Pre-Graze Mowing: Summer vs. Spring.

Mowing of summer pasture is used to remove reproductive vegetation; however, the benefit for improved pasture utilization by mowing prior to grazing is uncertain.  The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of mowing pasture prior to grazing on total forage utilization in tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) pasture, both in spring (vegetative only) and summer (reproductive stages of fescue).  Pre- and post-graze samples were taken from the “above-mower-height” and the “below-mower-height” and then separated into four fractions (green or dead, leaf or stem) to determine sward composition and fraction consumed by livestock.  Livestock species include sheep (Ovis aries) and goats (Capra aegagrus).  Pastures were divided into 0.25 acre paddocks, which were grazed two days each, with the mowing treatment randomly assigned in a randomized complete block design.  Preliminary results indicate that pre-graze mowing would not provide enough benefit to cover additional mowing expenses.  However, if post-graze mowing is already a part of the management scheme, there would be little additional expense for adopting pre-graze mowing, and then any increased dry matter intake becomes more valuable.