Grazing Management Basics - Kerr...
Transcript of Grazing Management Basics - Kerr...
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Introduction
• Livestock producers are grass farmers
• Grazing animals are selective
• Prior to fencing, animals roamed free over large areas in large herds
• Forages had time to recover after grazing
• Today, livestock are confined to a given area
• Grazing management focuses on the relationship between number, area, and time
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Grazing Systems
• Continuous
• Rotational (Controlled)
• Management Intensive
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Continuous
• One pasture
• 30 – 35% utilization
• Selective grazing
• Overgrazing of plants
• Uneven manure distribution
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Rotational
• Two to sixteen pastures
• Improved forage utilization
• Incorporates a rest period
• Improvement in manure distribution
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Management Intensive
• Seventeen or more pastures
• Up to 70% utilization
• Long rest periods
• Better manure distribution
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Benefits of Grazing Management- Increase forage utilization
- Increasing stock density (lbs. live weight / acre)
- Decrease grazing selectivity
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Benefits of a Grazing System
• Incorporates a plant rest period
– Allow plants time to recover from grazing and replenish its root energy reserves
– Length of rest period varies with the type of forage, amount of rainfall, and season of the year
– Most important during the growing season
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Benefits of a Grazing System
• Soil fertility and soil conservation
– Maintain soil fertility and decrease fertilizer inputs
• Recycle nutrients through livestock
• Incorporate crop residues and animal manure
• Decrease soil erosion and leaching of nutrients
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Benefits of a Grazing System
• Forage availability inventory
– At any time, you can determine how much forage is available (drought)
– You have time to make important management decisions
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Benefits of a Grazing System
• Weed control
– Control pasture abuse
– Cattle will eat some weeds at certain stages of growth
– Take advantage of multispecies grazing
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Benefits of a Grazing System
• Animal health and nutrition
– Internal and external parasite control
– Stimulates forage intake and provides a more constant diet
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Benefits of a Grazing System
• Animal control
– Coordinate livestock location with seasonal activities
– Reduce labor requirements
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Grazing Terms and Calculations
• Forage available (lbs. forage DM/acre)
• Utilization rate (percent)
• Daily forage intake (percent of body weight)
• Length of grazing (days)
• Weight of animals (approximate)
• Number of animals
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Example
• Forage Available = 2000 lb. DM/ac.
• Utilization rate = 50% of available forage
• Forage Required = 600 lb. steer x 3% x 50 hd. = 900 lbs. DM/day
• Forage Required / Forage Available x 50% = 900 lbs. DM / 1000 lbs. DM/ac. = 0.9 ac./day
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Example
• Where do we place the temporary fence?
– Pasture is 20 acres and is 660 ft. wide
– 0.9 acres x 43,560 sq. ft./acre = 39,204 sq. ft.
– 39,204 sq. ft. / 660 ft. = 59.4 ft.
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Pasture Design
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Water Availability
• Cattle should not travel over 900 ft.
• Avoid alleyways (lanes) to water
• Permanent and portable water tanks
• Water should be as clean and cool as possible
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New Use for Old Tires
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Topography
• Areas where grazing pressure (stock density) should be different
– Uplands verses lowlands
– Slopes and drainage areas
– Riparian areas
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Vegetation
• Cool season verses warm season forages
• Brushy areas
• Soil variations
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Shade
• Livestock may need shade during summer
• Livestock stress occurs at temperatures above 86 degrees and humidity above 20%
• Manure distribution is higher near lounge areas
• Smaller producers may consider portable shade structures
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Shape
• As near to square as possible
• Rectangle pastures should not be more than four times as long as they are wide
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Number and Size
• The more the number, the smaller the size
• Grazing periods should not be more than 4 days with 8 to 12 pastures
• Rest periods need to be a minimum of 30 days
• Best results achieved when animals are moved daily
• 50 acres / 30 days rest = 1.7 acres/day
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Grazing Strategies
• Extending grazing season
– Long rest periods (90 days)
• Lead/Follow grazing
– Different classes of animals
– Different species of animals
• Adjusting carrying capacity
– Buy or sell animals to match available forage
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Summary
• There are so many advantages to implementing some sort of grazing system you can not afford to start
• The grazing system does not have to be complicated, start small and grow over time
• There is no set recipe to follow, do what works best for you