MIG GRASS FED BEEF PASTURE

(Managed Intensive Grazing Pastures)

Grass fed beef pastures can be a viable alternative to grain finished beef, but require more management time and attention. An important advantage to grass fed beef pastures systems, is that they can be operational on relatively fewer acres.

 

Stocking rates vary depending on the annual rainfall and length of growing season, but 1 to 1½ animal units per acre a general rule of thumb. A critical factor is the ability of divide pasture area into six or more separate pastures, to provide rotational grazing, with access to water.

As to cattle breeds adapted to finishing on grass pastures, the Devon’s or Red Devon cross breeds have been reported to marble out on grass up to a weight of 950 pounds.

 

Soil tests are critical, especially to establish, and adjust pH requirements with lime prior to seeding. A pasture plan should have season long rotational grazing, hay for winter feed and a potential stock piling winter grazing MIG pasture. A combination of two or more of the following pastures may to necessary to meet individual needs.

MIG: Early Grazing Pasture 5#/Ac Persist Orchardgrass 5#/Ac Grand Daddy (Tetraploid) Perennial Ryegrass 5#/Ac Tekapo Orchardgrass 5#/Ac McBeth Meadow Brome 3#/Ac Jumbo II Ladino Clover 2#/Ac Kopu II (NZ) White Clover     MIG: Hay & Grazing Pasture 5#/Ac Harvestar or Profit Orchardgrass 5#/Ac Bocage (Tetraploid) Perennial Ryegrass 5#/Ac Tekapo Orchardgrass 7#/Ac Radiant AM Alfalfa 3#/Ac Jumbo II Ladino Clover     MIG: Hay & Summer Pasture 8#/Ac Bronson (Endophyte Free) Tall Fescue 5#/Ac Preval Meadow Fescue 5#/Ac Radiant AM Alfalfa 5#/Ac Redlan Max Red Clover 2#/Ac Kopu II (NZ) White Clover     MIG: Late Grazing & Stock Piling Pasture 12#/Ac Goliath (Endophyte Free) Tall Fescue   6#/Ac Bronson (Endophyte Free) Tall Fescue   5#/Ac Preval Meadow Fescue   2#/Ac Jumbo II Ladino Clover     Warm Season Summer Graze 25#/Ac Pro-Max BMR Hybrid Sudangrass     Session Annual Pasture     Spring   50#/Ac Intimidator Forage Oats 10#/Ac Feast II (Tetraploid) Italian Ryegrass   5#/Ac Pasja Forage Turnips     Fall   15#/Ac Bruiser (Diploid) Winter Ryegrass   5#/Ac Dixie Crimson Clover   5#/Ac Appin Forage Turnip

Note: The Pro Max Hybrid Sudangrass and the Fall Session Annual Pasture are compatible, in that the Pro Max is planted in mid-May, grazed, and replaced by the Fall Session Pasture planted around Labor Day. Most years the Bruiser and Dixie Crimson Clover will over winter and can be grazed in early spring.

Grasses are high consumers of potash and although the cows will return it in the form of manure, the pattern of manure is never uniform, so subsequent fall broadcast applications of potash may be necessary. Fully organic systems are not always sustainable! Use of free range chickens to spread the cow manure evenly over the pasture, following a beef stocking rate of 1½ cows/acre, 150 chickens per acre for three days is a figure commonly quoted. (That’s providing the coyotes don’t make a free meal out of too many free range chickens.)