULQJIROORZLQJEDOHJUD]LQJ VSULQJWRVSUHDGWKHUHVLGXHEHIRUHDVHHGLQJ JURZWKRIWKHUKL]RPDWRXVJUDVVHVEHQHDWK RSHUDWLRQFDQWDNHSODFH WKHEDOHVZLOOEH GHOD\HGDQGPD\ :KHQEDOHJUD]LQJRFFXUVRQSHUHQQLDOIRUDJH EHVRPHZKDWOHVV Delayed GRPLQDWHGE\DOIDOIDDQGEXQFKJUDVVHVWKHVLWH UREXVW +RZHYHU warming of the PD\EHQH¿WIURPKDUURZLQJWRVSUHDGUHVLGXH ODWHUWKDW\HDUDQG soil in spring DQGOHVVHQWKHRFFXUUHQFHRIGHDGVSRWVLQWKH IROORZLQJ\HDUV effectively ¿HOG $OIDOIDDQGEXQFKJUDVVHVDUHVXVFHSWLEOH IRUDJHSURGXFWLRQ WREHLQJNLOOHGLIWKHUHVLGXHOD\HULVJUHDWHU LVXVXDOO\TXLWH creates a WKDQIRXULQFKHV KLJK longer winter season $GLVDGYDQWDJHRIKDUURZLQJLVWKHHFRQRPLF 3HUHQQLDOIRUDJH and plants are FRVW +DUURZLQJPD\QRWEHHIIHFWLYHZKHQ VWDQGVZLOOKDYH less robust WKHUHLVKLJKUHVLGXHDQGWKHEDOHVDUHSODFHG GHOD\HGJURZWK when they FORVHWRJHWKHU:KHQEDOHJUD]LQJLVORFDWHG LQWKHVSULQJ RQSHUHQQLDOIRUDJHZLWKUKL]RPDWRXVJUDVVHV IROORZLQJEDOH emerge. WKHRFFXUUHQFHRIGHDGVSRWVLVVLJQL¿FDQWO\ JUD]LQJ 3ODQW

Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture 12 Bale Grazing and the Bale Grazing Calculator© JURZWKLVHVSHFLDOO\GHOD\HGRQWKHVSRWV HQKDQFHIRUDJHSURGXFWLRQIRUDERXW¿YH\HDUV ZKHUHEDOHVZHUHSODFHGDQGDWKLFNLQVXODWLQJ 5HWXUQLQJWRWKHVDPHVLWHPRUHRIWHQZLOO OD\HURIUHVLGXHUHPDLQVDORQJZLWKWKHLFHDQG UHVXOWLQPLVVHGRSSRUWXQLWLHVWRLPSURYHRWKHU IUR]HQVRLOXQGHUQHDWKWKHUHVLGXHOD\HU DFUHV ,WPD\DOVRLQFUHDVHWKHHQYLURQPHQWDO ULVNRIQXWULHQWRYHUORDGLQJ 'HOD\HGZDUPLQJRIWKHVRLOLQ UHVXOWLQJLQQXWULHQWORVVHVLQ VSULQJHIIHFWLYHO\FUHDWHVDORQJHU. . . bale-grazed ZDWHUUXQRIIDQGOHDFKLQJ2Q ZLQWHUVHDVRQDQGSODQWVDUHpastures need VLWHVZLWKJUHDWHUZDWHUUXQRII OHVVUREXVWZKHQWKH\HPHUJHVXI¿FLHQWWLPH DQGOHDFKLQJSRWHQWLDODWLPH 7KHUHIRUHEDOHJUD]HGSDVWXUHVin spring for the LQWHUYDOORQJHUWKDQ¿YH\HDUV QHHGVXI¿FLHQWWLPHLQVSULQJplants to recover ZLOOOHVVHQWKHHQYLURQPHQWDO IRUWKHSODQWVWRUHFRYHUEHIRUH ULVNV before regular UHJXODUJUD]LQJEHJLQV grazing begins. 8QWLOPRUHVSHFL¿F 7KHVXJJHVWHGPD[LPXPUDWHIRU UHFRPPHQGDWLRQVFDQEHPDGH EDOHJUD]LQJDOIDOIDJUDVVKD\RQ SURGXFHUVDUHHQFRXUDJHGWR SHUHQQLDOIRUDJHLVEDOHVSHUDFUH )URP PRQLWRUWKHLPSDFWRIEDOHJUD]LQJRQSODQW YLVXDOREVHUYDWLRQVWKLVVKRXOGEHGRQHRQO\ JURZWKWDNHVRLOVDPSOHVWRGHWHUPLQHVRLO RQFHLQ¿YH\HDUVRQDJLYHQVLWH ,WKDVEHHQ QXWULHQWVWDWXVDQGPDQDJHDFFRUGLQJO\ REVHUYHGWKDWEDOHJUD]LQJDWWKLVUDWHZLOO

