managing grazing for sustainable pastures developed by: wendy williams, natural resources...

Managing Grazing for Managing Grazing for Sustainable PasturesSustainable Pastures

Developed by:Developed by:

Wendy Williams, Natural Resources Conservation Service, MontanaWendy Williams, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Montana

Holly George, University of California Extension ServiceHolly George, University of California Extension ServiceNRCS, Bozeman, Mont.

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We’ll be coveringWe’ll be covering Benefits of implementing grazing

management Steps to effective grazing management Estimating carrying capacity Monitoring your land by making

footprints Grazing systems and pasture

configurations Grazing tips

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Why manage grazing?Why manage grazing? Keep plants healthy and

productive Increase forage

production and saves money

Increase grazing capacity Improve use of forage

supply throughout the year

Help control weedsUSDA NRCS

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Why manage grazing?Why manage grazing? Allows for maximum

vigor of key species Allows seed production

by key species Allows seedling

establishment of key species

Meets other management goals (fire hazard, birding, housing beneficial insects, etc.)

www.forages.orst.edu

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Why manage grazing?Why manage grazing? Reduces erosion Improves water quality Improves range or pasture condition

T

NRCS, Bozeman, Mont.

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Why manage grazing?Why manage grazing?

Allows for flexibilityEnhances wildlife habitatMaximizes efficiency of your time and

resources

elib.cs.berkeley.edu

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What crop are you managing?What crop are you managing?

Your pasture plants, of course!Your pasture plants, of course!

www.farmphoto.com

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Key points to remember about Key points to remember about pasture plants:pasture plants:

The leaves manufacture carbohydrates for the plant. You must reserve some leaf volume for this purpose.

To ensure regrowth, you must preserve the growing points on your plants.

Deitz, NRCS

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Steps to effective grazing Steps to effective grazing management:management:

Graze to the desired stubble height. Don’t forget to preserve growing points. Allow adequate rest periods for grass

regrowth. Don’t regraze a pasture until your key

species has reached the desired height. In an irrigated pasture, don’t let seed heads

form.

How many animals can I How many animals can I graze?graze?

ACES

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Matching animals to Matching animals to available forageavailable forage

This is not determined by local zoning!Amount of forage varies by season,

climate, length of growing season, soil type, water availability, etc.

Animal needs vary by age, condition, amount of exercise, pregnancy, etc.

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No matter how many animals… No matter how many animals… some things are the samesome things are the same

You need to know:

CARRYING CAPACITY, or the number of animals a pasture can accommodate without overgrazing

STOCKING RATE, or the amount of forage stock are going to eat

UNCE, Reno, Nev.

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We can predict We can predict whenwhen grass will grass will grow, but not necessarily grow, but not necessarily how muchhow much

Jan Feb

Mar

April

May

JuneJulyAugust

Sept

Oct

Nov

Dec

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What do animals need and when?What do animals need and when?

Late Lactation

BirthPeak

Lactation

Breeding

LactationWean

Last 1/3

Before Birth

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Do the nutritional needs Do the nutritional needs of the animal match the of the animal match the

forage availability?forage availability?

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Methods for estimating Methods for estimating carrying capacitycarrying capacity

Pasture sticks and other physical methods

Animal Unit MonthsAnimal Days per Acre

UCCE

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Determine carrying capacityDetermine carrying capacity

Remember that grazing animals only need to eat about 2.5 to 3% of their body weight

An 1,100 pound horse will eat 27.5 pounds of air-dry forage (hay) per day, or 825 pounds per month (27.5 x 30)

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Determine carrying capacityDetermine carrying capacity

Horses trample or damage 25% of their forage in a pasture, so add another 25% when feeding from a pasture – this brings the total requirement closer to 1,000 pounds per month

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Pasture sticksPasture sticks

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AUM – Animal Unit MonthAUM – Animal Unit Month

Animal Unit: the forage consumption of one 1,000-pound cow plus calf

Animal Unit Month: the amount of forage required for one animal unit for one month (AUM)

All other animals are compared to one 1,000-pound cow plus calf

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AUM equivalentsAUM equivalents

Species AUM Species AUM

Cow 1.00 Sheep 0.20

Bull 1.30 Goat 0.20

Weaned calf 0.50 Llama 0.30

Maturehorse

1.25 Deer 0.17

Yearling horse

0.75 Elk 0.50

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1 AUM equals:1 AUM equals:

1 cow and calf OR: 2 weaned calves 5 sheep 5 goats 3 llamas 5 deer 2 elk Etc.

