What makes this such an attractive option, is that it is very high in quality and is the first to green up in the spring. This is a good option for livestock with high nutritional needs such as overwintering stocker calves. Winter rye can be planted from the middle of August through the middle of September at 90-100 pounds of seed per acre. Any of these crops can stretch feed supplies and keep costs down, especially when stripped grazed with an electric fence. Alfalfa's ability to withstand dry weather and its excellent nutritional qualities make it an attractive grazing alternative - especially during the midsummer period.
Grazing also requires less equipment than conventional harvesting of hay.
But it also requires intensive management for optimum results. In Kentucky, a study was established to test a system of intensive grazing of beef steers on alfalfa to maximize gains and preserve the stand. The field was divided into eight paddocks. Poloxalene for bloat protection was fed in about 2 lbs. Each paddock was grazed four days.