Get reliable rangeland science

Bale grazing continues to be an important component of many extending grazing systems. Whether conducted along or within a system that includes stockpiled grazing, swath grazing, corn grazing etc., many producers use bale grazing as a method to lower their winter feeding costs. Other benefits of bale grazing include improved animal welfare, increased pasture production and a reduction in greenhouse gases. �From 2011 to 2015, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada conducted a study that focused on the impact that bale grazing has on soil and forage resources. This Poster will focus on forage resources. With the exception of a site that was subjected to overgrazing in years three and four, forage productivity and quality increased on all sites where bale grazing occurred in all years. Forage production at the Vermilion site was more than two times greater on the areas directly influenced by the bales in the first two growing seasons following bale grazing when compared to areas between the bales. When excluded from grazing this trend continued in years two (2.13x) and three (1.82x). When heavily grazed however there was no discernible difference in years three (0.88x) and four (1.05x). The effect on forage production at the Caroline site although less pronounced was still 20 to 40 percent greater on bale affected areas during all years (1.4, 1.3, 1.4 and 1.2 times respectively).�In Vermilion, Crude Protein (CP) levels were consistently higher (30 to 40 percent) in areas influenced by the bales when compared to areas between bales.� The effect of the bales on CP at the Caroline sites was less significant than the Vermilion site in the second growing season being only 20 percent greater in years one and two following bale grazing and ten percent greater in years three and four.