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OHIO PASTURE MEASUREMENT PROJECT

Animal Science

Jefferson Mccutcheon
Extension Educator
Ohio State University Extension
Caldwell

Abstract

Livestock farmers who practice some form of grazing management would benefit from timely information on the performance of their pastures. The Ohio Pasture Measurement Project was started in 2005 as an attempt to help producers understand the value of timely measurement of their forages. The two objectives for this project are 1) to provide a source of current, objective information on the relative performance of forages growing in Ohio and 2) to demonstrate the use of pasture measurement/monitoring to aid in the management of grazing. Initially, the project involved taking forage measurements weekly at three different farms in Ohio. In 2011, 31 farmers cooperated. The pastures measured contain typical forages found in Ohio pasture fields including: tall fescue, orchard grass, timothy, perennial ryegrass, festulolium, bluegrass, and white clover. Management of the pasture fields including when to graze, clip or fertilize was up to the cooperating farmer. Measurements were taken weekly, from April through November, with additional measurements before and after grazing. Pasture growth was determined by a rising plate meter. We know that cool season forages do not grow at the same rate all year. Average daily growth rates in 2011 ranged from 13.9 lb to 94.2 lb of DM/ac. Typically we teach a bimodal growth pattern based on the seasonal yield distribution reported in the Ohio Agronomy Guide. This bimodal production is not apparent in the on-farm results we measured. Authors: Mccutcheon, J.
  1. Mccutcheon, J. Extension Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Ohio, 43338