Wednesday, September 18, 2024

Pasture, Hay Closely Managed at Silver Spur Ranch

While some areas of Colorado are suffering from drought conditions, the Silver Spur Ranch Kiowa Creek Division is doing well due to receiving moisture when needed. This year's hay fields and pastures are in good condition. Management of the range is easier when moisture is plentiful but knowing what to do in all situations to provide forage for the cows on the ranch is important.

Comments

More from the article...

... "We can always use more moisture, but we are in pretty good shape this year with the dryland hay and the irrigated ground producing better than some years," said Decky Spiller, manager of the Kiowa Creek ranch.

Rotational grazing is used on pasture ground with pairs being turned out on the early season improved pasture. These pastures are large in area because of the size of the ranch, but still need to have rest in between use. Cows are sorted into groups of 50 to 150 head depending on the area of the ranch they will be turned out on. Pastures are rotated every two to three weeks according to important factors such as moisture and water availability.

RANCH MANAGED BY AREA

The improved pastures were taken out of wheat production many years ago and put back into pasture. Spiller said sometimes these pastures are cut for hay if the moisture is sufficient and more hay is needed. These are the first pastures used when cows are turned out as pairs.

Native grass pastures are used later in the summer, usually starting in July prior and until weaning. The pastures closest to the corrals are used last when it's time to wean calves. ...


#1 | Posted by LampLighter at 2024-09-18 02:33 AM

Drudge Retort Headlines

Mossad Weaponizes Hezbollah Pagers and Cellphones (164 comments)

Migration to US Through Panama's Jungle Cut by 80 Percent (41 comments)

Fed Cuts Interest Rate (20 comments)

Republicans Bracing for Damaging Story on North Carolina Governor Candidate (17 comments)

Survey: Gen Z Workers Easily Offended, Unprepared (16 comments)

Yes, Trump Started the Fire. and Everyone Knows It. (16 comments)

Florida Sheriff 'perp Walks' 11-year-old After Threatening Shooting (15 comments)

Trump Lied About Pet-Eating Hatians After Told Not True (15 comments)