four steps to rotational grazing joyce.meader@uconn.edu dairy/ livestock educator uconn extension...

Four Steps to Four Steps to Rotational GrazingRotational Grazing

Joyce.Meader@uconn.eduJoyce.Meader@uconn.edu

Dairy/ Livestock EducatorDairy/ Livestock Educator

UConn Extension SystemUConn Extension System

The pictures in this presentation are from Susan Schoenian

Area AgentMaryland Cooperative Extension

Sheep & Pasture

• Weaned lambs should get the best pasture• Weaned ewes can tolerate lower quality

forage• In drought or overstocking conditions

wean lambs early and put them on drylot • Utilize stockpiled forage

Ewenit Intake (lbs dry matter):1 Ewe X 150 lbs X 0.05 = 7.51.5 Lamb X 42 lbs X 0.04 = 2.5

2.5 Animals Intake=10 lbs

Step 1. Forage Needs5% X Lactating Ewe Weight2% X Dry Ewe Body Weight4% X Lambs Body Weight2.5% X Steer or Heifer’s Weight

Step 2: Pasture Yield?

Pasture yield (8”-4”)4” X 250 lbs/ inch

1000 lbs dry matter/Acre- 250 lbs wasted(25%)*= 750 lbs available

*3 day grazing period

Step 3. Paddock SizeStep 3. Paddock Size3 ‘Ewenits’ X 10 lbs X 3 days 3 ‘Ewenits’ X 10 lbs X 3 days grazing = 90 lbs grazing = 90 lbs

90 lbs intake90 lbs intake750 lbs available = 0.12 acres750 lbs available = 0.12 acres

82’ X 64’ pen for 3 days 82’ X 64’ pen for 3 days

Step 4: Number of Paddocks?Rest Grazing Period/ Period + 1= # Paddocks70 days/ 3 days = 23 + 1 = 24

24 X 0.12 Acres = 3 Acres for 3 ‘Ewenits’ safe pasture

* Clean from barber pole parasite ??

Stocking Rate (at one moment in time)

3 Ewenits X 2.5 = 7.5 ‘animals’/ 0.12 Acres

= Stocking Rate of 62 ‘animals’/ acre

(not ‘animal units’, but number of ‘animals’ feeding)

What about the 70 days of growth?

1) Make hay, then graze re-growth

Or

2) Use tolerant animals to: follow young or lactating animals, graze bottom layer of grass,expose parasites to sun

-Vacuums parasites on grass blades

-Each will eat around the others’

droppings

-It assures more uniform use of the pasture

Consider Grazing Other Livestock with Sheep

If re-graze at less than 70 days:

Max stocking rate per ‘dirty ‘ acre =

7 small ruminants/ acre

(especially young or lactating)

Multi-species Grazing

Or use cattle or horses to vacuum the barber pole worm

3 Ewenits X 2.5 = 7.5 Sm. Ruminants= max stocking rate per dirty acre

to reduce parasite intakeOne acre paddocks (7d)= 500 lbs DM/A 3 Ewenits (3 days) - 90 lbs tops 4 Cattle or horses (4d) = 410 lbs (close grazing)

Rest periods of rotational grazing systems (for healthy vegetation)

DaysWeather Growth

RestSeason conditions rate Period

SummerHot, dry Very slow 40–60Summer Hot, moist Slow 28–35Spring Warm, dry Medium 14–20 Spring Cool, moist Fast 10–14

Step 4: Number of Paddocks?Rest Grazing Period/ Period + 2= # Paddocks28 days/ 7 days = 4 + 2 = 6

6 paddocks X 1 Acre = 6 Acrestop: 3 ‘Ewenits’ bottom: 4 cattle or horses

(or 27 non-lactating, mature sm. ruminants for 7 days)

Questions?

Joyce.Meader@uconn.edu

Cooperative Extension System

University of Connecticut