Trevor Atchison, Pipestone, MB

I am a managing partner in Poplarview Stock Farm with my parents. We run 300 cows and 300 acres of crop on around 3500 acres. The land is very light and sandy. About half of the land cropped is hay fields that have been taken out of hay production to level molehills and re-establish a more productive stand.

Zero till was put into practice in the early 90's, as it was an excellent fit to our light land. Around this time my father was appointed to the local conservation area. Since our land was lighter we were able to seed it earlier than farms in the area and we were usually first to use whichever airseeder or hoedrill they had rented for the year. We purchased our own Edwards hoedrill in 1995. We have used it successfully in both our grain and livestock operation.

The main reason we implemented swath grazing was to reduce our winter feed costs. The most generally used term for this is extending the grazing season. In our operation we felt that just to extend the grazing season was not all that was involved. We had concerns that if the loss in the amount of forage or forage quality was too great just being able to extend the grazing season may not be economical. The other bonus is leaving the manure on the field. We typically do not confine our cows until calving season if we can get around in the snow so there was very little actual manure removal cost reduction to us.

We had plans to try swath grazing in 97 and 98 but weather conditions and grasshopper infestations on the land we wanted it on kept putting it off. We chose a site close to our normal wintering areas with natural shelter. In 1998 we constructed several portable windbreaks to allow us more flexibility. In 1999 the conditions were favourable for late seeded crops so we seeded corn, oats and barley mixed and barley for a total of 45 acres. Even in the wet fall conditions with our sandy soils it worked very well so we have continued. We have had cattle swath grazing in -30 degree Celsius temps in 12-16 inches of snow for extended periods of time. The cattle only have portable windbreaks for shelter with no bedding provided. We have never had an animal with frostbite or lameness because of the cold and snow. The cattle remain clean and healthy and have never refused to go out and graze.

We have had failures like 35 acres of corn that produced about 3 days of grazing for 250 dry cows in 2000. In 2002 we swath grazed millet, oats, canamaize, sorghum Sudan grass and silage corn from mid October to mid February. The portable windbreaks have enabled us to extend the length of time we can keep the cattle in the field and rotate to fields with no natural shelter.

The first few years we found out that cereals such as barley and oats had low production levels due to the crop burning on our light land with late seeding dates. Cereals are seeded around mid to end of June so that maturity is not reached and the crop can be swathed just prior to frost and still be highly palatable. Results from yield research done at the Souris Valley Irrigation Centre (SVIC) are in the table 1 below.

We looked for other crops better suited to late seeding dates. In 2001 we planted 75 acres of crown millet (proso), as it requires a 60-day growing season. It yielded 2.25 tones per acre. The crop was about 3 feet tall and we were afraid the cattle would find the crop unpalatable because of the bulk. Wastage became a concern so about 50 acres were cut and baled. The remaining was swathed and left for swath grazing. The utilization of the swaths was excellent. I was warned that there could be a severe problem the following year with volunteer seed from the crown millet. There was some volunteer but it was minimal and we had dry conditions in early spring. Under higher moisture conditions I think the millet would have germinated and froze off. If you plan a crop the following year for purposes other than feed this would pose a concern.

In 2002 we seeded Golden German Millet for the first time. 2002 was very dry through late June and July. The German millet did not look like it was going to produce much. Early in August we had 2 inches of rain and the millet started to grow and did not quit. The German millet has much more leaf material, which makes a denser swath to protect it from the weather, and is more palatable. The feed value is higher than proso millet if cut before it begins to mature.

In 2001 we planted dwarf corn (canamaize) and 2 silage corn varieties. Early Maturing Hyland Blend silage corn and Prairie Pacific 6678. The canamaize was sowed in mid May and was fully matured in early September. It was swathed to save the leaves from being knocked off by the wind. When we grazed this later we found the kernels were fully mature and hard so the cattle passed most of the kernels through with low nutrient utilization. Most years we seed the silage corn in late may or early June and it seems to mature enough for adequate feed value yet the kernels are crushed or ground when the cow eats the cob. The Prairie Pacific corn is high producing corn that grew a thicker stock and fewer leaves. The cows did not utilize as much of this variety as they did of the Hyland blend and canamaize. The canamaize provided 178 cow days/acre at a cost of $0.62 per cow per day. We weighed the cattle in and out which showed a gain of 1.25 lbs per day. Some of the cattle in this weigh test were cull cows and after the canamaize was finished they were moved to the Prairie Pacific silage corn. They were shipped for slaughter after 60 days corn grazing and a week on high quality hay 85% sold as grain fed cows including 3 out of 4 heifers.

