One acre of stockpiled fescue in a year with normal rainfall should provide between two and three tons of dry matter per acre. This is an adequate amount of feed to carry a 1,200-lb. cow from December 15 to March 1, assuming she is not calving prior to April 1. (See Table 6 on the following page.) Exceptional stands of tall fescue can result in one acre of stockpiled tall fescue carrying one cow for up to four Animal Unit Months (AUMs) (White, 1977).
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Table 6. Example of a Fescue Stockpiling Program for 30 Head of 1,200-Lb. Cows on 12 Acres of Stockpiled Foragea. | |
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| Inputs: | One ton of 34-0-0 nitrogen fertilizer at $225/ton Apply to 12 acres (167 lbs/acre of fertilizer) (56 lbs/acre of nitrogen) |
| Result Of Forage Growth: | After 90 days of growth, fescue is 12 inches tall.
(12 in. x 400 lbs. of dry matter per in. = 4,800 lbs DM) Utilization rate of 70% (4,800 x 0.70 = 3,360 lbs. dry matter per acre) (3360 x 12 acres = 40,320 lbs. dry matter in 12 acres) |
| Estimate Number Of Grazing Days: | Cattle consuming 3% of body weight per day of dry matter
(1,200-lb. cow x 0.03 = 36 lbs. of dry matter per day) (36 lbs x 30 cows = 1,080 lbs. of dry matter consumed per day 40,320/1,080 = 37-1/3 DAYS OF GRAZING or 3 DAYS PER ACRE |
| a Vollborn (1997) | |