photo from nrcs range and pasture management. benefits of grazing management how grass grows ...
TRANSCRIPT
Lets talk about grazing Benefits of grazing
management How grass grows Steps to effective grazing
management Estimating carrying
capacity Monitoring your pasture Grazing systems
USDA-NRCS
Questions to ask yourself: Animals – number and type Water – irrigation and/or rainfall Resources – $, equipment, neighbors Pasture condition Expectations Soil type Time
Why manage grazing?
Prevent pasture from deteriorating
Improve grass health and productivity
Increase grazing capacity
Improve soil condition Help control weeds Be a land steward
USDA NRCS
Why manage grazing? Reduces erosion Improves water quality Improves range or pasture condition
NRCS, Bozeman, Mont.
Key points: Graze to the desired stubble height. Don’t regraze a pasture until your key
species has reached the desired height. Ensure adequate regrowth - preserve
growing points on your plants. Reserve leaf area for plants to
manufacture carbohydrates Allow adequate rest periods for grass
regrowth. In an irrigated pasture, don’t let seed
heads form.
Matching animals to available forage
This is not determined by local zoning! Amount of forage varies by:
◦ season, ◦ climate, ◦ soil type, ◦ water availability◦ length of growing season,
Animal needs vary by age, condition, amount of exercise, pregnancy, etc.
You need to know: CARRYING CAPACITY:
◦ the number of animals a pasture can accommodate without overgrazing
STOCKING RATE:◦ the amount of forage
livestock are going to eat
No matter how many animals… some things are the same
Forage Needs: (2.5-3% body weight)
30 lbs forage/day or 11,000 lbs/yr
Forage Production:900 lbs of forage/ac/yr
30% Utilization: (trampling, manure piles, wildlife)
900 lbs x 0.30 = 270 lbs of usable forage/yr/ac270 lbs / 30 lbs forage/day =
11,000 lb forage needed / 270 lbs usable forage
9 days of grazing
NRCS
~ 41 acres needed per animal!
AUM – 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 calfSpecies AUM Species AUM
Cow 1.00 Sheep 0.20
Bull 1.30 Goat 0.20
Weaned calf 0.50 Llama 0.30
Mature horse 1.25 Deer 0.17
Yearling horse 0.75 Elk 0.50
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
Most pastures in CO cannot support many animals
If you don’t have irrigation water, plan to buy all your feed.
Use pastures as exercise area No grazing allowed until grass is 8” Feed animals before turnout Be careful not to overgraze
Overgrazing occurs two ways: Leaving stock in a pasture too long
OR Bringing them back too soon
NRCS, Bozeman, Mont.
Prevent overgrazing! Move animals between
pastures Create and use exercise areas
and paddocks (install fencing)
Stocking 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!
Walk to Manage Look BEHIND:
What rest period do my pastures need? (Varies)
Look AHEAD: Has the pasture had enough rest?
Look NOW: Where is the stock, is the stocking rate correct?
Be observant and use common sense
Calculations will only get you so far in managing your grazing system
1. Sacrifice Area Areas of bare soil or sand/soil mix
with little grass or other vegetation
Avoid sacrifice areas on slopes to avoid erosion
2. Subdivide Pastures
Considerations: Layout Animal access Water availability Type of fencing Costs Time Existing facilities Quality of forage
Another pasture configuration *Before*
Explanation
Bare
Buildings
Fences
Lawn
Property
Streams
Trees
Water
Weeds
Another pasture configuration *After* Explanatio
n
Bare
Buildings
Fences
Lawn
Property
Streams
Trees
Water
Weeds
Keep Records Grazing order of your pastures Start grazing and stop grazing dates for
each pasture Seasonal variations and weather Number of animals on the pasture General health and productivity of the
pasture
Southernstates.com
What Should I Do Right Now?
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
Be adaptive in your management
Do not allow 24/7 access to forage areas; two to three hours during morning
and/or 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 manure
Be observant monitor your land
Pasture Management Tips
Dealing With Drought
Resist urge to graze after semi-dormancy this summer as it greens up.
Weed control this fall (if we get moisture) and next spring.
Poisonous plants may be abundant
Conduct a soil test Be patient as
grasses recover to ensure long term survival
Drought ResourcesCSU Extension Drought websitewww.ext.colostate.edu/drought/
CSU Extension Range website http://range.colostate.edu/
National Drought Mitigation Centerhttp://drought.unl.edu
Current drought monitor http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/DM_state.htm?CO,W
USDA Drought Page www.usda.gov/drought
Legend
House
Barn
Barn
Barn
Grasses present = blue grama, crested wheatWeeds present = Canada thistle, redroot pigweed, common mulleinWell
TreesWeedyBare GroundMarshyStreamWater TroughGateFenceSepticManure Pile
Homework Walk your pastures and determine if they are
overgrazed, underutilized, etc. Identify grasses and weeds. Develop a grazing management plan for your
property.
Acres = 25Animals = 2 horsesPasture = 15 acMonths animals graze=5Soils = sandy clay
http://www.ext.colostate.edu/sam/sust-homestead.pdf