Grazing Crop Residues: Additional Points

The following steps have proven successful for stockpiling tall fescue forage:

• Before grazing crop residue fields it is important to check the labels of any pesticides used on the crop to see if they are cleared for grazing crop residues. Label restrictions should be strictly observed.
• It is advisable to make certain no poisonous plants are present in fencerows or other areas adjacent to fields in which crop residues are to be grazed. Forage produced in fencerows and waterways within row crop fields is of most value if mowed, fertilized, and managed as stockpiled forage, as discussed earlier.

Crop residues can be an inexpensive source of nutrition.

• Research conducted at several Midwestern universities shows no difference in the performance of cattle that grazed Bt corn crop residue and those that grazed non-Bt corn crop residues.
• Research conducted at several Midwestern universities shows no difference in the performance of cattle that grazed Bt corn crop residue and those that grazed non-Bt corn crop residues.
• Soybean stubble is low in quality and cannot provide adequate nutrition for beef cows or stockers. It should not be used as a feed source unless supplemented substantially.