GRAZING MANAGEMENT GRAZING MANAGEMENT 101101BASIC CONCEPTSBASIC CONCEPTS

Lamar SmithLamar SmithCascabel Ranch & ConsultingCascabel Ranch & ConsultingCarta Valley, TexasCarta Valley, Texas

BASIC TOOLS OF GRAZING BASIC TOOLS OF GRAZING MANAGEMENTMANAGEMENTGrazing intensityGrazing intensity

stocking ratestocking rate

Frequency of grazingFrequency of grazinglength of grazing and rest periodslength of grazing and rest periods

Season of grazingSeason of grazingplant growth, animal diets, multiple usesplant growth, animal diets, multiple uses

Animal distributionAnimal distributiongrazing efficiency, multiple usesgrazing efficiency, multiple uses

Kind of animalKind of animaldiet, poisonous plants, topography, waterdiet, poisonous plants, topography, water

Proper kind of livestockProper kind of livestock.

ANIMAL ANIMAL UNITUNIT

Animal Unit = 1000 pound cow with calf or equivalent based on forage intake.

Cow = 1 AU Bull = 1.5 AU Sheep = .2 AU

STOCKING RATE VS STOCKING RATE VS CARRYING CAPACITYCARRYING CAPACITY

Stocking rate is the number of Stocking rate is the number of animals actually pastured on a animals actually pastured on a given area for a given amount of given area for a given amount of time. time.

Proper stocking rate is the stocking Proper stocking rate is the stocking rate that will approximate the rate that will approximate the carrying capacity over a period of carrying capacity over a period of years. Proper stocking can vary years. Proper stocking can vary from one year to the next.from one year to the next.

STOCKING DENSITYSTOCKING DENSITY

Number of animals present per Number of animals present per unit of area of a given pasture at unit of area of a given pasture at a given point in time. a given point in time.

Graze 12 Months

Rest 0 Months

Stock Density 1ExampleExample

Graze 6 Months

Rest 6 Months

Stock Density 2ExampleExample

Graze 3 Months

Rest 9 Months

Stock Density 4ExampleExample

Graze 1.5 Months

Rest 10.5 Months

Stock Density 8ExampleExample

STOCKING RATE VS ANIMAL PRODUCTION

An

ima

l Pro

du

cti

on

Stocking Rate Light Mod Heavy

Gain per Head

STOCKING RATE VS ANIMAL STOCKING RATE VS ANIMAL PRODUCTIONPRODUCTION

An

ima

l Pro

du

cti

on

Stocking Rate Light Mod Heavy

Gain per Head

Gain per Acre

STOCKING RATE VS ANIMAL STOCKING RATE VS ANIMAL PRODUCTIONPRODUCTION

An

ima

l Pro

du

cti

on

Stocking Rate Light Mod Heavy

Gain per Head

Gross Income

Fixed Costs

Variable Costs

Most profitable stocking rate

Proper stocking rate? Proper stocking rate?

Range Health Range Health standpointstandpoint

BASIS FOR STOCKING RATES

Proper stocking based on maintaining sufficient plant residue for:◦ Plant health/regrowth◦ Wildlife forage◦ Erosion prevention

Set stocking rate below carrying capacity◦ To allow for drought◦ To allow for low productivity years

Overstocking and overgrazing are not the Overstocking and overgrazing are not the same thing.same thing.

Grazing resistant species (blue grama) is key species, make up most of forage base.Animal performance declines before overgrazing occurs.

Key species make up small part of forage Key species make up small part of forage base, base, lack high grazing resistance.lack high grazing resistance. (black grama, bush muhly)(black grama, bush muhly)Range will be overgrazed before animal Range will be overgrazed before animal production suffers.production suffers.

TERMS USED IN GRAZING TERMS USED IN GRAZING SYSTEMSSYSTEMS

Continuous vs rotationContinuous vs rotation Grazing season vs growing Grazing season vs growing

seasonseason Deferment vs restDeferment vs rest Rest rotation, deferred rotationRest rotation, deferred rotation High intensity, low frequencyHigh intensity, low frequency Best pastureBest pasture

Rest is defined as no grazing for a full Rest is defined as no grazing for a full year or more.year or more.

One of the disadvantages of intensive One of the disadvantages of intensive grazing managementgrazing management.

IMPORTANT POINTS IMPORTANT POINTS

FlexibilityFlexibility Annual planningAnnual planning Keep number of herds to Keep number of herds to

minimumminimum Move ALL the cowsMove ALL the cows

POSITIVE EFFECTS POSITIVE EFFECTS

Rest heavy use areas, most favored Rest heavy use areas, most favored plantsplants

Improve distributionImprove distribution Better livestock husbandryBetter livestock husbandry Accommodates wildlife and other Accommodates wildlife and other

usesuses

Rotation grazing can improve livestock Rotation grazing can improve livestock distribution.distribution.

Grazing systems may Grazing systems may improve animal improve animal husbandryhusbandry

One advantage of smaller pastures is that it One advantage of smaller pastures is that it is easier to find and gather cattleis easier to find and gather cattle..

NEGATIVE EFFECTS

Reduced animal performanceReduced animal performance Higher labor costsHigher labor costs Higher improvementHigher improvement

Grazing systems may reduce Grazing systems may reduce animal performance.animal performance.

Grazing systems can increase labor Grazing systems can increase labor costs.costs.

Yep. This ranch is so well improved I Yep. This ranch is so well improved I have to sell it to pay for the have to sell it to pay for the improvements. improvements.

Grazing systems increase need for Grazing systems increase need for improvements and maintenance.improvements and maintenance.

Riparian Grazing - What is Different?Riparian Grazing - What is Different?

Temperature is limiting Temperature is limiting factor to plant growth - factor to plant growth - not moisture.not moisture.Regrowth is predictable Regrowth is predictable and rapid.and rapid.

RIPARIAN PASTURESRIPARIAN PASTURES

Fence off riparian area from Fence off riparian area from uplandsuplands

Time grazing to allow regrowth Time grazing to allow regrowth before flood seasonbefore flood season

Riparian area within larger pasture - not practical to Riparian area within larger pasture - not practical to fence out.fence out.

1. Graze in dormant season or early in growing 1. Graze in dormant season or early in growing season.season.

2. Short grazing periods.2. Short grazing periods.3. Offstream water, supplements.3. Offstream water, supplements.4. Riding and culling.4. Riding and culling.