View From the Range

REDFIELD, Iowa (DTN) -- While some areas of Colorado are suffering from drought conditions, the Silver Spur Ranch Kiowa Creek Division is doing well due to receiving moisture when needed. This year's hay fields and pastures are in good condition. Management of the range is easier when moisture is plentiful but knowing what to do in all situations to provide forage for the cows on the ranch is important.

The Silver Spur Ranch Kiowa Creek Division is participating in DTN's View From the Range series, where DTN will follow a year at the ranch to give readers an inside look at how the ranch operates and cares for its animals.

This sixth segment in the series looks at how the ranch manages hay and pasture ground, and how water has a big impact on the ranch's decisions.

"We can always use more moisture, but we are in pretty good shape this year with the dryland hay and the irrigated ground producing better than some years," said Decky Spiller, manager of the Kiowa Creek ranch.

Rotational grazing is used on pasture ground with pairs being turned out on the early season improved pasture. These pastures are large in area because of the size of the ranch, but still need to have rest in between use. Cows are sorted into groups of 50 to 150 head depending on the area of the ranch they will be turned out on. Pastures are rotated every two to three weeks according to important factors such as moisture and water availability.

RANCH MANAGED BY AREA

The improved pastures were taken out of wheat production many years ago and put back into pasture. Spiller said sometimes these pastures are cut for hay if the moisture is sufficient and more hay is needed. These are the first pastures used when cows are turned out as pairs.

Native grass pastures are used later in the summer, usually starting in July prior and until weaning. The pastures closest to the corrals are used last when it's time to wean calves.

"At the end of the rotation cycle, we can use the areas with pine trees after weaning and before snowfall. There will be some grass in those areas," he explained. "We like to leave enough forage on all the pastures to be ready for the next spring. Graze half and leave half has always been the way we were taught."

ROTATIONAL GRAZING IMPORTANT

Depending on the moisture situation, some seeding may occur, especially on the fields used for hay, but not on a regular basis. Oats, millet or triticale will be interseeded to extend the field for more grass production.

Weed control is important when a ranch is mostly grass. Spiller said they want to control thistles and knapweed as they can reduce grass production. This is done using herbicide or biologicals.

"The use of rotational grazing also helps manage weeds. Cows are eating the grass, but we are moving them before it's completely gone, so the grass has a chance to seed," he said. "Often times you'll see more weed problems when a field has been overgrazed."

WATER IS IMPORTANT RESOURCE

Water is always needed on the ranch. Late-spring snowfall or heavy rains in the same timeframe come about every four years in that area of Colorado. They have learned to cut more hay in those years to hold over as feed for the coming year.

"We always have 1 1/2 years of hay stored in reserve for the coming year in case of drought," explained Spiller. "A typical year we will have 1,500 to 2,000 tons of hay, but in a wet year we could have as much as 5,000 tons."

Hay is baled in large round bales covered with net wrap and stacked in areas near where it will be fed. They always feed the older hay first.

On a drought year, hay from other Silver Spur ranches may be sent to help the Kiowa Creek ranch get through the season. These are usually in the form of large square bales and are stored in barns. Spiller said it is good to have that option, but moving and feeding large square bales can be more difficult on their ranch, which is why they prefer the round bales.

Forage testing is always done on new crop hay to ensure quality. This provides an analysis to know when to feed which hay to what cows based on where they are in their reproductive cycle and nutritional needs.

Soil testing is done on a semi-annual basis to know if the ground needs more nutrients to produce better. Often, lime or other minerals will be added.

Part of the pasture rotation includes knowing what the cows need nutritionally. A custom mineral mix is used and available to the cattle by free choice in each pasture. The mixture can change based on the time of year as well. "In the early spring, the mineral (mix) is high in magnesium to manage any problem with milk fever at calving. The mixture then switches to a more evenly mixed mineral in the summer," Spiller said.

Brush management is part of the equation too, but nothing is disrupted too much in order to provide for the wildlife. "We are part of the Ranching for Wildlife program and want to provide an ecosystem for our cattle and the wildlife," he added.

Overall, it's important to consider many factors when managing a large ranch's hay and pasture ground. The available resources, along with the experience of those on the ranch, help ensure the right forages are provided throughout the year, regardless of the moisture conditions.

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Editor's Note: To see the other stories in this series, go to:

-- "Follow Colorado Cattle Ranch Through the Year," https://www.dtnpf.com/…

-- "Colorado's Silver Spur Ranch Shares Calving and Tagging System Tips," https://www.dtnpf.com/…

-- "Silver Spur Ranch Success Comes From Ensuring Good Health for Cattle and Cowboys," https://www.dtnpf.com/…

-- "Silver Spur Ranch Spring Branding Protects Cattle, Owners," https://www.dtnpf.com/…

-- "Data Collected on Ranch's Cattle to Help Make Improvements to Herd," https://www.dtnpf.com/…

Jennifer Carrico can be reached at jennifer.carrico@dtn.com

Follow her on social platform X @JennCattleGal

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