Grass growth in spring is delayed underneath and immediately around the bales. Grazing needs WREHGHOD\HGXQWLOSODQWVKDYHVXI¿FLHQWO\UHFRYHUHG Photo: Saskatchewan Watershed Authority

Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture 13 Bale Grazing and the Bale Grazing Calculator© Bale twine, net wrap, and bale feeder management

:KHQEDOHJUD]LQJRFFXUV RQWKHVDPH¿HOGZKHUH WKHEDOHVDUHPDGH VRPHSURGXFHUVKDYH H[SHULPHQWHGZLWK PDNLQJEDOHVZLWKRXW WZLQH

7KLVPD\EHDQRSWLRQDV ORQJDVWKHEDOHVUHPDLQ LQWDFWDQGDUHDEOHWR VKHGZDWHU+RZHYHU H[SHULHQFHVXJJHVWVD PLQLPXPRIWZLQHLV Bales made without twine wrapping. The wind has opened up the QHHGHGWRKROGWKHEDOHV bales, thereby making the feed susceptible to weathering. LQWDFWIURPWKHZLQG Photo: Saskatchewan Agriculture

6RPHSURGXFHUVDUH WZLQHLVWRFXWRQRQHVLGHRIWKHEDOHWLHWKH ZUDSSLQJEDOHVZLWKVLVDOWZLQHEHFDXVHLW¶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

Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture 14 Bale Grazing and the Bale Grazing Calculator© ,WDSSHDUVWKDWOLYHVWRFNSUHIHUWRIHHGRQ QHWZUDSSHGEDOHVWKDWWKH\KDYHVWDUWHGWR FRQVXPHDQGIHHGRQWKHPXQWLOGRQH 7KLV PD\DOORZSURGXFHUVWRGLVWULEXWHWKUHHWRIRXU ZHHNVRIEDOHVDWDWLPHDQGFRXOGHOLPLQDWH WKHWLPHDQGH[SHQVHRIWKUHHWRIRXUGD\ DOORWPHQWVZLWKHOHFWULFIHQFH

/HDYLQJSODVWLFWZLQHDQGQHWZUDSRQWKH EDOHVFUHDWHVLVVXHVVXFKDVSRWHQWLDOHDUWDJ ORVVHVSRWHQWLDOKD]DUGVWRWKHOLYHVWRFNDQG GLI¿FXOW\LQJDWKHULQJWKHWZLQHIURPWKH¿HOG

$WWKLVSRLQWWKHUHLVOLPLWHGH[SHULHQFHLQ Plastic net wrap holds the material together, JDWKHULQJQHWZUDSIURPWKHUHVLGXDOPDWHULDO reducing the opportunity for fouling. IROORZLQJJUD]LQJ +RZHYHULWDSSHDUV Photo: Mark Neuman, Frobisher, Sask. JDWKHULQJQHWZUDSLVUHODWLYHO\HDV\FRPSDUHG WRJDWKHULQJSODVWLFWZLQH

$QRWKHURSWLRQWROLPLWIHHGZDVWHLVOLJKW ZHLJKWEDOHIHHGHUVPDGHRIRQHLQFKVTXDUH WXELQJ 7KHVHFDQEHWLSSHGRQHQGDQGUROOHG IURPRQHEDOHWRDQRWKHU

%DOHIHHGHUVKHOSUHGXFHWKHIRXOLQJRIIHHG EHFDXVHOLYHVWRFNFDQQRWDVHDVLO\SXOOWKH EDOHDSDUWDQGJHWRQWRSRIWKHPDWHULDO %DOH Livestock are shown “mob grazing” a bale that was wrapped with plastic net. Once the bale is IHHGHUVDOVRUHGXFHWKHRSSRUWXQLW\IRUVQRZWR opened up, livestock continue to graze before GULIWRYHUWKHIHHGWKDWKDVEHHQVFDWWHUHGIURP starting a new bale. RSHQHGDQGSDUWLDOO\JUD]HGEDOHV Photo: Mark Neuman, Frobisher, Sask.

This photo shows that livestock have cleaned up the net-wrapped bale, that had been located on the right foreground, before starting to graze the net-wrapped bale on the left. The patch of residue on the right was the location of the net-wrapped bale. Photo: Mark Neuman, Frobisher, Sask.

