managing grazing for sustainable pastures developed by: wendy williams, natural resources...
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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Why manage grazing?Why manage grazing? Reduces erosion Improves water quality Improves range or pasture condition
T
NRCS, Bozeman, Mont.
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Why manage grazing?Why manage grazing?
Allows for flexibilityEnhances wildlife habitatMaximizes efficiency of your time and
resources
elib.cs.berkeley.edu
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What crop are you managing?What crop are you managing?
Your pasture plants, of course!Your pasture plants, of course!
www.farmphoto.com
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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
Deitz, NRCS
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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
form.
How many animals can I How many animals can I graze?graze?
ACES
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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.
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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.
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We can predict We can predict whenwhen grass will grass will grow, but not necessarily grow, but not necessarily how muchhow much
Jan Feb
Mar
April
May
JuneJulyAugust
Sept
Oct
Nov
Dec
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What do animals need and when?What do animals need and when?
Late Lactation
BirthPeak
Lactation
Breeding
LactationWean
Last 1/3
Before Birth
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Do the nutritional needs Do the nutritional needs of the animal match the of the animal match the
forage availability?forage availability?
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Methods for estimating Methods for estimating carrying capacitycarrying capacity
Pasture sticks and other physical methods
Animal Unit MonthsAnimal Days per Acre
UCCE
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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)
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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
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Pasture sticksPasture sticks
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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!
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Estimating carrying Estimating carrying capacity in ADAcapacity in ADA
10 yards10 yards
10 y
ard
s10
yar
ds
Pace off an area of pasture that one animal would need for grazing for one day as the sole source of forage
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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)
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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
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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.
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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
yards
25 yards
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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)
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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
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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
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Improving carrying capacityImproving carrying capacity
Manage grazingCreate and use exercise areas and
paddocksControl weedsImprove irrigation Consider need for reseeding or
renovation
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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.
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Overgrazing occurs two ways:Overgrazing occurs two ways:
Leaving stock in a pasture too long
ORBringing them
back too soonNRCS, Bozeman, Mont.
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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!
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How do you know when to How do you know when to graze, and when to rest?graze, and when to rest?
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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
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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
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Monitoring grass heightMonitoring grass height
www.agry.purdue.edu
UNCE, Reno, Nev.
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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.
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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?
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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)
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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?
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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
NRCS, Bozeman, Mont.
Overgrazing
UNCE, Reno, Nev.
UNCE, Reno, Nev.
Uneven use
UNCE, Reno, Nev.
More production
UNCE, Reno, Nev.
Bare ground
UNCE, Reno, Nev.
WSU Extension
NRCS, Bozeman, Mont.
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Remember to make footprintsRemember to make footprints
BEHIND
To assess growth rate and determine the rest you’ll need to provide
AHEAD
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
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Options for improving Options for improving your managementyour management
www.agry.purdue.edu
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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.
NRCS, Bozeman, Mont.
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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
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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
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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.
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Partial-season grazingPartial-season grazing
NRCS, Bozeman, Mont.
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Rotational grazingRotational grazing
USDA NRCS
Rapid rotation or short- Rapid rotation or short- duration grazingduration grazing
NRCS, Bozeman, Mont.
Cell or strip grazingCell or strip grazing
NRCS, Bozeman, Mont.
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Which grazing system is Which grazing system is right for me?right for me?
CONSIDER: Existing
facilities Water Fencing
NRCS, Bozeman, Mont.
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CONSIDERATIONS:Quality of pasture forageSpecies of grazing animalCostsTime – yours!
Which grazing system is Which grazing system is right for me?right for me?
NRCS, Bozeman, Mont.
Radial pasture Radial pasture configuration - configuration -
beforebefore
Radial pasture Radial pasture configuration – configuration –
afterafter
NRCS, Bozeman, Mont.
Another pasture configuration - Another pasture configuration - beforebefore
Explanation
Bare
Buildings
Fences
Lawn
Property
Streams
Trees
Water
Weeds
Another pasture configuration - afterAnother pasture configuration - afterExplanation
Bare
Buildings
Fences
Lawn
Property
Streams
Trees
Water
Weeds
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Grazing schedulesGrazing schedules
Be flexiblePlan aheadMonitor: check your footprints
and adjust to grass conditionAdjust original planKeep records
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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Appendix: Appendix: Calculating AUMsCalculating AUMs
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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
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Annual production of feedAnnual production of feed
Acres of hayTons of hay per acreTotal hay production
_______ acres X _______ Tons/acre
= __________ Tons
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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
month
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 ____________
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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?
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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.
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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.
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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.