COLUMBIA, Mo. — Corn Belt pastureland is scarcer – and more valuable – than a decade ago. That makes forage management ever important, and researchers at the University of Missouri are using GPS-linked collars on grazing cattle to identify the ideal forage mix in tall fescue pastures.

Cattle are more selective grazers than one might think, said Rob Kallenbach, Mizzou extension forage specialist. "We have found consistently that there are plants they like a lot," he noted. "That gives us some ideas about how we can develop efficient pasture systems."

He and his associates studied the grazing habits of both mature beef cows and dairy heifers. The pastures grazed had about 80 percent tall fescue, 15 percent red clover and 5 percent weeds.

The cattle wore GPS-linked collars that transmitted the animal’s position in the pasture, information then compared to the plant mix in the specific location. Studies started at the beginning of 2013. Figuring out where and what cows are grazing involves collecting a lot of information – four million lines of data per day for 50 cows.

"We use some advanced statistical data processing software to consolidate that down into something that makes sense," said Ryan Lock, research specialist, Mizzou Division of Plant Sciences.

Kallenbach said the research indicates cattle prefer a little more red clover and a little less tall fescue when grazing. "Animals with the GPS collars told us that information."

Corn Belt producers can increase clover stands in tall fescue pastures by frost seeding this winter, he said. "At this point, frost seeding red and/or white clover in February would be good."

Kallenbach said producers should start now to prepare for frost seeding. "Check fertility now to be sure soil has sufficient nutrients for successful clover stands," he advised.

"Graze pastures short now or later in winter to reduce grass competition in the spring."

Improving pasture quality in Missouri and other Corn Belt states is important, as the amount of available pasture declines.

A Farm World analysis of data from the U.S. Census of Agriculture shows total pastureland declined at a greater rate in the region than in the rest of the United States.

Between 2007-12, total pastureland in this region declined from 17.8 million acres to 14.7 million, according the Census.

That is a 17.1 percent decline – compared to only a 3.6 percent decline in total pastureland nationally. Some pasture was lost through land use changes, such as development. But most of the decline came from pasture converted to cropland.

The Census classifies land in a category called: "Other Pasture and Grazing Land That Could Have Been Used for Crops Without Additional Improvements." Farm World states saw a 3.6 million-acre loss in that category, a 30 percent change from 2007 to 2012.

In the farmland, pastureland losses were greatest in Kentucky, Tennessee and Iowa. The most recent USDA pastureland value summary, reported in August, showed pastureland values increasing by 5.6 percent in Iowa and 5.4 percent in Kentucky over a year previous.

Missouri also saw an outsized decline in its amount of pastureland, from 10.6 million acres to 9.4 million in 2012. That makes research – like that using GPS collars to determine cattle grazing preferences – all the more important, to produce more with less.

"We’re using this kind of information to design pasture systems that allow us to increase, or at least maintain, capacity on a smaller number of acres to feed the world efficiently," said Kallenbach.