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Conclusion

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Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture 16 Bale Grazing and the Bale Grazing Calculator© Introduction to the Bale Grazing Calculator©

The Bale Grazing Calculator© is a tool to help Example calculations are found on the following producers estimate the cost of feeding livestock pages. In these examples, a feed utilization with bale grazing. estimate of 40 lb. per cow per day is based on a 1,300 lb. cow consuming 2.6 per cent of body 7ZRYDULDEOHVKDYHDVLJQL¿FDQWLQÀXHQFHRQWKH weight per day. (1,300 x 0.026 = 33.8 lb.) cost of bale grazing. An allowance of 18 per cent for feed waste They are: equals a feed utilization estimate of 40 lb. per 1) cost of the feed, and cow per day. (33.8 x 1.18 = 39.9 lb.) 2) number of times the feed is handled with machinery. Producers can adjust this estimate for their own situations. Depending on individual circumstances, infrastructure requirements that may or may not See the next page for Options #1, #2 and #3. add to costs are perimeter fencing, electric cross fencing, water development, and portable wind shelters.

The Bale Grazing Calculator©: Home Grown recording or otherwise, in whole or part, and Purchased Hay, Compact Disc (CD), without the express written permission of the Version 1.0 Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture. Last Updated: April 3, 2008 DISCLAIMER: NOTICE: This software is provided without warranty All rights reserved. Copyright and all other on an “as is” basis. The Government of intellectual property rights in The Bale Grazing Saskatchewan and its agents assume no liability Calculator spreadsheet, and all manuals, or responsibility whatsoever with respect to loss documentation and other material pertaining or alleged damage caused by or alleged to be to this software, belong exclusively to the caused by the use or operation of this software. Government of Saskatchewan. When using this workbook and worksheets, This software is provided solely for the producers should complete the worksheets personal use of the user under a non-exclusive using their actual or projected production OLFHQVHDQGPD\QRWEHFRSLHGPRGL¿HG ¿JXUHV9DOXHVVKRXOGEHHQWHUHGRQO\LQWRWKH published, sold or distributed to any third party, white boxes, as all other values are calculated or transmitted in any form or by any means ZLWK¿[HGIRUPXODV whether electronic, mechanical, photocopying,

Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture 17 Bale Grazing and the Bale Grazing Calculator© Bale Grazing Calculator©: Home-grown and purchased hay

Option #1: Home grown hay In this example, the hay is home grown by the On the low-cost end of the spectrum, there is no SURGXFHUDQGWKHEDOHVDUHJUD]HGRQWKH¿HOG moving cost if the bales are grazed on the spot where they are made. The hay cost includes a where they are ejected from the baler. comprehensive list of forage establishment and termination costs, as well as machinery, fence, On the high-cost end of the spectrum, bales would land and labour costs. be hauled to a central location, stacked and hauled to a bale graze site periodically throughout the A cost for bale moving can be assigned if the winter. bales are moved after being made. The number of times bales are handled, and the distance they Suggested bale moving rates are listed in the table DUHPRYHGFDQDGGVLJQL¿FDQWO\WREDOHJUD]LQJ below. cost.

Bale Moving Bale Moving Cost ($/bale) Graze where ejected from baler 0.00 Haul directly to site and place 3.00 Haul to hay yard, stack, haul to site during winter 15.00 Transport distance ($/bale/mile) 1.00

Option #2: Bales purchased and transported In this example, hay bales are purchased and When hay is imported, nutrients from manure, transported directly to an existing pasture. urine, and leftover feed are deposited on the bale graze site. It is assumed the pasture is managed This option could also be used when an operation in order that the added nutrients will result in is divided into separate land and livestock increased forage production. enterprises, and the hay is sold to the livestock enterprise at current market value. Costs for perimeter fence, winter water- development and wind shelter can be assigned. The landed hay cost includes purchase price of However, in this example, no allowance is entered the hay, transportation to the site, and arranging as this infrastructure could already be in place on, the bales on the bale graze site. A fertilizer value or near, the pasture. of $10 per ton (current best estimate) is subtracted from the Landed Hay Cost. A land cost is not assigned as bale grazing in winter is an added use for the pasture at virtually no cost.

Option #3: Additional costs for bale moving This option is similar to Option #2, with an added periodically throughout the winter hauled to the cost for bale moving. bale graze site.

In this example, the purchased hay is unloaded A bale weight has to be entered as both bale and/or stacked on one location and then weight and bale moving cost have an effect on cost per head per day.

To work with the interactive Bale Grazing Calculator©, go to the Saskatchewan Agriculture website at www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca. Click on Management, then click on Financial Planning.

There is no charge to use the calculator. If you need help with the calculator, please phone the Agriculture Knowledge Centre at 1-866-457-2377 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday to Friday.

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