One of the primary goals of extension is to encourage and support adoption of improved technologies. Managed grazing and stockpiling forage are two such technologies. The goal of this project was to encourage adoption of these practices by providing on-farm demonstrations of the technologies. We also collected forage and soil data and held workshops at each of the demonstration sites. Host producers were selected, given a basic kit of temporary fencing supplies for use during the demonstration, and instructed on their proper use during the winter stockpiling season. Forage yield and quality data were collected and soil tests made to show the economic advantages of proper fertilization and grazing fresh forage in contrast to feeding stored forage and concentrate. The nutritive value of the forage stockpiled in September through November (67% total digestible nutrients [TDN] and 14% crude protein, CP) exceeded the needs of the cattle and was greater than the nutrient content of hay present on the farms (59% TDN and 11% CP, P < 0.01). The mean quantity of available forage (2,856 ± 164 kg dry matter per hectare) provided an average of 260 (±81.8) standard cow (545 kg) grazing days per hectare of stockpiled forage. Taking into account the higher nutritive value of the fresh forage when compared with hay and the savings of time and equipment costs by grazing, we estimated that grazing stockpiled forage saved $1.28 per standard cow per day. The grazing management skills gained during this project and the temporary fencing technology were adopted by 93% of the demonstration farms that responded to our follow-up survey (78% of demonstration sites), and the area managed with these technologies increased on these sites more than 350%. Having the hosts share personal experiences played an important role in encouraging their peers to adopt the technologies.

Core Ideas• Overseeding winter annual legumes can extend grazing season and reduce feed costs.• Overseeding winter annual legumes into bermudagrass improved subsequent hay quality.• Overseeding winter annual legumes can increase nutrient harvest from the soil. AbstractOverseeding cool-season annual legumes into bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] offers an economical solution to pasture shortage experienced by beef cattle (Bos spp.) farmers during winter on the southeastern Coastal Plain of the USA. Using Austrian winter peas [Pisum sativum var. arvense (L.) Poir.], 'Dixie' crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.), 'Yucchi' and 'Apache' arrowleaf clover (T. vesiculosum Savi), and 'AU Merit' hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth.) in replicated complete blocks (four replicates in each of two growing seasons), our objectives were to (i) determine the nutritive value of forage provided by several legumes as they mature; (ii) evaluate legume impact on the nutritive value of subsequent bermudagrass hay harvests; (iii) obtain estimates of the quantity of N they potentially add to the system; and (iv) evaluate the preferences of grazing cattle for the various legumes. All legumes improved early-spring dry matter (DM) yield compared with control plots without overseeding (3310 vs. 1120 lb/acre for legumes and control; P < 0.01). Legumes increased the crude protein (CP) content of bermudagrass hay harvested during the subsequent growing season (14.1, 14.8, 13.7, 14.8, and 12.0% for crimson, vetch, peas, arrowleaf, and control, respectively; P < 0.01); however, peas and arrowleaf reduced hay DM yield (P = 0.04). Across species, legumes added approximately 89 lb/acre N to the system by fixation, and overseeding offered a potential addition of 64 grazing days/acre (1200-lb cows). Legumes improved the potential removal of both N and P from the system, and cattle readily consumed the legumes.Overseeding may have the potential to reduce N fertilization and lengthen grazing season; however, with added seed costs, it may not improve profitability.

Stockpiled tall fescue can provide adequate winter forage for beef cattle, although unsupplemented replacement heifers may display marginal performance before breeding. The objective of this study was to determine if protein supplementation and/or additional forage improves growth and reproductive performance of replacement heifers grazing stockpiled fescue. Cattle averaging 272 ± 1.59 kg were stratified by BW and then randomly assigned to 1 of 4 plots within a pasture replication. Treatment combinations were assigned in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement and included 1) a conservative forage allocation ("normal," targeting 85% forage use) and mineral supplement (normal forage allocation with mineral supplement [FM]), 2) normal forage allocation with protein tub (FT), 3) more liberal forage allocation ("extra," targeting 70% forage use) and mineral supplement (extra forage allocation with mineral supplement [EM]), and 4) "extra forage allocation with protein tub (ET). Treatments were administered for 8 wk from early November to early January. Heifers were fed fescue hay for 1 wk before breeding in late January. Heifers were synchronized with the 7-d CO-Synch + controlled internal drug release device protocol and inseminated in late January. Heifers were checked for pregnancy by ultrasonography at 35 and 90 d after AI. Main and interaction effects between the 2 treatments were determined. Total supplement intake was greater for protein tub than mineral supplement (0.36 vs. 0.11 kg·heifer·d, respectively; < 0.0001), and the additional dietary protein in the tub groups resulted in greater serum urea N concentrations ( < 0.0001; 8.15 vs. 10.4 mg/dL for mineral and protein tub, respectively). Forage utilization efficiency was greater for normal than extra forage allocation (74.7 vs. 65.8%, respectively; < 0.0001). Main effects of both treatments on ADG were significant ( < 0.0001; 0.28, 0.43, 0.43, and 0.51 kg·heifer·d for FM, FT, EM, and ET, respectively). There was an interaction effect of the 2 treatments on change in BCS ( < 0.05; 0.12, 0.10, 0.18, and 0.31 for FM, FT, EM, and ET, respectively). Reproductive tract scores, pelvic area, and AI pregnancy rates were not different between treatments ( > 0.05). Overall, feeding a protein supplement or providing extra forage increased gain and interacted to increase BCS but did not have an effect on reproductive performance. Supplementing with protein and providing extra forage are strategies that can increase gain in heifers, which could aid heifers in reaching puberty before estrous synchronization.

Overseeding in bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) pasture is common to expand the harvest season in the southeastern U.S. coastal plain. Grasses are often utilized; however, using legumes would allow capturing nitrogen and extend the harvest season. Austrian winter peas (Pisum sativum, WP), crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum cv. Dixie, CC), arrowleaf clover (T. vesiculosum Savi cv. Apache and Yuchi, AC), and hairy vetch (Vicia villosa cv. AU Merit, HV) were seeded into bermudagrass in a complete block design (four replicates in each of two seasons). Forage yield estimates were made before grazing by cattle and before bermudagrass hay harvests. Botanical separations and step‐point analysis determined legume and bermudagrass contributions to the stand. Legumes yielded similarly (3842 kg/ha), with harvestable growth 6 to 10 weeks before bermudagrass alone. Compared to controls (no legume), HV and AC reduced bermudagrass hay yield (P < 0.05) and WP and CC did not. Crimson clover was the only legume that did not reduce the proportion of bermudagrass in hay. Late harvest of legumes exacerbated the decline of bermudagrass. Overseeding has the potential to increase harvestable forage; however, maturing legumes can have deleterious effects on bermudagrass. Crimson clover had the least negative impact and therefore might be the best suited of the legumes tested for overseeding.

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