Some Ideas to Improve Pasture Utilization

Goat & Sheep Master Grazing WorkshopSaturday, October 11, 2008

Southern Indiana Purdue Agriculture Center (SIPAC)

Terry K. HutchensExtension Goat Specialist

University of Kentucky

What bred are more effecient?

• Boer-

• Boer crosses-

• Others-

•03-08-06•Terry Hutchens

•University of Kentucky

•03-08-06•Terry Hutchens

•University of Kentucky

Set of Crossbred Does Set of Fullblood or

Purebred

KY Cross Bred Does

•03-08-06•Terry Hutchens

•University of Kentucky

Body length, spring of rib, feet and legs, udders, working girls.Body length, spring of rib, feet and legs, udders, working girls.

•03-08-06•Terry Hutchens

•University of Kentucky

Which Ones Are Making You Money?

1. Health2. Nutritional needs3. Kidding ease4. Kidding rate (1.8)5. Kidding wts. (nutrition)6. **Number kids weaned7. *Weaning weights (market wt)8. Weaned high percentage of here body

wt. – 120 lbs (75-85%)

Narrow Bodied Doe

•03-08-06•Terry Hutchens

•University of Kentucky

Check out udder health

•03-08-06•Terry Hutchens

•University of Kentucky

Forage Quality Matters

• Low 40-55 % TDN

• Good 55- 70 % TDN

• Concentrates 70-90 % TDN

•Terry Hutchens•University of Kentucky

Use forage testing to know for sure!

Use forage testing to know for sure!

Forage Quality & Goat Requirements TDN

30

40

50

60

70

80

Pasture Veget. Pasture Mature Pasture Dead

TDN

%

•Terry Hutchens•University of Kentucky

Dry & Early Pregnant Does

Does in Early Lactation Yearling

Weanling

Energy Needs for Doe

•Terry Hutchens•University of Kentucky

Graph 1.

1st Trimester Preg. Day(0– 50)

3rdTrimester Preg. Day (100-150

2ndTrimester Preg. Day (50-100)

LactationDay (150-225)

Graph modified from Langston Univ. online certification short course.

Non-lactating Period Day(225-365)

How much Dry Matter IntakeAnimal Class DMI as

% Body Wt

Est. Daily DMI

CP Lbs TDN Lbs

Mature female early (110lbs)

2.4 2.6 0.25 1.48

Mature female late (110lbs)

2.5 2.8 0.32 1.68

Mature female early lact. (110lbs)

4.0 4.3 0.49 2.53

Mineral Requirements Meet Goat

Mineral

Sodium, (Na) % 0.09-0.2

Calcium, (Ca) % 0.20-0.90

Phosphorus, (P) % 0.14-0.40

Magnesium, (Mn) % 0.12-0.18

Potassium, (K) % 0.50-0.80

Sulfur, (S) % 0.16-0.32

Iodine, (I) ppm 0.60

Iron, (Fe) ppm 30

Copper, (Cu) ppm 10

Molybdenum, (Mo) ppm 0.10

Cobalt, (Co) ppm 0.10

Manganese, (Mg) ppm 20-60

Zinc, (Zn) ppm 45-50

Selenium, (Se) ppm 0.10-0.30

Nutrient requirements of small ruminants, Washington, DC, 2007, National Academy Press, Sheep and Goat Medicine, D.G. Pugh, 2002

Characteristic of a Good Free Choice Mineral Supplement

Modified from McDowell, 1992

1. Supplies minerals and vitamins not supplied by the forage

2. Calculate intake goats 1 oz maybe 2 oz3. Should contain 6-8% total P. Low P soils 8-10%4. Has Ca:P ratio not substantially over 2:1 -4:1

with acidifier like ammonium chloride

Characteristic of a Good Free Choice Mineral Supplement

8. Provides a significant proportion, 50%, of trace mineral requirements for Co, Cu, I, Mn, Zn (Zn, Se, Cu 100% in KY)

9. Locate mineral by water source for improve intake

10.Salt stimulates intake/don’t added more salt

Characteristic of a Good Free Choice Mineral Supplement11.Buy high quality mineral salts providing the best

biologically available forms of each.

12.Must be palatable to insure good intake.13.Backed by a good manufacturer with mineral

supplement label. READ the LABEL.

14.Formulated for the area involved, the environment, temperature humidity (Mg in KY)

15.Monensin or Decox additives

Find a Meat Goat GRAZING – Programs for IMPROVEMENT of Utilization

of Forage Resources!

