nortexsook
Well-known member
I was wondering what the typical stocking rate was in "God's own cattle country"? Also it seems like you guys feed a lot of hay. What is the typical hay feeding season there?
Thanks!
Thanks!
Question for soap or other sandhill folks
- Thread starter nortexsook
- Start date
Soapweed
Well-known member
nortexsook said:
On our particular ranch, we figure about 25 acres per cow/calf per year. Others can run on less acres, and some outfits require more. I don't pasture our place as hard as some do, but it always seems to pay to not grub a ranch into the ground. Where there is just a little bit of old grass left in the spring, the new green grass sure gets a better start. We typically feed hay from mid December through mid May. Other more efficient operators seem to get by feeding less hay. :wink:
Grassfarmer
Well-known member
Soapweed said:
Does that 25 acres count the land growing the hay required for each cow? That's a lot of acres per cow compared to our country - I run a cow on just under 6 acres for 9 months of the year and buy in all our winter feed. We are still way below our stocking potential too due to previous pasture mis-management.
The soil types and especially the annual precipitation and time distribution of it, as well as the temperatures, would have considerable effect on giving accurate answers to these questions, wouldn't they?
Here in west central SD, we have quite a variety of soil types from quite heavy gumbo to fairly light (in both color and texture) and the annual precip of about 14" comes mostly from April through September. Temps range from -35% to +112%, with extremes of up to 15% on the - side to maybe +5% on the hi side.
We, similar to Soapweed, figure 20 to 25 acres per cow/calf pair. But, we try not to feed hay, preferring to graze the cured grass. We take pretty good care of the grass, but may let the cows get a little lower on the frame score system, aiming for a 4/5. Calves are wintered, after weaning in a fenceline situation, in the feedlot on growing ration of hay and a little grain. Three loads of those have been sold the past month or so.
They sure are enjoying the new green grass, along with their older ration of cured grass. The cows went onto fresh pastures when calving started, or a little before, and pairs are put into other fresh pastures after a few days. Getting near the end of calving, with less than a third left, maybe.
mrj
Here in west central SD, we have quite a variety of soil types from quite heavy gumbo to fairly light (in both color and texture) and the annual precip of about 14" comes mostly from April through September. Temps range from -35% to +112%, with extremes of up to 15% on the - side to maybe +5% on the hi side.
We, similar to Soapweed, figure 20 to 25 acres per cow/calf pair. But, we try not to feed hay, preferring to graze the cured grass. We take pretty good care of the grass, but may let the cows get a little lower on the frame score system, aiming for a 4/5. Calves are wintered, after weaning in a fenceline situation, in the feedlot on growing ration of hay and a little grain. Three loads of those have been sold the past month or so.
They sure are enjoying the new green grass, along with their older ration of cured grass. The cows went onto fresh pastures when calving started, or a little before, and pairs are put into other fresh pastures after a few days. Getting near the end of calving, with less than a third left, maybe.
mrj
Cedarcreek
Well-known member
We figure about 35 acres for a cow to graze year round. I usually feed my younger cows some hay from mid February to mid April. The older cows may not get any hay at all depending on the winter.
Soapweed
Well-known member
Grassfarmer said:
Our ranch has quite a bit of variety. Approximately 60% of the place is in Nebraska and the remaining 40% is in South Dakota. The state line is just about the line that defines our good land in Nebraska from the not-so-good land in South Dakota. The South Dakota hills are sandy, with grass not being very dense or well-sodded. We don't overgraze these pastures, but it is just not very good country. Our hay meadows and more gently rolling better-grassed pastures are in Nebraska. Another factor that contributes to needing quite a few acres per cow is the fact that at least 700 acres of the ranch is in lakes and ponds. For some reason, both states see fit to tax us on this water, even though there is absolutely no production derived from it. In estimated figures, it probably takes about 17 acres of mediocre pasture to summer a pair, and about eight acres of more productive pasture and hay ground to winter the cow. Guess this is kind of the situation.
leanin' H
Well-known member
Without crowding into your post too much, i wanted to throw in our stocking rates! When Grassfarmer said a pair can get 9 months out'a under 6 acres i about went into shock! Try 150 to 200 acres per pair for a May til October grazing season in this country. Then we wean and put the cows on private til the snow drives us home where they go on hay from late November til May. I need to move! :shock: :???: :wink: 
I figure 10 acre's per cow per year this includes hay and corn silage ground along with pasture ,swamps, pond's and timber.We feed from Mid november thru mid may give or take a week or two on either end depending on mother nature.Could get by on less acre's with commercial fertilizer but It does'nt pencil for me cheaper to buy feed on those off years.
