Table 1.8-6. Suggested pasture components for different grazing purposes
Numbers do not indicate preference.
| Col 01 | April-May | June-August | September-October | November-January¹ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Beef cows (calved in March) | Any of the cool-season grasses, preferably with legume (white clover, red clover) |
|
|
|
| March calves | Graze with dams | Graze with dams; creep graze on grass-legume mixes; perennial ryegrass, or brassica crops | As in June–August | Sell as feeders or handle as stockers as below |
| Yearling steers and heifers (stockers) |
|
|
|
|
| Lactating dairy cows | Cool-season grass-legume mixes, perennial ryegrass, timothy, bromegrass | Top-graze same species as in spring |
|
Late seeded brassicas |
| Dry dairy cows, replacement heifers | Graze cool-season grass, grass-legume mixtures. Some silage supplementation may be necessary. | |||
| Dairy beef steers | Top graze cool-season grass- legume mixtures (except tall fescue) or close graze and supplement with silage. Graze brassica crops when available. | |||
| Ewes with lambs | Graze cool-season grass-legume mixtures | Graze cool-season grass-legume mixtures except tall fescue; stock-piled birdsfoot trefoil; brassica crops |
|
|
| Dry ewes | Closely graze cool-season grass-legume mixtures | Stockpiled tall fescue
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| Lambs | Top-graze cool-season grass-legume mixtures |
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|
|
| Horses³ | Cool-season grass-legume mixtures; best grasses: timothy, Kentucky bluegrass, smooth brome; best legume: white clover | As in April–May | As in April–May | Stockpiled tall fescue³
|
