In winter, overwinter pastures provide a vital source of green forage for livestock and poultry, compensating for the limited availability of forage during colder months. The most commonly used species include multi-flowered ryegrass, winter grazing 70, as well as legumes like alfalfa, milk vetch, and arrow peas. Proper management is crucial to ensure the productivity and longevity of these pastures.
One key aspect of care is top dressing. Adequate water and fertilizer significantly enhance tillering, promote strong seedling growth, and improve cold resistance. Insufficient nutrients can lead to poor development. After applying basal fertilizer, it's recommended to apply an additional 7.5–10 kg of urea per acre in late winter and early spring. Each time you cut or hoe the pasture, apply another 6–8 kg of urea. For certain varieties like Ziyunying, combining nitrogen with phosphorus and potassium fertilizers can yield even better results, promoting robust stem and leaf growth.
Weeding is also essential. During the early growth stage, overwinter forage grasses grow slowly and struggle to compete with weeds. Tall weeds not only reduce yield but also hinder winter survival. It’s advisable to weed 1–2 times, especially after the first green-up in spring and following each cutting. Once the grasses like winter grazing 70 and multi-flowered ryegrass start growing rapidly, they naturally suppress weeds. However, if the growth becomes too vigorous, a light trimming 20–30 days before winter can help control it.
Pest control is another important consideration. Overwinter pastures like winter grazing 70 and ryegrass are prone to pests such as armyworms and aphids. Timely application of pesticides like cypermethrin or chlorpyrifos is necessary. Alfalfa is particularly vulnerable to sclerotinia, which thrives in wet conditions after spring rains. Applying quicklime powder or spraying carbendazim can help prevent this disease. Arrow peas are at risk from locusts during early spring to flowering, so using dimethoate or similar insecticides is recommended.
Drainage and irrigation play a major role in maintaining healthy pastures. Grasses like winter grazing 70 and ryegrass are more tolerant of moisture, but legumes such as arrow peas and milk vetch are sensitive to waterlogging. In low-lying areas or poorly drained fields, excessive moisture can damage roots and cause rot. Therefore, proper ditching and drainage systems are essential to lower the groundwater level and avoid water accumulation.
Castration, or more accurately, timely harvesting, depends on the type of livestock being fed. For rabbits, cutting the grass when it reaches 30–60 cm is ideal. For cattle and sheep, it’s best to harvest at the heading and flowering stages, leaving about 10 cm of growth to encourage regrowth.
Silage preparation should be done during the heading stage, with the grass cut into 10 cm lengths and kept below 70% moisture to ensure good fermentation. For hay, it’s best to dry the forage on sunny days, spreading it thinly on the ground and drying until the moisture content drops to 14%. This ensures long-term storage and availability during periods of grass shortage in winter and early spring.
Proper management of overwinter pastures not only improves forage quality but also supports animal health and farm sustainability throughout the cold season.
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