Stockpiling Forage: Extending Grazing Into Late Autumn

For livestock producers, one of the biggest challenges in autumn is balancing the need to maintain animal nutrition while avoiding costly supplemental feeding too early. Stockpiling forage—the practice of allowing pastures to grow during late summer and saving them for grazing in the fall or even early winter—is a proven way to extend grazing seasons, reduce feed costs, and improve pasture sustainability. Done correctly, it can stretch forage availability by several weeks, keeping cattle, sheep, and goats on pasture long after most producers have moved to hay.

What Is Stockpiling Forage?

Stockpiling is the deliberate management of pasture growth during late summer and early fall so that livestock can graze it later in the season. Instead of harvesting hay or allowing continuous grazing, pastures are rested during August or September, allowing grasses to build up growth and energy reserves. These “saved” forages are then grazed in October, November, or beyond, depending on the climate.

Why Stockpiling Works

Cost savings: Grazing standing forage is always cheaper than feeding stored hay or purchased supplements.
Labor efficiency: Less time spent feeding and hauling hay.
Pasture health: Resting pastures during late summer gives them time to rebuild root reserves.
Animal nutrition: Certain cool-season grasses maintain high nutritional value well into autumn.

Best Forages for Stockpiling

Not all forages are equal when it comes to stockpiling. The ideal species can retain quality under cool conditions and resist weathering.

Tall Fescue – Often considered the gold standard for stockpiling. It holds its protein and digestibility even after frost.
Orchardgrass – Provides good fall forage but tends to lose quality faster than fescue.
Kentucky Bluegrass – Useful for grazing into late fall but offers less yield.
Legume mixes (clover, alfalfa) – Can boost forage quality, though they don’t weather as well as grasses.

Tip: Endophyte-infected tall fescue should be managed carefully, as it can affect livestock performance. Endophyte-free or novel endophyte fescue varieties are preferred.

Timing and Management

1. When to Start Stockpiling

Begin resting pastures in mid to late August or early September.
Fertilize as needed—nitrogen applied in late summer can boost fall forage growth, especially on fescue pastures.

2. How to Graze Stockpiled Forage

Strip grazing works best: Use temporary fencing to give livestock access to only part of the field at a time, which improves utilization and reduces trampling.
Start with lower-quality forage (warm-season grasses) earlier in the fall, and save higher-quality forage (like fescue) for late autumn or early winter.

3. Stocking Rate Considerations

Match animal numbers to forage supply. Overstocking leads to wasted forage and reduced regrowth potential.
Monitor animal body condition. Even though forage is available, nutritional needs may outpace quality later in the season.

Nutritional Quality of Stockpiled Forage

One of the biggest advantages of stockpiling—especially tall fescue—is its ability to retain quality after frost.

Crude protein: Often remains in the 12–18% range well into late fall.
Energy (TDN): Typically around 60–65%, adequate for dry cows and maintenance feeding.
Palatability: Declines over time but can be managed by grazing earlier or supplementing with high-energy feeds when needed.

Extending the Grazing Season Even Further

Producers looking to maximize grazing days can combine stockpiling with other strategies:

Overseeding with annuals (such as ryegrass or cereal rye) to add fresh fall growth.
Rotational grazing to rest pastures earlier and allow regrowth before stockpiling begins.
Supplemental feeding on pasture only when absolutely necessary, which keeps animals grazing instead of relying entirely on hay.

Final Thoughts

Stockpiling forage is one of the smartest, most cost-effective strategies for extending grazing into late autumn. By planning ahead in late summer, selecting the right forages, and managing grazing carefully, producers can reduce winter feeding costs, improve pasture resilience, and keep livestock healthier on standing forage for weeks longer than traditional systems allow.

When managed properly, stockpiling isn’t just a short-term fix—it’s a long-term tool for sustainable and profitable pasture management.