Welcome back to the Bullvine Podcast. Today,
we're tackling one of the most critical and profitable
challenges you'll face this season, spring pasture
management. You know the drill. Lush spring grass
looks like a gold mine, but if you're not careful,
it can tank your milk components and bleed profits.
We're talking up to 32 cents per 100 weight loss
to milk fat depression alone. Ouch. But here's
the good news. This episode is packed with actionable
strategies to turn that risk into reward. We'll
break down rotational grazing hacks, supplementation
secrets, and even how drone tech can revolutionize
your pasture game. Whether you're a grazing newbie
or a seasoned pro, stick around. By the end of
this episode, You'll have a battle plan to protect
your milk check and boost your bottom line. Let's
dive in. Spring. It's that time of year again
when the pastures start looking all vibrant and
green. For you dairy folks, it's got to be like
a love -hate relationship, right? You hit the
nail on the head there. I mean, on the one hand,
those... Feedbill's taking a dip that's gotta
feel good. Oh yeah, who doesn't love the thought
of saving some cash? But then there's that other
side of the coin. You gotta keep those milk components
up, or those profits could take a hit faster
than a calf in a stampede. It's a tightrope walk,
for sure. And that's exactly why we're doing
this deep dive today. We're talking spring grazing,
but we're going way beyond the basics. We're
getting into the nitty gritty, the strategies
that work, and even some of the newfangled tech
that can make a real difference on your operation.
We're not going to sugarcoat it. Transitioning
to spring pastures can be a real challenge, but
it can also be incredibly rewarding when you
get it right. That's right. We're talking protecting
your milk check, maybe even boosting those profits
while the cows are enjoying the sunshine. And
we've done our homework. We've been poring over
research, talking to folks in the field, really
trying to get a handle on the ins and outs of
spring pasture management for dairy operations.
So let's just jump right into it, shall we? Let's
talk about that critical transition period when
you first let the cows out onto those spring
pastures. Yeah, for a lot of folks, we're looking
at April and May. But of course. It depends on
where you are. Exactly. You've got those drier
areas. They might be seeing green as early as
February. And some organic operations might hold
off till mid -April. Right. Got to make sure
those conditions are just right. But no matter
when it happens, it's a huge shift for the cows.
I mean, think about it. They've been on those
consistent winter rations. And suddenly, bam,
it's like a whole new world of food. One of the
sources we looked at called it a metabolic minefield.
Oh, yeah. That's a good one. It's like they traded
in their carefully balanced meal plan for an
all -you -can -eat salad bar. And let me tell
you, that can cause some serious havoc in the
rumen. So what's actually going on in there that
makes this transition so tricky? What are the
main differences between that winter feed and
that lush spring grass? Well, first off, that
young spring forage is much lower in structural
fiber. That's the roughage that keeps the rumen
working right. So it's like taking away the scaffolding
that holds everything up. Exactly. And at the
same time, you got those sugars skyrocketing.
Oh, yeah. All that sweetness. And on top of that,
we're talking a ton of moisture, like 75 to 85
percent. They're practically drinking their salad.
I see where this is going. That's got to be a
recipe for some digestive upset. You got it.
All those sugars fermenting super fast, overwhelm
the rumen. And before you know it, you got that
rumen pH plummeting. That's what we call subacute
rumen acidosis or SARA for short. That didn't
sound good. It's a silent killer. It might not
show up right away, but it can really mess with
milk production, both fat and protein. And let's
not forget about those unsaturated fats and all
that lush new growth. Oh, yeah. I know that can
affect milk fat, but I'm not sure I fully get
why. Could you break it down for us? Sure. So
you've got these unsaturated fats that are just
hanging out in the rumen. Right, they come in
with that fresh grass. And normally, the microbes
in the rumen would convert those unsaturated
fats into saturated ones. It's a process called
biohydrogenation. Okay, so far so good. But when
you get this sudden influx of unsaturated fats
from the spring grass, the whole system gets
overloaded, and these intermediate fatty acids
start to build up. And guess what? Those little
guys, they're the real culprits. They go and
mess with milk fat synthesis. So that's how you
get those huge drops in butter fat, sometimes
as much as 50%. It's like the lush grass is sabotaging
the milk from the inside out. Pretty much. And
then you add the high moisture content to the
mix. Oh, right. All that water. The cows are
filling up on water, but they're not getting
enough of the good stuff, the fiber, the energy,
all the things they need to produce high quality
milk. So it's like they're eating empty calories.
Kind of, yeah. And all that together just increases
the risk of that sera even more. It's like a
domino effect. One problem leading to another.