All require 1,000 pounds per month of air-dry feed

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ADA: Animal Days per AcreADA: Animal Days per Acre

A formula for determining how many animals can graze a specific pasture for a given period of time

www.farmphoto.com

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Some ways to use ADA:Some ways to use ADA: To assess pasture productivity To determine if a pasture can supply

enough forage for a future planned grazing period

To determine the area required to supply daily forage requirements for one animal

To set stocking rates But…it does NOT tell you anything about

the nutritional content of the forage!

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Estimating carrying Estimating carrying capacity in ADAcapacity in ADA

10 yards10 yards

10 y

ard

s10

yar

ds

Pace off an area of pasture that one animal would need for grazing for one day as the sole source of forage

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Calculate stock days per acreCalculate stock days per acre

Multiply the length by the widthCalculate square yards per acre

needed per animal per dayDivide 4,840 square yards per acre by

square yards needed per animal per day

This gives Stock Days per Acre (SDA)

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Stock days per pastureStock days per pasture

Multiply SDA by the number of acres in the pasture

The total represents the total number of stocking days in the pasture www.farmphoto.com

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How many days How many days can you allow can you allow

livestock to graze?livestock to graze?

Divide stock days by the number of horses (or other livestock)

This tells you how many days you can graze the pasture with that number of animals NRCS, Bozeman, Mont.

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Let’s try an exampleLet’s try an exampleYou have 5 acres of pasture and four

horsesYour experimental time period is one

dayArea width and length are both 25

yards

25 yards

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Step 1: Calculate stock days Step 1: Calculate stock days per acreper acre

Calculate the area by multiplying length x width:

25 yards x 25 yards = 625 square yards

Divide 4,840 square yards per acre by 625 square yards per animal day4,840 square yards/625 square yards =

7.7 stock days per acre (SDA)

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Step 2: Calculate total stock Step 2: Calculate total stock days per pasturedays per pasture

Multiply the stock days per acre times the total number of acres in the pasture

7.7 SDA x 5 acres = 38 stock days

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Step 3: Calculate the number Step 3: Calculate the number of grazing days for the pastureof grazing days for the pasture

Divide the number of stock days by the number of horses

38 SD / 4 horses = 9.6 days

You can graze the five-acre pasture with four horses for 9.6 days

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Improving carrying capacityImproving carrying capacity

Manage grazingCreate and use exercise areas and

paddocksControl weedsImprove irrigation Consider need for reseeding or

renovation

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How do you know How do you know if your estimated grazing length is if your estimated grazing length is

correct?correct?Walk your land and look!Walk your land and look!

UNCE, Reno, Nev.

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Overgrazing occurs two ways:Overgrazing occurs two ways:

Leaving stock in a pasture too long

ORBringing them

back too soonNRCS, Bozeman, Mont.

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Stocking rate vs. stock densityStocking rate vs. stock density

The stocking rate of both paddocks is identical: 100 animal days per acre

However, the stock density is much greater in the pasture on the right, so the effect will be much different!

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How do you know when to How do you know when to graze, and when to rest?graze, and when to rest?

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Length of rest periodLength of rest period

Depends upon: Period in the growing season Availability of irrigation water Amount of active leaf area remaining

following the grazing period Cool-season grasses recover more

quickly in spring and autumn

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MonitoringMonitoring Use observations and

common sense If there isn't enough

feed in your pasture, you are either overstocked or not allowing enough rest, regardless of what the calculations said

www.agry.purdue.edu

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Monitoring grass heightMonitoring grass height

www.agry.purdue.edu

UNCE, Reno, Nev.

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MMake footprints to manage wellake footprints to manage well

Get out on the ground and look at what is happening

Your footprints and observations of how pastures and stock look are critical to making the necessary adjustments

UNCE, Reno, Nev.

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Three important questionsThree important questions

Look BEHIND: What rest period do my pastures need?

Look AHEAD: Has the paddock had enough rest?

Look WHERE the STOCK ARE: Is the stocking rate correct?

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Look BEHIND:Look BEHIND:Before making decisions about grazing periods, know how much rest is needed:

Make footprints in pastures that stock have already grazed to evaluate regrowth

If grass has grown a couple of inches in 1 to 2 weeks, plan relatively short rest periods (30 to 45 days)

If not much regrowth has occurred in 1 to 2 weeks, plan for longer rest (60 to 120 days)

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Look AHEAD:Look AHEAD:

Make footprints in the pasture. Make sure it is ready!

If the production is low, don’t graze it yet

If you graze the pasture before it’s ready, stock will find less and less grass waiting for them each move

www.farmphoto.com

Has the pasture had enough rest?

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Look WHERE THE STOCK ARE:Look WHERE THE STOCK ARE:Is the stocking rate correct?

