managing grazing for sustainable pastures developed by: wendy williams, natural resources...

Managing Grazing for Managing Grazing for Sustainable PasturesSustainable Pastures

Developed by:Developed by:

Wendy Williams, Natural Resources Conservation Service, MontanaWendy Williams, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Montana

Holly George, University of California Extension ServiceHolly George, University of California Extension ServiceNRCS, Bozeman, Mont.

the Landthe Land

We’ll be coveringWe’ll be covering Benefits of implementing grazing

management Steps to effective grazing management Estimating carrying capacity Monitoring your land by making

footprints Grazing systems and pasture

configurations Grazing tips

the Landthe Land

Why manage grazing?Why manage grazing? Keep plants healthy and

productive Increase forage

production and saves money

Increase grazing capacity Improve use of forage

supply throughout the year

Help control weedsUSDA NRCS

the Landthe Land

Why manage grazing?Why manage grazing? Allows for maximum

vigor of key species Allows seed production

by key species Allows seedling

establishment of key species

Meets other management goals (fire hazard, birding, housing beneficial insects, etc.)

www.forages.orst.edu

the Landthe Land

Why manage grazing?Why manage grazing? Reduces erosion Improves water quality Improves range or pasture condition

NRCS, Bozeman, Mont.

the Landthe Land

Why manage grazing?Why manage grazing?

Allows for flexibilityEnhances wildlife habitatMaximizes efficiency of your time and

resources

elib.cs.berkeley.edu

the Landthe Land

What crop are you managing?What crop are you managing?

Your pasture plants, of course!Your pasture plants, of course!

www.farmphoto.com

the Landthe Land

Key points to remember about Key points to remember about pasture plants:pasture plants:

The leaves manufacture carbohydrates for the plant. You must reserve some leaf volume for this purpose.

To ensure regrowth, you must preserve the growing points on your plants.

Deitz, NRCS

the Landthe Land

Steps to effective grazing Steps to effective grazing management:management:

Graze to the desired stubble height. Don’t forget to preserve growing points. Allow adequate rest periods for grass

regrowth. Don’t regraze a pasture until your key

species has reached the desired height. In an irrigated pasture, don’t let seed heads

How many animals can I How many animals can I graze?graze?

the Landthe Land

Matching animals to Matching animals to available forageavailable forage

This is not determined by local zoning!Amount of forage varies by season,

climate, length of growing season, soil type, water availability, etc.

Animal needs vary by age, condition, amount of exercise, pregnancy, etc.

the Landthe Land

No matter how many animals… No matter how many animals… some things are the samesome things are the same

You need to know:

CARRYING CAPACITY, or the number of animals a pasture can accommodate without overgrazing

STOCKING RATE, or the amount of forage stock are going to eat

UNCE, Reno, Nev.

the Landthe Land

We can predict We can predict whenwhen grass will grass will grow, but not necessarily grow, but not necessarily how muchhow much

Jan Feb

JuneJulyAugust

the Landthe Land

What do animals need and when?What do animals need and when?

Late Lactation

BirthPeak

Lactation

Breeding

LactationWean

Last 1/3

Before Birth

the Landthe Land

Do the nutritional needs Do the nutritional needs of the animal match the of the animal match the

forage availability?forage availability?

the Landthe Land

Methods for estimating Methods for estimating carrying capacitycarrying capacity

Pasture sticks and other physical methods

Animal Unit MonthsAnimal Days per Acre

the Landthe Land

Determine carrying capacityDetermine carrying capacity

Remember that grazing animals only need to eat about 2.5 to 3% of their body weight

An 1,100 pound horse will eat 27.5 pounds of air-dry forage (hay) per day, or 825 pounds per month (27.5 x 30)

the Landthe Land

Determine carrying capacityDetermine carrying capacity

Horses trample or damage 25% of their forage in a pasture, so add another 25% when feeding from a pasture – this brings the total requirement closer to 1,000 pounds per month

the Landthe Land

Pasture sticksPasture sticks

the Landthe Land

AUM – Animal Unit MonthAUM – Animal Unit Month

Animal Unit: the forage consumption of one 1,000-pound cow plus calf

Animal Unit Month: the amount of forage required for one animal unit for one month (AUM)

All other animals are compared to one 1,000-pound cow plus calf

the Landthe Land

AUM equivalentsAUM equivalents

Species AUM Species AUM

Cow 1.00 Sheep 0.20

Bull 1.30 Goat 0.20

Weaned calf 0.50 Llama 0.30

Maturehorse

1.25 Deer 0.17

Yearling horse

0.75 Elk 0.50

the Landthe Land

1 AUM equals:1 AUM equals:

1 cow and calf OR: 2 weaned calves 5 sheep 5 goats 3 llamas 5 deer 2 elk Etc.

