If you haven't heard of "topping" before then read on and learn....

During the late fifties, an Australian livestock specialist summarized the results of a multi-year pasture study involving three cattle ranches.
The weaning weight of the calves on one ranch had consistently outweighed those from adjacent ranches by 70 to 100 pounds per head.

The differences in weaning weights could not be explained by variability associated with breeds, dates of calving, soil types, forage species, and so forth.

However, the rancher with the heavier calves practiced "topping" his pastures. This practice was the only variable identified that might explain the variation in weaning weights.

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Topping was explained as clipping the pasture with a rotary mower at early heading to prevent further flower stalk development. If flowering stems are not consumed prior to seed head emergence, they become woody and unpalatable. With timely clipping, while the grass is still palatable, livestock will readily consume the residues.

So how does topping relate to the variation in weaning weight?

Grass physiologists have shown that disruption of seed head development triggers production of new shoots (aftermath) from basal buds in crown tissue. Timely, topping of pastures results in earlier aftermath production.

Now weaning weights may not be an issue with alpacas but we all know that they enjoy those fresh young grass shoots much more than the taller grasses.

Adrian Stewart - cleck here to go to Mulberry Alpacas

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