Forage Production and Economic Performance of Pasture Rejuvenation Methods in Northern Alberta, Canada

Abstract

Producing high quality forage and maintaining productive pastures is a major challenge that beef producers encounter, as rejuvenation is a complex and costly challenge. This is part of a series of papers looking at potential options and methods of rejuvenation to improve the productivity of older forage stands in northern Alberta. The methods of rejuvenation investigated were sub-soiling, break & re-seeding, a combination of manure application plus subsoiling, high stock density grazing, bale grazing, pasture rest, as well as direct seeding in spring and fall. In this series, forage dry matter (DM) yield, forage nutritive value and economic performance are presented and discussed. The top 5 forage DM yielders were bale grazing, manure + subsoil in fall, break & re-seeding, high stock density grazing and fertilizer application in that order. In both years, bale grazing consistently produced higher forage DM yield than other methods including control, with bale grazing giving up to 100% higher yield at site-1 and 219% at site-2 for the 2-year total forage DM. Most forage nutritive value parameters measured were similar for the rejuvenation methods investigated. A simplified economic analysis done in this study showed that the direct input cost of rejuvenation an old forage stand was higher with the break & re-seeding method than other methods. However, for bale grazing, when the cost of hay bales used was factored in, then the cost of bale grazing far exceeded those of other methods including break & re-seeding. The implications of the results obtained in this study in relation to beef cattle production system are highlighted.

Vegetation analysis of non-tidal swampland in South Sumatra, Indonesia and its carrying capacity for Pampangan buffalo pasture

“…The production of fresh forage at pastures in Pulau Layang Village in the wet season was 6.899 kg ha -1 year -1 and the production of the dry matter was 1,268.51 kg ha -1 year -1 , while in the dry season the production of fresh forage was 4,863 kg ha -1 year -1 and the dry matter production was 986.60 kg ha -1 year -1 (Table 4). This result is higher than those conducted in Canada (Omokanye et al 2018) and in Timor Tengah Selatan District (Se'u et al 2015) stating that the average fresh production of pasture in Gowa District in the wet season was 5,350 kg ha -1 year -1 and in the dry season was 1,390 kg ha -1 year -1 (Rinduwati et al 2016). But the results of this study were lower than the study by Abdullah et al (2017) in Pakistan who reported that forage production was 8,029.1 kg ha -1 year -1 in the wet season and 5,422.9 kg ha -1 year -1 in the dry season.…”

“…Management and strategy to increase forage production require innovative facilitation and training to stockbreeders and farmers to increase their knowledge. These efforts should be supported by government and private companies develop programs regarding the importance of forage in increasing ruminant livestock production (Nigus 2017; Omokanye et al 2018).…”

On-farm Assessments of Pasture Rejuvenation Methods on Soil Quality Indicators in Northern Alberta (Canada)

“…Breaking and reseeding old pastures (renewal) or using other methods of rejuvenation can be a complex and costly challenge, as well as time consuming for producers. Recently, Omokanye et al (2018) showed that breaking and reseeding an old pasture would require a minimum of CAD $625/ha in cost in northern Alberta. The high costs associated with break & re-seeding is making livestock producers to look at other strategies or rejuvenation methods that are practicable and cost less for sustaining a forage stand while improving or maintaining soil quality longer.…”

Evaluation of Methods of Pasture Rejuvenation for Improved Forage Production

“…Rejuvenation can be a pasture management strategy for rapid improvement of existing and/or depleted forage stand/pasture that can bring new vigor or usefulness to a pasture and thereby restore it to its original state (Acharya, unpublished; Schellenberg, 2016). Breaking and reseeding old forage stands is the traditional method of pasture rejuvenation (Malhi et al, 2000), but this can be a complex and costly challenge as well as time consuming for producers (Omokanye et al, 2018). The high costs associated with the traditional method have encouraged producers to search for alternative strategies and technologies for improving and sustaining pastures.…”

“…The high costs associated with the traditional method have encouraged producers to search for alternative strategies and technologies for improving and sustaining pastures. Recently in northern Alberta, Omokanye et al (2018) reported that breaking and reseeding was associated with high input costs. In western Canada, several methods of rejuvenation have been investigated for the purpose of increasing pasture and livestock production, and these include: grazing management during growing season (Omokanye et al, 2018; Kemp et al, 2000), bale grazing during winter season (Picard, 2010; Omokanye, 2013; Jungnitsch et al, 2011; Omokanye et al, 2018), fertilizer application (Omokanye et al, 2018; Nazarko, 2008; Lardner et al, 2000), direct seeding of legumes into an existing pasture (Khatiwada, 2018), and pasture resting (Omokanye et al, 2018; Durunna et al, 2015).…”