All require 1,000 pounds per month of air-dry feed

the Landthe Land

ADA: Animal Days per AcreADA: Animal Days per Acre

A formula for determining how many animals can graze a specific pasture for a given period of time

www.farmphoto.com

the Landthe Land

Some ways to use ADA:Some ways to use ADA: To assess pasture productivity To determine if a pasture can supply

enough forage for a future planned grazing period

To determine the area required to supply daily forage requirements for one animal

To set stocking rates But…it does NOT tell you anything about

the nutritional content of the forage!

the Landthe Land

Estimating carrying Estimating carrying capacity in ADAcapacity in ADA

10 yards10 yards

Pace off an area of pasture that one animal would need for grazing for one day as the sole source of forage

the Landthe Land

Calculate stock days per acreCalculate stock days per acre

Multiply the length by the widthCalculate square yards per acre

needed per animal per dayDivide 4,840 square yards per acre by

square yards needed per animal per day

This gives Stock Days per Acre (SDA)

the Landthe Land

Stock days per pastureStock days per pasture

Multiply SDA by the number of acres in the pasture

The total represents the total number of stocking days in the pasture www.farmphoto.com

the Landthe Land

How many days How many days can you allow can you allow

livestock to graze?livestock to graze?

Divide stock days by the number of horses (or other livestock)

This tells you how many days you can graze the pasture with that number of animals NRCS, Bozeman, Mont.

the Landthe Land

Let’s try an exampleLet’s try an exampleYou have 5 acres of pasture and four

horsesYour experimental time period is one

dayArea width and length are both 25

25 yards

the Landthe Land

Step 1: Calculate stock days Step 1: Calculate stock days per acreper acre

Calculate the area by multiplying length x width:

25 yards x 25 yards = 625 square yards

Divide 4,840 square yards per acre by 625 square yards per animal day4,840 square yards/625 square yards =

7.7 stock days per acre (SDA)

the Landthe Land

Step 2: Calculate total stock Step 2: Calculate total stock days per pasturedays per pasture

Multiply the stock days per acre times the total number of acres in the pasture

7.7 SDA x 5 acres = 38 stock days

the Landthe Land

Step 3: Calculate the number Step 3: Calculate the number of grazing days for the pastureof grazing days for the pasture

Divide the number of stock days by the number of horses

38 SD / 4 horses = 9.6 days

You can graze the five-acre pasture with four horses for 9.6 days

the Landthe Land

Improving carrying capacityImproving carrying capacity

Manage grazingCreate and use exercise areas and

paddocksControl weedsImprove irrigation Consider need for reseeding or

renovation

the Landthe Land

How do you know How do you know if your estimated grazing length is if your estimated grazing length is

correct?correct?Walk your land and look!Walk your land and look!

UNCE, Reno, Nev.

the Landthe Land

Overgrazing occurs two ways:Overgrazing occurs two ways:

Leaving stock in a pasture too long

ORBringing them

back too soonNRCS, Bozeman, Mont.

the Landthe Land

Stocking rate vs. stock densityStocking rate vs. stock density

The stocking rate of both paddocks is identical: 100 animal days per acre

However, the stock density is much greater in the pasture on the right, so the effect will be much different!

the Landthe Land

How do you know when to How do you know when to graze, and when to rest?graze, and when to rest?

the Landthe Land

Length of rest periodLength of rest period

Depends upon: Period in the growing season Availability of irrigation water Amount of active leaf area remaining

following the grazing period Cool-season grasses recover more

quickly in spring and autumn

the Landthe Land

MonitoringMonitoring Use observations and

common sense If there isn't enough

feed in your pasture, you are either overstocked or not allowing enough rest, regardless of what the calculations said

www.agry.purdue.edu

the Landthe Land

Monitoring grass heightMonitoring grass height

www.agry.purdue.edu

UNCE, Reno, Nev.

the Landthe Land

MMake footprints to manage wellake footprints to manage well

Get out on the ground and look at what is happening

Your footprints and observations of how pastures and stock look are critical to making the necessary adjustments

UNCE, Reno, Nev.

the Landthe Land

Three important questionsThree important questions

Look BEHIND: What rest period do my pastures need?

