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and the
Bale Grazing
Calculator
The authors, Lorne Klein, PAg, and Travis Peardon, AAg, would like to thank the following individuals who
assisted with the development of Bale Grazing and the Bale Grazing Calculator:
Dennis Haak, Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration (PFRA), Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada;
Dr. Bart Lardner, PAg, Western Beef Development Centre, University of Saskatchewan;
Dale Weisbrot, PAg, Livestock Development Branch, Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture;
Mark Neuman, Livestock Producer, Group Plan Advisor with the Upper Souris Agri-Environmental
Group Plan, Frobisher, Sask.;
Jeremy Brown, PAg, Saskatchewan Watershed Authority; and
Grant Lastiwka, PAg, Agricultural Research and Extension Council of Alberta.
The authors would like to thank Harvey Tedford, a Saskatchewan producer, for reviewing the book.
For more information about bale grazing, contact the authors through the Agriculture Knowledge Centre at
1-866-457-2377.
This document is also available on the Saskatchewan Agriculture website at
www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca.
For more information
Cover: Examples of intensive bale
grazing (top) and extensive bale
grazing (bottom).
Photos: Saskatchewan Agriculture
Acknowledgements
Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 1
Intensive and extensive bale grazing ...................................................................................... 2
Choosing a site ........................................................................................................................ 3
Land use
Seeded perennial forage
Annual cropland
Native prairie
Soil texture, nutrient leaching, and water runoff considerations
Soil fertility considerations for bale placement
Physical impacts on the bale graze site
Logistics of site selection
Wind protection and watering
Bale placement ........................................................................................................................ 7
Time of year and amount of feed placed
Bale setting and density
Feed rationing: quantity and quality
Livestock and electric fence management ............................................................................ 10
Site management after bale grazing...................................................................................... 12
Bale twine and bale feeder management .............................................................................. 14
Wildlife considerations ........................................................................................................... 16
Conclusion ............................................................................................................................. 16
Introduction to the Bale Grazing Calculator ........................................................................ 17
Bibliography .......................................................................................................................... 20
Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture 1 Bale Grazing and the Bale Grazing Calculator
Bale grazing on felds is a method oI providing
Ieed to beeI cattle during the winter months.
With this system, livestock are allowed
access to bales previously placed on a feld
or wintering site. When properly managed, it
does not compromise the health, comIort or
perIormance oI the livestock.
Bale grazing can oIIer both economic
and environmental advantages compared
to traditional intensive winter Ieeding.
Economically, bale grazing can reduce the
costs Ior labour, machinery and Iossil Iuels,
both in the Ieeding oI the bales and manure
handling. Environmentally, research has
shown increased nitrogen capture in the soil
profle compared to intensive Ieeding in a
corral Iollowed by manure spreading with
equipment. Proper site selection and bale
density will ensure the nutrients Irom manure,
urine and leItover material are uniIormly
deposited at acceptable rates to enhance Iorage
growth and minimize environmental impacts
on water quality.
This publication compiles the latest knowledge
on bale grazing. The inIormation is gathered
Irom research trials and the experiences oI
producers.
Introduction
Table of Contents
Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture 2 Bale Grazing and the Bale Grazing Calculator
Bale grazing on a feld is a method oI extensive
winter Ieeding compared to intensive Ieeding
on a confned area, which results in a manure
pack. There are variations on how producers
are setting up and managing extensive bale
grazing systems.
On the intensive end oI the spectrum, bales are
transported to a site and placed relatively close
together. A typical density is placing bales 40
Ieet apart on a grid, which equates to about 25
bales per acre. In this situation most producers
are controlling the livestock with electric wire.
Above: Intensive bale grazing on a selected site. Electric fencing controls livestock access to the
bales.
Below: ([WHQVLYHEDOHJUD]LQJRQWKHKD\HOGZKHUHWKHEDOHVZKHUHPDGHDQGHMHFWHGIURPWKH
baler. Photos: Saskatchewan Agriculture
Livestock are limited to a three- to Iour-day
Ieed supply at a time, with or without bale
Ieeders. This publication is written mainly
with this method and intensity in mind.
On the extensive end oI the spectrum, bales
are grazed in the feld and on the spot where
they were ejected Irom the baler. A typical
bale density would be two to Iour bales per
acre. With this density, some producers are
experimenting with leaving the twine or net
wrap on the bales and allowing a three- to Iour-
week allotment oI bales at a time.
Intensive and extensive bale grazing
Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture 3 Bale Grazing and the Bale Grazing Calculator
Land use
Producers can select bale grazing sites that
are seeded perennial Iorage, annual cropland
or native prairie. The preIerred bale grazing
site would be seeded perennial Iorage. Annual
cropland is less suited Ior bale grazing. Native
prairie sites are not recommended as bale
grazing.