And it sounds like those rumen problems can have
some pretty wide ranging effects on the cow.
not just on their milk. Absolutely. We're talking
body condition, fertility issues, you know, the
kind that make you want to pull your hair out
and even hoof problems. Yikes. That's a lot to
deal with. And then there's the whole mineral
imbalance thing. Right. That's another thing
I've heard about. You got all that potassium
in spring grass, but it's low in magnesium. And
what does that mean? Increased risk of grass
tetany. Grass tetany. That's the one that can
be really dangerous, right? It can be deadly.
Yeah. So you got to be careful. So it's not as
simple as just letting the cows out to graze.
There's a whole lot of things to think about.
You got that right. But don't worry, it's not
all doom and gloom. There are definitely ways
to manage this transition and make sure your
cows are healthy and productive. Okay, so let's
get to the good stuff. What are some of the top
grazing management strategies that can help farmers
get this right? Well, the most important thing
is to transition gradually. Don't just throw
those cows out there and expect them to handle
it. Ease them into it. Makes sense. Exactly.
Give them two to three weeks to adapt. It's like
switching up a factory's production line. Got
to give those rumen microbes time to adjust to
the new material. So practically speaking, what
does that look like? Start with just a couple
hours of grazing each day and keep offering them
some dry hay alongside the fresh grass. So they're
getting a bit of both. Right. That dry hay provides
the fiber that the young grass is missing, helps
keep those rumen microbes happy. Okay, that's
a good starting point. Yeah. Now, what about
rotational grazing? Oh, that's a game changer.
I've heard good things about it. It's not just
a good idea. It's essential, especially in the
spring. You divide up your pastures into smaller
paddocks and move the cows every 12 to 24 hours.
Wow, that's frequent. Why so often? It's all
about maximizing grass utilization. You don't
want the cows picking and choosing, wasting good
forage. Rotational grazing helps you get the
most out of your pasture. In fact, you can boost
grass utilization by about 20 % compared to continuous
grazing. 20 %? That's like getting free feed.
It really is. And in early spring, I actually
recommend grazing those cool season pastures
pretty closely, leaving about two inches of stubble.
Really? Wouldn't you want to leave more for them
to eat? It seems counterintuitive, but trust
me on this one. Grazing it down like that encourages
the grass to grow back thicker, which means more
forage later on. Okay, I'll take your word for
it. But how do you know if you're actually leaving
that two -inch stubble? Here's what I want you
to do. Tomorrow, Go out there and walk your pastures.
Take a stroll. And take a good look at that residual
grass height after the cows have been through
a paddock. If you're consistently seeing less
than four centimeters, that's about an inch and
a half, you've got to make some adjustments.
Like what? Maybe start buffer feeding with some
hay. Your cows might be grazing too low, and
that's not good for the long -term health of
your pasture. Good to know. Now, we have a table
here about optimal grazing heights for different
forage types. Could you walk us through that?
Sure thing. So let's start with perennial ryegrass,
pretty common one. You want to begin grazing
when it's about eight to ten centimeters tall,
that's three to four inches, and then graze it
down to about four to five centimeters. That
keeps the ryegrass happy and coming back strong.
For tall fescue, you can let it get a bit taller,
around 15 to 20 centimeters, but aim for a higher
residual of 5 to 7 centimeters. This helps prevent
it from getting too stemmy. And for legume mixes,
you're looking at starting grazing at 15 to 25
centimeters and leaving a residual of 7 to 10
centimeters. That protects the crown of the plants
and ensures good regrowth. So there's really
a science to it. It's not just a one -size -fits
-all approach. Nope. You've got to know your
corages and manage them accordingly. And another
thing to keep in mind is that pre -graze and
cover, how much forage is there before the cows
even get to it? You want to have at least 1 ,600
kilograms of dry matter per hectare. This makes
sure the cows have enough to eat and helps maintain
good pasture health. And whatever you do, don't
go over -fertilize in that young grass. It might
seem like a good idea to boost growth, but it
can actually make milk fat depression worse.
So more fertilizer isn't always better. Not in
this case. And here's another myth I want to
bust. Taller grass doesn't always mean better
nutrition. Yeah, I've heard that one too. If
that grass gets too tall and lush, it can be
loaded with sugar and low in fiber. That's a
recipe for disaster in the rumen. So it's not
about how much grass there is. It's about the
quality of that grass. Bingo. Now let's talk
about something that can really take your grazing
game to the next level. regenerative grazing.
Regenerative grazing. That's a hot topic these
days. It's more than just a buzzword, though.
It's about building soil health, making your
pastures more resilient, and ultimately boosting
your profits. I like to think of the soil as
your retirement account, and those roots are
like compound interest. I like that analogy.