Look AHEAD: Has the paddock had enough rest?

Look WHERE the STOCK ARE: Is the stocking rate correct?

the Landthe Land

Look BEHIND:Look BEHIND:Before making decisions about grazing periods, know how much rest is needed:

Make footprints in pastures that stock have already grazed to evaluate regrowth

If grass has grown a couple of inches in 1 to 2 weeks, plan relatively short rest periods (30 to 45 days)

If not much regrowth has occurred in 1 to 2 weeks, plan for longer rest (60 to 120 days)

the Landthe Land

Look AHEAD:Look AHEAD:

Make footprints in the pasture. Make sure it is ready!

If the production is low, don’t graze it yet

If you graze the pasture before it’s ready, stock will find less and less grass waiting for them each move

www.farmphoto.com

Has the pasture had enough rest?

the Landthe Land

Look WHERE THE STOCK ARE:Look WHERE THE STOCK ARE:Is the stocking rate correct?

Make footprints in the paddock currently being grazed to observe severity of use

If use is too severe (not enough stubble height), the pasture is overstocked

Either reduce stocking level OR lengthen the rest period

www.farmphoto.com

What did your monitoring tell What did your monitoring tell you?you?

NRCS, Bozman, Mont.

J. Mohler, Mont.

Good cover

Overgrazing

UNCE, Reno, Nev.

Uneven use

UNCE, Reno, Nev.

More production

UNCE, Reno, Nev.

Bare ground

UNCE, Reno, Nev.

WSU Extension

the Landthe Land

Remember to make footprintsRemember to make footprints

BEHIND

To assess growth rate and determine the rest you’ll need to provide

To see if it is ready for livestock (Did it get enough rest?)

WHERE THE LIVESTOCK ARE

To see if your stocking rate is appropriate

the Landthe Land

Options for improving Options for improving your managementyour management

www.agry.purdue.edu

the Landthe Land

Create more pasturesCreate more pastures To maintain sufficient rest

periods, subdivide existing pastures

If there are 8 pastures that need 50 days of rest per pasture, graze periods will be 7 days long.

If we divide each pasture in half to make 16 pastures, we can rest each pasture 60 days with 4-day graze periods.

the Landthe Land

Paddocks and exercise runs Paddocks and exercise runs Areas of bare soil or sand/soil mix

with little grass or other vegetation Paddock or sacrifice areas should a

minimum of 400 square feet per adult horse

Exercise runs should be long and narrow for maximum usability

Minimum width on an exercise run is 24 feet

Avoid exercise runs on slopes to decrease erosion

the Landthe LandWSU Extension

the Landthe Land

Exercise runs and paddocksExercise runs and paddocksLocate exercise runs or paddocks on

relatively stone-free, well-drained soilsSpread sand at least 2 inches deep to

improve footingRemove accumulated manure

frequentlyDivert runoff away from paddocksConsider grassed filter strips around

the edges of an exercise area

the Landthe Land

Grazing systemsGrazing systems

Season-long grazingPartial-season grazingRotational grazingRapid rotationCell grazing

Season-long grazing is not a Season-long grazing is not a good strategygood strategy

UNCE, Reno, Nev.

the Landthe Land

Partial-season grazingPartial-season grazing

the Landthe Land

Rotational grazingRotational grazing

USDA NRCS

Rapid rotation or short- Rapid rotation or short- duration grazingduration grazing

Cell or strip grazingCell or strip grazing

the Landthe Land

Which grazing system is Which grazing system is right for me?right for me?

CONSIDER: Existing

facilities Water Fencing

the Landthe Land

CONSIDERATIONS:Quality of pasture forageSpecies of grazing animalCostsTime – yours!

Which grazing system is Which grazing system is right for me?right for me?

