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Grazing Alfalfa

Alfalfa grazing is not new. Alfalfa has been grazed alone or in mixtures with grasses and other legumes since its introduction into this country. Compared with other management systems, however, grazing alfalfa has never been a widespread practice in the United States. Alfalfa has been used extensively as a grazing crop in other countries, but grazing of alfalfa in this country traditionally has been relegated to a clean-up operation on the freeze-down growth.

Grazing alfalfa requires a higher level of management than do most grazing systems. In spite of this, interest in grazing alfalfa has been increasing. As Kansas State University Extension livestock specialist Larry Corah stated, “The only thing wrong with grazing alfalfa is that not enough people do it.”

Dr. Garry Lacefield, Agronomy Extension Professor-Forages, University of Kentucky, has stated, “Alfalfa potential as a grazing crop is virtually untapped. With present technology and dedicated management, beef gain per acre can exceed 1,000 pounds with acceptable stand persistence.”

Alfalfa Grazing Management

Alfalfa can be grazed throughout the growing season in most areas, or can be used for grazing during only selected seasons.

Season-long Grazing — Grazing has a reputation for shortening the life of an alfalfa stand, compared to harvesting alfalfa for hay. However, this is largely a misconception because there are management techniques that can take advantage of the benefits of grazing alfalfa, while reducing some of these potentially harmful effects.

Alfalfa should be allowed to recover for about 28 to 35 days before re-grazing. Rotational grazing for short grazing periods of five to seven days with the long recovery period of 35 days is the major key to season-long grazing, while still maintaining stands. Avoid grazing during wet weather when alfalfa is particularly
susceptible to soil compaction and trampling.

Spring Grazing — In some areas of the country, there are definite advantages in beginning alfalfa grazing very early in the spring, to coincide with the initial growth of the first hay crop. By grazing alfalfa for several weeks in the very early spring, hay making is delayed until weather is better. Native pastures are not grazed until later and are protected so they can carry cattle later into the summer.

Begin grazing when alfalfa is about four inches high, managing the animals so that the average plant height does not exceed five to seven inches, while leaving some leaf area on the plants. In Virginia trials, grazing continued until the first hay cutting and then regrowth was allowed to develop until a hay crop was made about 40 days later. Virginia researchers recommend allowing the alfalfa to grow for a least one, and preferably two, hay cuttings before grazing again.

Summer Grazing — Alfalfa often is difficult to harvest for hay during July and August, if top growth has been retarded by drought. Its maturity usually is hastened to the full bloom and pod stage under high temperatures and light intensities and long days. Grazing has become a particularly attractive alternative for alfalfa during this period.

Controlled grazing during the summer season seldom will harm the stand. Alfalfa grazed during times of moisture stress does not have the adverse effects to the degrees it done when grazed under normal or wet conditions. Grazing is an excellent way to use alfalfa and provide high quality forage during the dry summer months in what normally would be considered the “summer slump” period.

Fall Grazing — Fall alfalfa growth usually is slowed or stopped in the lower Corn Belt by a series of light frosts, rather than by one single heavy killing freeze. Forage quality of this fall growth is excellent. Weather conditions normally make alfalfa hay difficult to cure at this time, so grazing becomes the preferred method of harvesting. Removing this fall growth also may reduce the severity of the alfalfa weevil the following spring.

However, it is important not to overgraze. While the stubble height or cutting height is not of great significance during the summer, it becomes an important factor in late fall grazing. In the more northerly states, leave some stubble on the field to hold snow and form a thatch to protect alfalfa from heaving. Grazing too closely also will remove crown buds and have a serious impact on production in the following year. Leave at least a 3-inch stubble.

Although there are disadvantages, alfalfa successfully can be harvested through grazing during the late fall and early winter months. By using good judgment in following management rules, fall grazing of alfalfa can be useful and profitable without jeopardizing the stand or production in the following year.

Source: Certified Alfalfa Seed Council, Inc., Grazing Alfalfa

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