So how is regenerative grazing different from
regular rotational grazing? It builds on rotational
grazing by incorporating longer rest periods
between grazing events. This gives the plants
more time to recover, develop deeper roots, and
really thrive. And diversity is key. You want
a mix of grasses, legumes, and even some deep
rooted forbs. This helps with nutrient cycling,
soil structure, water infiltration, the whole
shebang. It's about creating a healthier ecosystem,
not just growing grass. You got it. And there
are real -world examples of this making a difference.
I heard about this dairy farmer in Wisconsin
who switched to regenerative grazing, and he
cut his feed costs by 30%. He was practically
printing money in his pastures. And the research
backs it up. 30%. That's incredible. Do you have
any other data on the impact of regenerative
grazing? Oh, yeah. We got a whole table here.
Studies show that extending those rotational
grazing cycles to 10 to 12 days can bump up milk
fat by about 0 .22 % and milk protein by 0 .12%.
And you're looking at feed cost reductions of
18 to 22%. Not too shabby. Now, if you really
want to see some impressive results. diversify
those pastures. We're talking milk fat increases
of around 0 .35 percent, milk protein up by 0
.18 percent, and feed cost reductions of 25 to
30 percent. So plant diversity really pays off.
It does. And don't forget about those strategic
rest periods. Those can also improve components
and save you money on feed. It's amazing how
much impact grazing management can have on the
whole operation. It really is. And when you manage
your pastures right, You end up with forage that's
more nutritious and more palatable. The cows
love it. They eat more and they produce more
milk. It's a win -win. Makes perfect sense. Now,
even with the best grazing management, there
are times when you need to supplement, especially
during that spring transition. You're absolutely
right. Sometimes that pasture just can't keep
up with the demands of those high -producing
cows. But here's the thing. supplementation should
be strategic. Not just throwing some extra feed
at them. Exactly. It's about identifying the
gaps and filling them in a way that makes sense
for your operation and your bottom line. So where
should farmers focus their supplementation efforts
in the spring? One thing I always recommend is
rumen -protected amino acids, or RPAAs. RPAAs.
Yeah. Specifically, methionine and lysine. These
are essential for milk production, but they can
be limited in pasture -based diets. And how do
these RPAAs work? They sound pretty high -tech.
They are, but they're also pretty simple. Basically,
they're coated so they don't get broken down
in the rumen. They bypass all that and go straight
to the small intestine where they get absorbed.
This allows the cow to use those amino acids
much more efficiently, which means more milk
protein and potentially even a bump in milk fat.
It's like a precision delivery system for nutrients.
That's a good way to put it. And we got some
data here on rumen -protected fats, which can
also be really helpful. Yeah, let's talk ROI.
That's what farmers really care about, right?
You bet. Looking at projections for 2025, one
product, MegaFat88, could increase milk yield
by almost 2 liters per day and bump up fat percentage
by about 0 .25%. That's a projected ROI of around
49%, with a break -even point in about 2 months.
Not bad at all. Another product, Megalac, is
looking even better milk yield increase of over
two liters per day a fat percentage increase
of 0 .35 and an roi of 83 with a break -even
point in just over a month wow those are some
compelling numbers and then you got ground corn
which is a more traditional supplement it can
increase milk yield but it might actually lower
fat percentage and has a lower roi so it's really
important to choose the right supplement for
your goals and it's all about balancing that
energy and protein intake right exactly spring
grass tends to be high in protein but can be
lacking in energy, so you've got to make sure
you're providing enough energy to keep the rumen
function in properly. And sometimes a simple
energy supplement like corn can be more cost
-effective than a fancy protein supplement. It
all depends on your specific situation. It sounds
like there's a lot to consider when it comes
to supplementation. There is, but it's worth
taking the time to get it right. And let's not
forget about the role of technology. Right, we
have to talk about drones. Ah, yes, the drones.
It's like something out of a sci -fi movie, drones
flying over pastures. I know, it sounds kind
of futuristic, but it's becoming more and more
common, and for good reason. These pasture monitoring
drones can give you a whole new level of insight
into your grazing operation. So what can they
actually do? Well, for starters, they can provide
high -throughput imagery of your entire grazing
area. They can basically map out the whole thing
and show you exactly how much grass is out there
and how evenly the cows are grazing. That's got
to save a lot of time compared to walking the
pastures yourself. Oh, yeah. It's way more efficient.
And they don't just take pretty pictures. They
actually collect data that can help you make
management decisions. So how does that work?
These drones have special sensors that capture
all sorts of information about the pasture, the
height of the grass, the density, even the biomass.