Radial pasture Radial pasture configuration - configuration -

beforebefore

Radial pasture Radial pasture configuration – configuration –

afterafter

Another pasture configuration - Another pasture configuration - beforebefore

Explanation

Buildings

Fences

Property

Streams

Another pasture configuration - afterAnother pasture configuration - afterExplanation

Buildings

Fences

Property

Streams

the Landthe Land

Grazing schedulesGrazing schedules

Be flexiblePlan aheadMonitor: check your footprints

and adjust to grass conditionAdjust original planKeep records

the Landthe Land

Keep recordsKeep recordsRecord:

Grazing order of your pastures Start grazing and stop grazing dates

for each pasture Number of animals on the pasture General health and productivity of the

pasture Seasonal variations and weather

the Landthe Land

Tips for improving your grazing Tips for improving your grazing managementmanagement

Control weeds and undesirable plants in pastures and adjacent areas

Prevent or reduce differential or selective grazing

Mow pastures, especially those dominated by bunchgrasses, if selective grazing has occurred

the Landthe Land

Tips for improving your grazing Tips for improving your grazing managementmanagement

Do not allow 24/7 access to forage areas; two to three hours during morning and evening will suffice

Divide or subdivide grazing areas into smaller blocks, where feasible

Improve waste management so that forage is not lost or damaged by wastes

the Landthe Land

HomeworkHomework

Walk your pastures and determine if they’re overgrazed, underutilized, etc.

Take photos.Estimate the carrying capacity.Design a grazing management plan for

your property.Bring in weed samples to identify

during the next class.

the Landthe Land

Appendix: Appendix: Calculating AUMsCalculating AUMs

the Landthe Land

Balancing feed and forage using Balancing feed and forage using AUMsAUMs

Determine whether your animals’ feed and forage requirements balance with your land’s production

Feed is defined as hay you provide an animal

Forage is what your animals consume by grazing.

Annual hay productionAnnual hay production

Is your land irrigated?

Feed = hay (tons per acre) provided for an animal

FIELD CONDITION

Poor Fair Good

YES <2 2 to 3 3 to 6

NO <0.75 .75 to 1.5 1.5 to 2

Annual pasture productionAnnual pasture production

Is your land irrigated?

Forage (AUMs/acre) = what an animal consumes by grazing.

FIELD CONDITION

Poor Fair Good

YES <4 4 to 7 7 to 9

NO <1 1 to 2 2 to 3

the Landthe Land

Annual production of feedAnnual production of feed

Acres of hayTons of hay per acreTotal hay production

_______ acres X _______ Tons/acre

= __________ Tons

the Landthe Land

Annual production of forageAnnual production of forage

Acres of pastureAUMs of forage per acreTotal forage production

_______ acres X _______ AUMs/acre

= __________ AUMs

Animal requirements - feed Animal requirements - feed

Animal Tons per

animal per

Number of

animals

Number of

months

Total tons of hay or feed

required

Cow 0.40 X_________X________=_______

Horse 0.50 X_________X________=_______

Sheep 0.10 X_________X________=_______

Llama 0.15 X_________X________=_______

Goat 0.10 X_________X________=_______

Total feed required ______________

Animal requirements - forage Animal requirements - forage

Animal AUMs per animal per month

Number of animals

Number of months

Total AUMs required

Cow* 1.00 X_________X________=_______

Horse 1.25 X_________X________=_______

Sheep 0.20 X_________X________=_______

Llama 0.30 X_________X________=_______

Goat 0.20 X_________X________=_______

Total forage required ____________

the Landthe Land

Try an example:Try an example: A landowner has 10 acres 5 acres are used for hay production

(FEED) Hay production acres are not irrigated 5 acres are used to graze two horses

(FORAGE) Grazed acres are not irrigated Landowner considers all his land to be in

good conditionDo the feed and forage balance?

the Landthe Land

Step 1: Step 1: Calculate land productionCalculate land production

FEED: Assume that a pasture is in good condition and not irrigated, so 2 tons of hay per acre are produced. The landowner has 5 acres, so 5 acres x 2 tons = 10 tons of hay per year.

FORAGE: Assume the remaining 5 acres is in good condition but is not irrigated, so the pasture produces 2 AUMs. 5 acres x 2 AUMs = 10 AUMs per year.

the Landthe Land

Step 2: Calculate animal Step 2: Calculate animal requirementsrequirements

FEED - A horse will eat 0.5 ton per month. The landowner has 2 horses that are usually fed hay for 5 months, so 0.5 x 2 horses x 5 months = 5 tons needed to feed the horses.

FORAGE - 1.25 AUMs x 2 horses x 7 months of grazing = 17.5 AUMs needed for the other 7 months of the year.

the Landthe Land

Step 3: Add it all upStep 3: Add it all up

Feed Production = 10 tons of hay

Feed Requirements = 5 tons of hay

Feed production exceeds use!

Forage Production = 10 AUMs

Forage Requirements = 17.5 AUMs

Forage does not balance. There is a shortfall in forage production.

managing grazing for sustainable pastures developed by: wendy williams, natural resources...

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