Bale Grazing in MaiaGrazing

Bale Grazing is a common in areas with deep snow cover and heavy winters. So how do we reflect that in MaiaGrazing?

Bale Grazing is a common in areas where deep snow cover and heavy winters are the norm - So how do we reflect that in MaiaGrazing?

It’s important to remember that during periods of the year that cows are not actively grazing on pasture, we need to reduce their animal rating to what they are actually taking from the pasture. For instance, if you are in an area where you are actively grazing, but supplementing their daily intake with alternative feed sources, reduce their rating to whatever they are taking from the pasture.

If you estimate that your animals are getting 50% of their daily dietary intake from the pasture and 50% from supplemental feed sources, we would reduce their rating to 50% of their total rating to reflect ONLY what they are taking from the pasture. Eg. 1,200 lbs cow rated at 1.2 AU's, is now 0.6 AU's.

Article: Updating Stock Weights and Ratings

FAQ: Should I record what pastures I bale graze in?

Yes. While your animals may not be taking anything from your pastures per se, they are still leaving nutrients behind that will feed your soil. Once things warm back up, their waste products will give your “below soil livestock” (ex. bacteria, fungi, microorganisms, etc) fodder, which will later translate into grass production. In addition, that area may need an extended recovery period following the bale grazing event.

FAQ: Can I use MaiaGrazing to budget for hay?

Yes and no. Technically, MaiaGrazing is not designed for bale-grazing, but you can get some answers when creating your winter feed budget.

If you create a non-growing season graze plan (Grass budget) with the herds you think you will be carrying through winter, you can get a ballpark of the total feed necessary to pull them through (*see total feed required). It is important to remember that you must do this prior to reducing their rating, otherwise it will look like they will need zero feed.