Fall is the Time to Start Irrigated
Pastures
Comments by: James I. Sprague, Livestock Nutritionist
Irrigated Pasture at Feedlots
Most feedlot managers would like to have a lush pasture to assist
hard to start cattle or cattle needing recovery from sickness. An
irrigated pasture is also an ideal area for valuable horses after
their athletic workout of working cattle.
Cool Season Grasses, Start in Late Summer or Fall
Cool season grasses can be seeded in the spring, but late summer or
fall is considered the best time.
Many of the seed companies have particular mixtures of grasses that
they recommend for their areas. The varieties will depend on the climate
of the feedlot and the soil type that will be used for the pasture.
For example, the Sharp Brothers Seed Company of Healy, Kansas, have
20 years experience with a mixture called PM6. ( See below picture
of a pasture using Sharp's mixture.) Seed suppliers will suggests
mixtures, however the use a single species of grass is recommended
in certain situations.
Advantages of Cool Season Grasses
Mark Jensen, respected agronomist, of Sharp Brothers Seed stresses
the advantages of fast establishment and good productivity (cash flow)
in the first year after establishment. He says their mixture is usually
established and fully productive one year after seeding.
Use of Effluent (Waste Water) from Feedlots
Sharp Brothers Seed points out that waste water can be used to irrigate
pastures. Here is a direct quote from them:
"Cool season irrigated pasture
provides an excellent opportunity for profitable and relatively trouble
free use of waste water. Advantages include a large application window,
including the spring, summer and fall months. Few other crops are
actively growing over such a long period of time, converting potential
environmental pollutants into valuable forage. In addition waste water
is not likely to produce serious crop burn on perennial cool season
grass in cases of accidental over application."
Harvested Forage
One of the pluses of irrigated pasture is often times some hay is
harvested in the spring.
This hay is particularly high in energy and protein and valuable for
hospital cattle, starting cattle and horses.
Attention to Details
One of the problems of an irrigated pasture is the details of management.
Establishment, irrigation schedules, fencing, rotation of paddocks,
stocking rates, supplement feeding when needed, and haying excessive
forage, just to name a few of the details.
Certainly these management concerns can be overcome.
Eastern Gamma Grass (A warm season specie)
One of the new grasses that has caught the attention of livestock
producers is Eastern Gamma grass, which is a native warm season grass.
It is considered the most palatable and productive of native grasses.
It has excellent winter hardiness, and best managed as a pure stand.
The Sharp Brothers Company processes and markets this specie. One
of the problems is establishment since the seed is highly dormant.
But dormancy can be overcome with winter seeding. This specie probably
would not be irrigated after establishment. ©
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