ECONOMICS OF GROWING WARM-SEASON ANNUALS FOR SHEEP IN D4 DROUGHT
Animal Science
Christine Gelley
Extension Educator, ANR
The Ohio State University
Caldwell
Abstract
Warm-season annual forages are frequently recommended to extend the grazing season through the warmest months of the year in Ohio. While many options are available to plant, there is little quantifiable data available to demonstrate successful grazing with sheep, nor information on the economics of implementation. Drought prompting a natural disaster designation occurred in 2024 which created an opportunity for experimentation with sheep grazing warm-season annuals amidst drought at the OSU Eastern Agricultural Research Station in Caldwell, Ohio. Four treatments were implemented- sorghum-sudangrass, pearl millet, a warm-season summer grazing mix, and established tall fescue, which was the control. The warm-season annual paddocks were seeded on July 25, 2024 and ready to graze on September 4, 2024. Based on the dry matter available, the experimental area was projected to provide enough forage to strip graze each treatment over the course of 4 weeks. Stocking density was matched to the dry matter available. Mature ewes were turned in to graze on September 10, 2024 and by September 30, 2024 grazing was complete. Animal weight, body condition score, and forage dry matter was recorded before grazing and after grazing. Forage quality was also documented. Sorghum-sudangrass growth allowed for the greatest amount of forage available to graze and was responsible for the greatest collective weight gain of the treatments. Economic analysis determined that investing dollars and time into site preparation, seed, fence, and labor to grow warm-season annuals resulted in a profitable venture when weight gain was valued at the market value in fall 2024, with sorghum-sudangrass providing the greatest return on investment. Shepherds at county, state, and national events have been appreciative of this data. Sharing results will assist with preparing for future drought events and prompt practices to cushion the summer-slump period which impacts 15 states in the Fescue Belt. The success of this on-farm research have led to larger scale expansion with increased repetition in the 2025 growing season.
Authors: Christine Gelley
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Christine Gelley Extension Educator, ANR, The Ohio State University, Ohio, 43724