Biomass, that's like how much actual feed is
there, right? Exactly. And they use fancy software
and algorithms to turn those images into actual
measurements and estimates. So it's not just
a visual assessment, it's real data. And the
accuracy is pretty impressive. Studies have shown
that these drone -based estimates are highly
correlated with actual ground measurements. So
you can really trust the data they're giving
you. You can. And that data can help you make
better decisions about when to move your cows,
whether you need to supplement, and all sorts
of other things. It's like having a bird's eye
view of your pasture and all the information
you need to manage it effectively. And it's not
just about the grass, right? Drones can help
with herd management too. You bet. They can help
you find stray animals, monitor for estrus, check
on calving cows, and even make sure your water
sources are working properly. They're like little
aerial cowboys. Pretty amazing stuff. So we've
covered a lot today. To wrap things up, we've
got eight spring pasture profit commandments.
Yeah, let's go through them. These are like the
golden rules of spring grazing. Commandment number
one, transition gradually. We talked about that.
Ease those cows into it. Give those rumen microbes
time to adjust. Number two. Rotate aggressively.
Frequent paddock moves are key, especially in
the early spring. Keep those cows moving and
make sure they're getting the best quality forage.
Commandment number three. Monitor milk components
daily. Those milk fat and protein percentages
are your early warning system. Keep a close eye
on them and make adjustments as needed. Number
four. Buffer feed strategically. Offer some dry
hay before turnout to help stabilize that rumen
pH and prevent problems. Number 5. Supplement
smartly. Consider using rumen -protected methionine
to support milk fat synthesis. Number 6. Measure
pasture weekly. Use a plate meter or a drone
to track your dry matter and adjust your grazing
rotations accordingly. Commandment number 7.
diversify pastures mix things up with different
plant species to improve soil health forage quality
and overall resilience and last but not least
number eight manage minerals proactively don't
forget about magnesium supplementation to prevent
grass tetany those are some solid commandments
for spring grazing success they'll set you on
the right path for sure now thinking about everything
we've discussed What's the most important decision
dairy farmers need to make when it comes to spring
grazing? It all boils down to finding that sweet
spot between maximizing grazing efficiency and
maintaining those milk components. It's a balancing
act. And it requires a holistic approach, right?
Absolutely. You got to think about grazing management,
nutrition, and even technology. It's all connected.
And the stakes are high. We're talking real money
here. You got it. That milk component depression
can cost you anywhere from 18 to 32 cents per
hundredweight. That adds up fast. But on the
flip side, when you get spring grazing right,
it can be a huge boost to your bottom line. It
can be even more profitable than confinement
operations because your feed costs are so much
lower. So it's a gamble worth taking. It is.
But it's not just about luck. It's about making
informed decisions and taking action. Are you
going to let those milk solids slip away or are
you going to take control and maximize your profits?
Spring is coming and the time to act is now.
All right, no time to waste. And for those who
are ready to take action, we've got that takeaway
toolkit. Yeah, let's review those key takeaways.
Number one, measure your pasture dry matter daily.
If it's below 20%, supplement with some starch.
Number two, track your milk components at least
twice a week. Catch those downward trends early
and make changes. Number three, go for those
12 -hour paddock moves in the first few weeks
of grazing. Number four. Supplement with magnesium
oxide to prevent grass tetany. Number five. Maintain
a post -grazing residual height of four to six
centimeters. And number six. Consider using drone
technology to get a better handle on your pasture
management. So... Those are your action items.
Pick one or two and get started today. It's all
about making small changes that can have a big
impact. Well, that's it for this deep dive into
the world of spring grazing. It's been a whirlwind
of information, but we hope you found it helpful.
We covered a lot of ground, but the main message
is this. Spring grazing can be a challenge, but
it can also be incredibly rewarding. It's all
about having the right knowledge and taking the
right steps. So as you're getting ready for spring,
think about what you've learned today. What changes
can you make to improve your operation? What
areas do you need to focus on? Whether it's grazing
management, supplementation, or technology, there's
always room for improvement. And as dairy farming
continues to evolve, we've got to be willing
to adapt and embrace new ideas. Who knows? Maybe
those spring pastures, once a source of uncertainty,
could become your biggest advantage. Food for
thought. Thanks for joining us, everyone. Until
next time. And that's a wrap. Let's recap today's
power moves. Gradual transitions are non -negotiable.
Give those rumen microbes time to adapt. Rotational
grazing isn't just trendy, it's a 20 % feed efficiency
booster. Targeted supplements like rumen -protected
methionine can rescue milk fat fast. Remember,
spring pastures don't have to be a profit pit.
With the right strategies, you're not just surviving
the transition, you're thriving. Got questions
or success stories? Slide into our DMs at TheBullvine
or visit TheBullvine .com for more resources.
Until next time, keep those components high and
your herds happier. Signing off with one final
thought. Your pastures shouldn't fund your vet's
vacation. Graze smarter, not harder.