The 25 acres of crown millet in 2001 provided 150 cow/days per acre for a cost of $0.45 per cow/day. 30 acres of Golden German millet in 2002 provided 197 cow days per acre. About $0.40 per day with a total cost of about $0.57 with my labour to move them every second day. Silage corn was about $0.38 per cow/day plus labour is about $0.55 about 280 cow/days per acre. Silage corn in 2001 cost was $0.61 per cow/day. Oats that our mature cowherd grazed in 2002 had a cost of $0.28 per cow/day. We also fed poor quality hay with it to stretch out the higher quality oats at a cost of $0.24 per cow\day for a total of $0.66 with labour and equipment to feed. Our mature herd with almost double the number of animals can cut labour costs in half if it takes the same time to move the portable fence for 85 head as 180 head. The cost of a hay based ration for our younger cows would have been more than $0.90 per cow/day. That season swath Grazing saved us close to $3000.

When figuring the cost for swath grazing I use actual expenses divided by number of animals and days. In some cases estimated yields are found then average daily intake is estimated and the feed has a value attached to it. On our operation if I can do it cheaper swath grazing and waste some forage that lost material is still valuable as it adds organic matter of the soil. The estimated yield and intake is not as important. We have baled strips in the fields to determine a yield so we know how much of the field to allow the cattle access to.

For the physical aspect of swath grazing we use portable electric fencing. A 3-1 geared reel, fibreglass posts, golf bag and a battery powered drill. We had some trouble last year with finding a drill bit that would stand up to the use. Our sandy soil is very abrasive and was wearing the bits dull. My father welded the tip off of cement bit on to a 1/2-inch wood auger bit, which seemed to work best. We also made some stands from discs and 1x1 tubing with a rod welded on to put the insulator on. Stands do work but are heavy and cumbersome to move. When the snow got deep and hard enough to support the post I just pushed it into the snow bank to save drilling a hole.

We start with millet then move to the corn later in the cows gestation and colder months, as the feed quality of the corn is higher than the millet. Corn does have a lower protein level but the energy is much higher and adequately meets pregnant cows' requirements. We co-operated with Westman Agriculture Diversification Organization (WADO) last winter to keep track of the seeding and swathing dates then samples were taken through out the winter to monitor feed quality. The results of this project are in table 2. In the past we had feed tested the millet that was baled and just used average corn data to see if we were meeting the cattle requirements.

2002 was our most successful year of swath grazing yet. Much of this was due to rains that came in early august and came timely after that to keep the crops green until near frost when the crop had to be cut. We like to use millet and corn to diversify our crops a little in case one or the other doesn't produce as well. Both millet and corn seem to handle drought to a certain extent, which is a major consideration in our area.

Wildlife and weather are a few obstacles with swath grazing. Weather can have an effect on the quality of the feed and on the cattle while grazing. We have had waterfowl in the swaths of millet, corn and oats. Deer can travel through the field and knock the portable electric fence down. This can be very destructive if there is snow and it is cold as where ever the cattle walk the snow will freeze hard and when they return are unable to get at the feed under the snow. The depth of snow can have an impact on how well your electric fence will work and if cattle can access the feed. The cattle will eat the best quality feed if they have the run of the field so we try to limit them to 2 days supply at a time to maintain the most economical animal performance. The aftermath has been of concern on a few occasions but only harrowing was needed to prepare the fields for seeding. We have zero tilled in corn stubble that we grazed standing or swathed with very little problem.

"From the data above, please see tables 1 and 2, we can conclude that swath grazing is a very viable option in Southwestern Manitoba. We see that in all cases the feed sources have adequate TDN and CP for a mid-gestation, 1400lb cow. A cow in this period of gestation would require 6.9% crude protein (CP) and 48.8% total digestible nutrients (TDN). However, a cow that is in the last third of its gestation weighing 1400 lbs. would require 7.6% CP and 52.5 % TDN. A medium sized bull on the other hand would require 7.0% CP and 52% TDN. These values were taken from the Manitoba Agriculture Beef Facts form on Nutrient Requirements for Beef Cattle. Our results indicate that all of these feed types would fill the requirements for a cow throughout the gestation period. However, in March as the grazing season progresses the producer may have to pay closer attention to feed values. We would recommend that as the grazing season progresses, you test your feed sources to get an accurate reading of energy and protein levels. " WADO 2002 annual report.

"When we compare the energy and protein levels of the six feed types tested in our trials we see a trend that the grasses, oats and millet, tend to drop off in protein and energy as the season progresses. On the other hand, the corn and sorghum maintained their original feed values and protein and energy levels. This is what we expected because the corn and sorghum are hardier plants than the grasses. The cobs of corn would not have decreased in their feed value therefore making this an excellent source of feed for swath grazing." WADO 2002 annual report.

2001 Souris Valley Irrigation Center, Inc Annual Report

2002 Westman Agriculture Diversification Organization, Inc Annual Report