• Soil Test• Lime• Fertilize• NPK• N – grass only

Fescue Curve for Dry Matter Production

•Vegetative Stage of Growth

•Seed Head Formation &

Seed Production

•Stem Elongation

Stage

Relationship Between Stage Of Maturity and Quality

Relationship Between Forage Maturity, Intake, and Quality

From Blazer, VPI

Forage Intake Declines with Maturity

Idea: Grazing Plans for 25 acres

Spring kidding area 12.5 ac & 75 does (3 does/acre)

•Creep gate for kids

•Tall Fescue and Red

Clover Grazing Mar. Apr.,

May & June 1

•Tall Fescue and Red Clover or Alfalfa/Red Clover Orchardgrass

•HAY MAKING •In MAY

6.25 ac

6.25 ac

Creep Gate Idea

What are the benefits of Creep Grazing Kids???n Forage Quality

Idea II Grazing Plans for 25 acres

•June 1, 75 does for 10 days

•Divide field with Polly-Fence

Tall Fescue and Red Clover

Grazing each paddock for 10 days and rotate

•Graze June-October by rotation•28 days rest / 10 grazing = 3 paddocks + 1 = 4 paddocks

•6.25 ac

•6.25 ac

There may be a need for an emergency grazing paddock August and September

Example of a: Staggered Grazing Heights

•03-08-06•Terry Hutchens

•University of Kentucky

Delay in Maturity and Enhances the Vegetative State

Why can this work for you?Plant Energy Levels Are Not Constant

•100% dependent on stored CHO’s

•Decrease until 6-8”

•Return to precut level by early bloom

•Allow 30-35 d rest

•Cut at 2 inches

•Most legumes have similar cycle. For example – Red Clover

•Carb in tap rootCarb in tap root

•Top growth

•3030

•2020

•1010

•HighHigh

•LowLow

•Cut or Graze

Cut or Graze

•then cycle

then cycle

•starts over

starts over

•againagain

•Dr. Jim Green•NC State

•Carb in tap rootCarb in tap root

•3030

•2020

•1010

•HigHighh

•LowLow

•Continuous Graze- Continuous Graze- •cycle never has cycle never has •chance to start chance to start •over againover again

•Dr. Jim Green•NC State

Maintain Healthy Root Systems

• Close continuous grazing depletes carbohydrates needed for topgrowth and root growth.

• Regrowth is high quality but there is very little of it.

• Additionally: less drought tolerance, less nutrient uptake, etc…

•Root area decline 30% per year in a continuously grazing system

Idea III Grazing Plans for 25 acres

•June 1, 75 does for 10 days

•Apply nitrogen to ½ of 12 acre block in August 15th for Stockpiled Tall

Fescue

•Graze fescue to maintain vegetative state or make hay August and Sept. •Begin graze 2 paddocks Fescue and Red Clover October 1 and graze •Graze Stockpiled Tall Fescue November-January

•Graze Sericea Lespedeza July-September by rotation•30 days rest / 10 grazing = 3 paddocks +1 = 4 paddocks

•Drill annual ryegrass in to SL Sept. 1

•6.25 ac

•6.25 ac

Perennial Lespedeza (serieca)

•03-08-06•Terry Hutchens

•University of Kentucky

Brown Tyne Forage Chicory

•3200 lbs dry matter,

•2 inches rain,

•3 grazing

Idea IV Grazing Plans for 25 acres

•June 15, 75 does for 10 days

•3 acres, Sorghum Sudan hybrids. Plant in May graze in July-

September by rotation•14 days rest / 14 days grazing = 2

paddocks

•6.25 ac

•6.25 ac

•Graze fescue to maintain vegetative state or make hay August and Sept. •Begin graze 2 paddocks Fescue and Red Clover October 1 and graze •Graze Stockpiled Tall Fescue November-January

Where Cool Meets Warm Season

•03-08-06•Terry Hutchens

•University of Kentucky

Chicory + Serecia Lespedeza and Tall Fescue (anti-parasitic compounds)

•03-08-06•Terry Hutchens

•University of Kentucky

Soil Stabilization Method

•High Density, UV Resistant Pipe•Lightweight, 60-gal Water Tank

•Full-flow Tank Valve, Quick Couplers

•High Density, UV Resistant Pipe•Lightweight, 60-gal Water Tank

•Full-flow Tank Valve, Quick Couplers

•QUICK COUPLER •COMPRESSION

•FITTING

•Quick Coupler With Barbed T Fitting•Quick Coupler With Barbed T Fitting

Questions??????

•Choice Chicory , Forage Feast, Puna •a true perennial chicory - Bred by AgResearch Grasslands NZ - High dry matter production - Improved cool season growth- Improved persistence •

•

•03-08-06•Terry Hutchens

•University of Kentucky

Summer Annuals Sorghum Sudangrass, Soybean

Forage Turnip Appin, Red Top Turnip, Spring Oats, Wheat