Fall Soil Sampling
As we approach winter and colder temperatures, determining the current fertility of pastures and alfalfa fields through soil sampling is a critical step towards optimizing production next year. Sampling now, before the ground freezes can help with planning this winter and give time to develop a fertility plan if soil tests show fertilizer is needed.
The process for taking soil samples is straightforward. Pull 10-20 cores at a consistent depth of eight inches for every 40 acres sampled. These samples can be taken in a representative area of the field or arranged by soil type and topography. Mix the samples together and take about a pint’s worth out to send off for analysis.
Soil cores and recommendations are often based on cores taken down to eight inches. However, if previous samples have been taken at a different depth, such as six inches, continue with the consistent historical depth and adjust accordingly by communicating your actual sampling depth with your soils lab to assure accurate fertilizer recommendations. Due to mineralization, soils have more nutrients readily available nearer the soil surface; so deeper sampling depths can dilute the samples and increase nutrient supplement recommendations.
Keep in mind that soil sampling may not reduce the overall amount of fertilizer needed but will help ensure appropriate application rates, which can result in a better yield. Additionally, moisture is the most limiting factor in pasture and alfalfa production, not fertility. You can apply all the fertilizer in the world but doing so in a drought won’t help plants grow. Fertilizer applications on dry land areas, especially for nitrogen, should be based on expected moisture.
Reducing Hay Feeding Losses
Hay is expensive and many long hours go into harvesting, storing and feeding it. Don’t waste up to a third of it by using poor feeding practices.
Believe it or not, cattle can trample, over consume, manure on, and use for bedding up to 25% to 45% of your hay when it is fed with no restrictions. Extra control in feeding can pay off big time with that expensive hay.
For starters, don’t provide more than one day’s supply at a time. Research has shown that when cows are fed a four-day supply, they will overeat and waste 20% to 30% more hay than when they are fed one day at a time. This adds up to $50 to $75 more per cow over a four-month feeding period. Best of all is to feed only what the livestock will clean up in one meal, so nothing is left over to be wasted. Be sure to provide sufficient space, though, for all animals to eat at once so boss cows don’t stop timid cows from getting their fair share.
Another thing you can do is restrict access to hay. Use bale racks or rings to keep animals off the hay. Especially useful are racks with barriers around the bottom that prevent livestock from pulling hay loose with their feet and dragging it out to be stepped on. If you unroll bales or grind and feed on the ground, position an electric fence alongside or above the hay to keep cows from trampling or bedding down on the hay.
As always, feed a balanced ration that provides sufficient energy and protein, but not too much. Animals that eat more protein than they need will simply excrete it as extra nitrogen in their urine. This is just as wasteful as directly trampling it into the ground.
