USDA’s Weekly Crop Condition Report includes pasture conditions for each state.  Pasture conditions are currently as poor for this time of year as seen in the last 16 years.  The data for the whole US and selected states in cattle country are listed below.  Some of the drier and warmer months of the grazing season are still to come and expectations are that pasture conditions will continue to decline. 

USDA Pasture Condition Report, June 17, 2012

Several management factors related to stocking rate need to be considered to address the declining pasture conditions, such as cow body condition, creep feeding and supplementation strategy.  With some modifications we can extend days to graze and delay the need to begin hay feeding.

Cow Body Condition

We hope to have cows in a body condition score of 6 or greater going into the late fall and winter feeding season.  It is much more economical to add condition now as compared to later in the winter.  The CRYSTALYX^® Body Condition Score App is a great tool that creates a pictorial record of individual cow’s body condition. The app is available for both the iPhone and Droid operating systems.  We would expect cows to be adding condition after peak milk production.  Use the Body Condition App to create a record today that can be evaluated again in 30 days.  If cows have not added condition or worse yet, lost body condition, we need to make some adjustments.  

To find out more information in regards to the CRYSTALYX^® Body Condition Score app please click the link below.

http://www.crystalyx.com/news/

Creep Feeding
Creep feed has increased in cost compared to historical prices, but the economic return in added calf weight has never been greater.  Pasture carrying capacity and cow body condition can be improved by utilizing a creep program.  These factors in addition to added calf weight make the economics of creep extremely positive.  Calves on creep will rely less on pasture and mother’s milk.  This takes the nutrient demand off the cow for milk production and can provide more pasture to meet her needs for body condition.

Stocking Rate and Early Weaning
Matching stocking rate of a pasture to the forage production is a key management tool.  This year may be a time when we evaluate this relationship more often.  Moving some cows to other pasture, crop residue or grazing non-traditional forage will help extend the grazing season.  In some areas with the worst pasture condition, we may need to consider early weaning or herd reduction.

Matching Supplement Strategy with Pasture Condition
We have not been able to say the weather has been normal for several years.  That was the case last year in western Minnesota.  Normally July is a very dry month, but some timely rains helped maintain pasture productivity.  However, August turned hot and dry which caused pasture quality to drop rapidly.  As forages mature the protein content declines, fiber content increases and energy content decreases.  Experience and research have shown a positive response to protein supplementation of low quality forage.  Working with a producer in the Holland MN area, we were able to take pasture samples and determine when to change from a mineral type supplement such as Mineral-Lyx ™ to a protein type supplement such as BGF-30™.  This change improved the forage digestibility of the maturing grass.  Cows continued to improve body condition and the producer was able to continue grazing this pasture through the season.

Pastures that are rated as Good to Excellent are the lowest for this time of year as anytime in recent history.  There are several things that can be done to ensure a profitable calf crop this year and getting cows back in proper body condition for a successful calving and breeding season next year.  Monitoring pasture condition, creep feeding, adjusting stocking rate and supplement strategy are items that need to be evaluated often as the summer progresses.