Know the growth curves. Growing corn and milo stubble, especially for an almost dry cow, can help take the pressure off a pasture. Compaction is not as big a problem as you think, and there is no danger of losing organic matter that way either. To test hay for protein, Bade suggested looking at the leaf, maturity, weed content, and then quality. Look at the body condition of animals and the animals' feces.
Legumes really make a big difference.
They are 25 percent protein. Use of clovers can also reduce fertilizer costs, the forage specialist noted. Bade said standing hay, another economical option for stretching grazing which is foreign to most Texas producers, deserves a look. The specialist warned that stand failures can occur from a poorly prepared seedbed, inadequate moisture at planting, poor quality seed, and planting too deep. If you decide you're going to produce standing hay of good quality, fertilize it in September and use an electric fence to force the cows to eat it.