A study was conducted on an annual cropped field near Lanigan, Saskatchewan over two years (2005-2006, 2006-2007) to evaluate the effects of three extensive winter feeding systems (bale grazing (BG), swath grazing (SG) and straw-chaff grazing (ST-CH)) and one intensive winter feeding system (drylot (DL)) on cow performance, soil nutrients, crop yield and system cost of production.<p> Differences in BW (P<0.05) were observed during the 2005-2006 study period with the greatest difference occurring with cows in the SG feeding system. Cows grazing swaths (SG) had a BW loss of 8.0 kg over the 78 d trial period, however these cows consumed 15% less DM and 13% less TDN than cows bale grazing, grazing crop residue or fed in drylot pens. Differences in BW change (P<0.05) were also observed during Yr 2 between the cows fed drylot and cows grazing barley straw-chaff, 32.9 and 6.5 kg, respectively. This difference in body weight change (BW∆) and lower TDN consumption may be attributed to inaccessibility of the straw-chaff feed in the field, due to inclement weather and would suggest a lengthy acclimation period for extensive field grazing systems.<p> The effects of extensive winter feeding system on soil nutrients and soil structure were determined the following spring after winter grazing. NO3-N levels at the low slope position in the 0-15 cm depth were 53% higher on the BG sites than the ST-CH sites. This may be attributed to the larger concentration of feed, thus feed nutrients, in the BG feeding system. Phosphorus levels on the BG wintering sites were 34% higher than levels in the SG or ST-CH sites. Crop biomass measured on the BG sites was consistent with soil nutrients captured, resulting in a 15% increase in biomass compared to ST-CH and SG sites. Soil nutrient and crop biomass distribution was consistent among winter grazing sites with the ST-CH sites having the most uniform distribution of nutrients and crop biomass, and the BG sites having the least.

A study was conducted on an annual cropped field near Lanigan, Saskatchewan over two years (2005-2006, 2006-2007) to evaluate the effects of three extensive winter feeding systems (bale grazing (BG), swath grazing (SG) and straw-chaff grazing (ST-CH)) and one intensive winter feeding system (drylot (DL)) on cow performance, soil nutrients, crop yield and system cost of production.<p> Differences in BW (P<0.05) were observed during the 2005-2006 study period with the greatest difference occurring with cows in the SG feeding system. Cows grazing swaths (SG) had a BW loss of 8.0 kg over the 78 d trial period, however these cows consumed 15% less DM and 13% less TDN than cows bale grazing, grazing crop residue or fed in drylot pens. Differences in BW change (P<0.05) were also observed during Yr 2 between the cows fed drylot and cows grazing barley straw-chaff, 32.9 and 6.5 kg, respectively. This difference in body weight change (BW∆) and lower TDN consumption may be attributed to inaccessibility of the straw-chaff feed in the field, due to inclement weather and would suggest a lengthy acclimation period for extensive field grazing systems.<p> The effects of extensive winter feeding system on soil nutrients and soil structure were determined the following spring after winter grazing. NO3-N levels at the low slope position in the 0-15 cm depth were 53% higher on the BG sites than the ST-CH sites. This may be attributed to the larger concentration of feed, thus feed nutrients, in the BG feeding system. Phosphorus levels on the BG wintering sites were 34% higher than levels in the SG or ST-CH sites. Crop biomass measured on the BG sites was consistent with soil nutrients captured, resulting in a 15% increase in biomass compared to ST-CH and SG sites. Soil nutrient and crop biomass distribution was consistent among winter grazing sites with the ST-CH sites having the most uniform distribution of nutrients and crop biomass, and the BG sites having the least.