AIter bale grazing, even with good livestock
management resulting in relatively high Ieed
utilization, there will be a signifcant layer oI
organic material leIt behind. This consists
oI manure mixed with soiled and leItover
Ieed. Depending on the amount oI snow
on the site, livestock traIfc may create an
ice pack underneath this layer. The organic
layer is eIIective at insulating and slowing
the warming oI the soil in spring, artifcially
creating a longer winter season.
Seeded perennial forage
Seeded pastures and hay felds are the
preIerred land use Ior bale grazing sites.
Bale grazing delivers a signifcant amount oI
nutrients to the site, especially on the points
where the bales are placed. This nutrient
supply is released over several years Irom
the organic layer. Seeded perennial Iorage is
generally the best suited vegetation Ior taking
advantage oI and utilizing this relatively high
level oI Iertility.
Research at Western BeeI Development
Centre in Lanigan compared bale Ieeding on
perennial grass pasture to traditional Ieeding
in confnement, Iollowed by mechanical
manure spreading. The alIalIa/grass hay
bales averaged 1,385 pounds (lb.) with 27
lb. oI nitrogen per bale. When bales were
Ied on pasture during winter, 34 per cent oI
the nitrogen in the bales was recovered by
the grass during the Iollowing two growing
seasons. With confnement Ieeding Iollowed
by mechanical manure spreading, one per cent
oI the nitrogen in the Ieed was recovered by
the grass.
Ideally, the stands should have at least one
rhizomatous grass species (smooth bromegrass,
quackgrass, Kentucky bluegrass). AIter
grazing, iI a relatively thick layer oI residual
material remains on the spots where bales were
placed, these grasses have a greater chance oI
growing through the layer and flling in Irom
new shoots produced by their rhizomes. On
felds dominated with bunchgrass species
(crested wheatgrass, meadow bromegrass,
Bale grazing straw on a bunchgrass pasture
(Russian wild ryegrass). A 12-inch layer of
straw was left behind after grazing. After four
years, dead spots remain where straw bales
were placed.
Choosing a site
Bale grazing alfalfa/grass hay on a bunchgrass
pasture (Russian wild ryegrass). A three-inch
layer of material was left behind after grazing.
After four years, the stand is slightly thinned
where bales were placed. Photos: Saskatchewan
Agriculture
Annual cropland
Annual cropland is somewhat less suited Ior
bale grazing sites Ior several reasons. First,
the layer oI manure and leItover Ieed in the
Iollowing spring may cause trash clearance
problems with seeding equipment unless
the residue is spread with heavy harrowing.
Harrowing may or may not be eIIective,
depending on the amount oI material leIt
over and the spacing oI the bales. Second,
an ice layer underneath the residue may keep
soil temperatures cold beyond the date Ior
optimum seeding. Third, iI any plastic twine
remains behind, it could cause problems with
the seeding machinery. Fourth, the uneven
distribution oI nutrients aIter bale grazing
would likely cause signifcant variation in
Iollowing crops.
Native prairie
Bale grazing is not recommended on native
prairie sites. The primary reason is bale
grazing may increase the opportunity Ior
invasive weeds and Iorage species, through
seed introduction and increased soil Iertility.
Secondly, native plant species evolved and
produce Iorage under relatively low Iertility
conditions. Native species will not respond
to increased soil Iertility similar to the level
observed in seeded perennial Iorages.
Potential weed spread
Bale grazing has a greater potential to spread
weeds compared to Ieeding systems where
the manure is piled, composted, and spread.
Composting kills the germination on a high
portion oI weed seeds.
The frst step is to be aware oI the weed seed
species in the bales. Although some oI the
seeds will be consumed and digested in the
rumen, many will be trampled into the litter
and soil around the bale. This is a highly
Iertile zone with good opportunity Ior weed
establishment. Avoid introducing new and/
or competitive weed species that have the
ability to establish on a site.
Generally, annual weeds are less oI a concern
than perennial weeds, but not always. Sites
with sod-Iorming rhizomatous grass species
have a greater ability to compete with weeds
compared to bunchgrass pastures or annual
cropland.
Russian wild ryegrass), there is greater
potential Ior 'dead spots and weed growth on
the spots where bales are placed.
The eIIect oI bale grazing on legumes in a
perennial stand is variable. When the residual
layer aIter bale grazing is greater than Iour
inches thick, alIalIa appears to be injured.
When the residual layer is less than Iour
inches, alIalIa can be enhanced. In some
regions, alsike clover has been increasing on
felds where bale grazing occurs. On perennial
felds with a high percentage oI legumes,
producers are encouraged to experiment and
proceed with caution.
Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture 4 Bale Grazing and the Bale Grazing Calculator
Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture 5 Bale Grazing and the Bale Grazing Calculator
The two photos above illustrate forage production two years after bale grazing took place on a
low fertility, rhizomatous grass pasture (smooth bromegrass, Kentucky bluegrass). The lefthand
photo shows an area between bales where low levels of nutrients were deposited by livestock.
The righthand photo shows the area that was underneath and adjacent to a bale, where high levels
of nutrients were deposited by livestock. This area is now dominated by smooth bromegrass.
Photos: Saskatchewan Agriculture
Soil texture, nutrient leaching
and water runoff considerations
Fields or bale graze sites with coarse-textured
soils (sandy, gravelly) are not the preIerred
locations Ior bale grazing, due to the risk oI
nutrients leaching below the rooting zone and
into the water table. II bale grazing is planned
Ior these areas, consider using a lower bale
density to reduce the risk oI nutrient leaching.
It is recommended producers avoid bale
grazing on coarse textured soils above shallow
aquiIers.
Ideally, bale grazing should occur on a site
where water runoII to surIace water bodies is
minimal or contained on the Iarm. Avoid bale
grazing in riparian areas (wetlands), on steep
slopes next to riparian areas, and on upland
areas that drain directly into a water body used
as a water source.
Soil fertility considerations
for bale placement
Where there are variable soil conditions and/
or rolling topography, producers may want to
place bales on felds or target areas within a
feld where the nutrients, manure and residue
Irom the bales will provide the greatest
economic beneft. One example would be
placing bales on hilltops where there is shallow
topsoil and low Iertility. Another example
would be placing bales on felds with the
lowest overall Iertility. Avoid low lying areas
and depressions with high natural Iertility
as excess nutrients and higher leaching rates
will increase the potential Ior groundwater
contamination.
Physical impacts
on the bale graze site
The majority oI bale grazing occurs during
the Iall on dry soils or during winter on
Irozen soils. In these cases, there are minimal
physical impacts on the soil surIace and on
perennial plants. When bale grazing occurs
during spring thaw, there is potential Ior
hooI damage (pugging) to the soil surIace.
Producers should monitor this situation and
have alternative plans until the soil surIace is
able to support livestock traIfc. Options to
minimize pugging during spring thaw are to
bale graze on rhizomatous grass areas, higher
elevations and south Iacing slopes.
Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture 6 Bale Grazing and the Bale Grazing
To discourage lingering and the deposit of
manure at the winter watering site, place
portable windbreaks, feed, mineral feeders
and oilers well away from the watering site.
Note the high concentration of manure at this
wintering site. Photo: PFRA
Permanent electric fence to protect the
shelterbelt from livestock damage.
Photo: PFRA
Logistics of site selection
A main goal oI bale grazing is to reduce winter
Ieeding costs without compromising the health,
comIort or perIormance oI the livestock.
When choosing a location, ideally the site
should:
be easy to monitor on a regular basis;
be on or near the feld(s) where the
bales were made to reduce bale handling
and transportation costs;
be on land that is already perimeter
Ienced or can be Ienced at low cost;
be on seeded perennial Iorage in a
nutrient defcient state, resulting in a large
increase in Iorage productivity Irom
added nutrients;
have power available Ior electric Iences
to control livestock access to the bales
(not needed iI the Iencing is solar
powered);
have a water source iI adequate soIt snow
is not available;
have wind protection Ior the livestock
(protection can include natural bush,
planted shelterbelts, or portable
windbreaks); and
have access to a handling Iacility iI
needed.
Wind protection and watering
Portable windbreaks should be used Ior wind
protection iI there is insuIfcient natural
shelter. The windbreaks need to be moved on
a regular basis to Iacilitate uniIorm distribution
oI livestock, and subsequently uniIorm
distribution oI nutrients Irom manure and
urine.
When possible, avoid the natural shelter oI
riparian areas. II riparian and upland wooded
areas must be used, you may need to limit or
stop livestock access with Iencing to allow
Ior regeneration oI trees and to avoid excess
nutrient overloading.
When surIace water bodies, such as
dugouts and sloughs, are used as a water
source, pumping to a winterized system is
recommended. This will minimize the risk oI
cattle Ialling through the ice. These systems
also reduce the potential Ior manure and
nutrient contamination oI the water source.
Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture 7 Bale Grazing and the Bale Grazing Calculator
Time of year
and amount of feed placed
Bales can be placed during summer, Iall
or winter. There are several advantages to
placing bales early in the season.
First, there are lower equipment costs iI bales
are grazed on the hayfeld where they are
made, or iI they are taken directly Irom the
hayfeld to the wintering site.