Big Swede
Well-known member
We're only 25 miles as the crow flies from Soapweed into SD and it's like a whole other world. The Sandhills are on our southern horizon and we have one pasture with a few "soaweeds" in it. Other than that our soil is a lot better that what Soap has to deal with. We have sandy loams and as you go north into our main range area there are more clays but not the gumbo soils that you see in mrj's area.
We figure about 12 acres year round but we have irrigation to help raise feed and corn stalks to graze part of the winter. Our feed situation lets us background our calves till spring plus I have been dryloting most of my heifers most of the summer so I can AI them in July.
The Sandhills are very fragile. Some people abuse them and it takes years even decades to recover. I've never been to Soap's place but you can tell from his pictures that he is a very good steward of the land.
We figure about 12 acres year round but we have irrigation to help raise feed and corn stalks to graze part of the winter. Our feed situation lets us background our calves till spring plus I have been dryloting most of my heifers most of the summer so I can AI them in July.
The Sandhills are very fragile. Some people abuse them and it takes years even decades to recover. I've never been to Soap's place but you can tell from his pictures that he is a very good steward of the land.
CattleArmy
Well-known member
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We figure about 20 acres. Probably over feed them some and don't like to abuse the land. The Sandhill land is in a sence fragile not only due to use but if over used the wonderful winds we experience can deep cut the land. Any sandy areas that can be are bedded down with hay during the feeding season so the cows can stomp it on in. Then with any luck some added moisture helps stop some wind erosin.
Northern Rancher
Well-known member
We can usually get 7 month of grazing on four acres per pair-I'm going to cut back and try and stretch that a bit more-I'm on very productive ground and my bush pastures can really produce IF-it doesn't flood or drought out or snow two feet in August or May or June lol. Our grass isn't as strong as what you'd see on Soap's better pastures but we can get amazing growth in late May through midJuly-20 plus hours of daylight helps too. We purchase all our winter feed-right now cows are out on left over grass and are eating maybe 40 cents worth of hay per day.
Shortgrass
Well-known member
nortexsook said:
It seems to me that one reason they feed a lot of hay is because that country produces a lot of hay. There are acres and acres of subirrigated meadows that are covered in native grass.
Northern Rancher
Well-known member
Haying a productive native meadow is pretty cost effective-no establishment costs and some great yields. Some guys have tried swath grazing native meadows with some pretty good results.
sandhiller
Well-known member
A few miles se of soap. I need at least 15 acres per pair for 5 months summer pasture.
I don't have the sub irrigated meadows or sub irrigated low spots in the pastures soap does on his Nebraska side.
Try to have some spring grazing, rye and wheat grass to keep cows off summer pasture until about the 1st of June.
Then graze cornstalks with a little cake and irrigated wheat grass regrowth.
Try to not feed hay before the first of the year. This year gave some hay by the end of January. made it until almost the end of Feb before giving a full feed of hay.
I don't have the sub irrigated meadows or sub irrigated low spots in the pastures soap does on his Nebraska side.
Try to have some spring grazing, rye and wheat grass to keep cows off summer pasture until about the 1st of June.
Then graze cornstalks with a little cake and irrigated wheat grass regrowth.
Try to not feed hay before the first of the year. This year gave some hay by the end of January. made it until almost the end of Feb before giving a full feed of hay.
Brad S
Well-known member
once again a heap of experiance from Soapweed. Feed hay an extra week to let grass grow out in front of cows is a good way to get through drought.
