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Determining Forage Supply - Frame Method

Participants from the grazing Management In-service training using a 0.25 m2 quadrant and yard stick to estimate amount of forage (Limpograss, Hemarthria altissima) available for cattle.


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In each pasture, or representative area in the pasture, walk in a selected direction and toss a plot frame every 10 steps.  Measure the height of the forage with the yard stick.  Clip the forage within the plot frame and weigh the clipped clipped.   Clip the forage to a consistent height for all frames.  Dry the clipped forage to estimate percent dry matter (DM).  Calculate the amount of forage in the given area clipped.  Convert to lbs DM/acre.

200 g per 0.25 m2     200 g/454 g lb-1 = 0.44 lb

0.25 m2  = 6.18 x 10-5 acre             0.44 lb/6.18 x 10-5 acre = 7,120 lb/acre

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