Pasture management and output

Dr. Dan Morrical

Iowa State University

Survival and Profit Sheep industry competitors– New Zealand and Australia– Range operators– Beef cattle producers– Swine producers– Dairy producers

Survival and Profit Feed costs are single largest cost Enterprise records– Pasture cost/ewe/day $.056– Drylot cost/ewe/day $.166

Increasing pasture output Change forage species– adding legumes

Increase fertility– goal dependent– timing and amounts

Rotational grazing

Grass Growth is Not Uniform Manage supply– Increasing paddock # in summer»Warm season grasses»Hay field re-growth

– Change stocking rate»Not very practical»Example short duration stockers

The relationship between paddock number and plant rest

0102030405060708090

100

1 2 3 4 5 6 8 10 12 16 20

Number of Paddocks

% R

est

Why rest is needed Grazing animals are selective in what

they eat especially sheep Preferred species are over comsumed–Weakens vigor and reduces composition– Allows invaders– Root system dies back with grazing

Sheep are very selective graziers

How Often Should I Rotate? Factors to assess– Animal needs» Feeder lambs, lactating ewes or dry ewes

– Time»Cell location, human resource

Stage of growing season– Fast growth - fast rotation– Slow growth - slow rotation

Utilization Rate Defined by the % forage consumed vs.

forage available at turn in

Example 2000 lbs at turn in 1000 lbs remaining at removal 1000/2000 = 50% Utilization rate

Utilization Varies from 0-100% More paddocks = higher utilization rate Without balanced utilization– Over use - slow re-growth and long rest– Under use - forage accumulation

- decreased quality

Utilization Rates by Grazing Intensity

Length of % Utilization

Grazing (days) of DM Available

.5 75

1 70

2 65

3 60

4-7 40-50

10-14 35

Continuous 30

Paddock Layout No perfect system

ideal is square 1. Improved uniformity

2. Less fence

3. Less distance traveled

4. Makes for easier clipping or baling

Examples

CentralWateringHub

Center over utilized, light shaded area is correctly utilized and perimeter area is under utilized.

Impropergate

location

Centralwatering

hub

Gate placement and watering design.

Examples

Darkest shaded area is over utilized, light shaded area is correctly utilized and the white area is under utilized.

Water Water

Alternative to wagon wheel design with poor water location.

The grazing pattern and distance to cover paddocks of different shapes.

R

R

Gate

Gate

Fencing sloped areas

Water lane

Incorrect method of fencing slopes

Ridge

Slope

Bottom

Correct methods of fencing slopes

Getting Started with Paddock LayoutStep 1 Pencil and paper and aerial or soil

map

Step 2 Flag proposed system

Step 3 Check gate location and animal flow

Step 4 Seek input

Step 5 Modify

Step 6 Build fence

Successful Systems = Excess Early Forage

Layout paddocks with areas that are hayable separate

If three or four hayable paddocks lay together, subdivide with temporary fence post harvest

Sacrifice Paddock (s) Why– Abuse small area vs whole pasture–Weather is not always perfect– Easy to get to– Easy to renovate–Many recover with more rest

Water Best situation is water in all paddocks– Eliminates lanes grazing area– Reduced animal travel performance–Water holding device is smaller»with paddocks less than 10 acres

– Reduces coccidia contamination Sheep are low water consumers

Water precautions MIG success– leads to increased carrying capacity– do not under build water system» 50% over capacity

Taking Water to Sheep

1. Pressurized buried system– Locate new well on high ground

2. Pressurized above ground

3. Gravity flow from pond

4. Pump from pond or stream

Water Development

$2000 and up

Location for gravity flow

Fence to keep flock out

$20-30 per ft.

Pressurized

Location to allow gravity assist

PondsPonds WellsWells

How Earthen Return Fences Work

Single wire system with circuit completed through hoof contact with ground.

Two wire system with circuitcompleted by cow contacting hotand ground wires simultaneously.

Reasons Electric Fences FailEnergizer too small

Induction Coil

Poor connections

Poor insulators

Faulty insulation on lead out wire

Lead Out wire too small

HOT

Ground rods too shortor close together

HOT

HOT

Conductor wire mass too small

Lighting arrestor

Poor connections

Success with Cornstalks Strip graze to maintain nutrient quality

Adjust ewes gradually

May require protein supplementation

Keys to stock piled grazing Ration or strip graze Late summer nitrogen– 40-60 pounds

Precautions– Ice–Monitor ewe condition

MIG Success Flexible Productivity increases over years Labor is only an issue with location Change mind set Pasture is the cheapest feed source