Make footprints in the paddock currently being grazed to observe severity of use

If use is too severe (not enough stubble height), the pasture is overstocked

Either reduce stocking level OR lengthen the rest period

www.farmphoto.com

What did your monitoring tell What did your monitoring tell you?you?

NRCS, Bozman, Mont.

J. Mohler, Mont.

Good cover


Overgrazing

UNCE, Reno, Nev.

UNCE, Reno, Nev.

Uneven use

UNCE, Reno, Nev.

More production

UNCE, Reno, Nev.

Bare ground

UNCE, Reno, Nev.

WSU Extension

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Remember to make footprintsRemember to make footprints

BEHIND

To assess growth rate and determine the rest you’ll need to provide

AHEAD

To see if it is ready for livestock (Did it get enough rest?)

WHERE THE LIVESTOCK ARE

To see if your stocking rate is appropriate

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Options for improving Options for improving your managementyour management

www.agry.purdue.edu

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Create more pasturesCreate more pastures To maintain sufficient rest

periods, subdivide existing pastures

If there are 8 pastures that need 50 days of rest per pasture, graze periods will be 7 days long.

If we divide each pasture in half to make 16 pastures, we can rest each pasture 60 days with 4-day graze periods.


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Paddocks and exercise runs Paddocks and exercise runs Areas of bare soil or sand/soil mix

with little grass or other vegetation Paddock or sacrifice areas should a

minimum of 400 square feet per adult horse

Exercise runs should be long and narrow for maximum usability

Minimum width on an exercise run is 24 feet

Avoid exercise runs on slopes to decrease erosion

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Exercise runs and paddocksExercise runs and paddocksLocate exercise runs or paddocks on

relatively stone-free, well-drained soilsSpread sand at least 2 inches deep to

improve footingRemove accumulated manure

frequentlyDivert runoff away from paddocksConsider grassed filter strips around

the edges of an exercise area

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Grazing systemsGrazing systems

Season-long grazingPartial-season grazingRotational grazingRapid rotationCell grazing

Season-long grazing is not a Season-long grazing is not a good strategygood strategy

UNCE, Reno, Nev.

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Partial-season grazingPartial-season grazing


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Rotational grazingRotational grazing

USDA NRCS

Rapid rotation or short- Rapid rotation or short- duration grazingduration grazing


Cell or strip grazingCell or strip grazing


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Which grazing system is Which grazing system is right for me?right for me?

CONSIDER: Existing

facilities Water Fencing


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CONSIDERATIONS:Quality of pasture forageSpecies of grazing animalCostsTime – yours!

Which grazing system is Which grazing system is right for me?right for me?


Radial pasture Radial pasture configuration - configuration -

beforebefore

Radial pasture Radial pasture configuration – configuration –

afterafter


Another pasture configuration - Another pasture configuration - beforebefore

Explanation

Bare

Buildings

Fences

Lawn

Property

Streams

Trees

Water

Weeds

Another pasture configuration - afterAnother pasture configuration - afterExplanation

Bare

Buildings

Fences

Lawn

Property

Streams

Trees

Water

Weeds

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Grazing schedulesGrazing schedules

Be flexiblePlan aheadMonitor: check your footprints

and adjust to grass conditionAdjust original planKeep records

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Keep recordsKeep recordsRecord:

Grazing order of your pastures Start grazing and stop grazing dates

for each pasture Number of animals on the pasture General health and productivity of the

pasture Seasonal variations and weather

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Tips for improving your grazing Tips for improving your grazing managementmanagement

Control weeds and undesirable plants in pastures and adjacent areas

Prevent or reduce differential or selective grazing

Mow pastures, especially those dominated by bunchgrasses, if selective grazing has occurred

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Tips for improving your grazing Tips for improving your grazing managementmanagement

Do not allow 24/7 access to forage areas; two to three hours during morning and evening will suffice

Divide or subdivide grazing areas into smaller blocks, where feasible

Improve waste management so that forage is not lost or damaged by wastes

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HomeworkHomework

Walk your pastures and determine if they’re overgrazed, underutilized, etc.

Take photos.Estimate the carrying capacity.Design a grazing management plan for

your property.Bring in weed samples to identify

during the next class.

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Appendix: Appendix: Calculating AUMsCalculating AUMs

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Balancing feed and forage using Balancing feed and forage using AUMsAUMs

Determine whether your animals’ feed and forage requirements balance with your land’s production

Feed is defined as hay you provide an animal

Forage is what your animals consume by grazing.

Annual hay productionAnnual hay production

Is your land irrigated?

Feed = hay (tons per acre) provided for an animal

FIELD CONDITION

Poor Fair Good

YES <2 2 to 3 3 to 6

NO <0.75 .75 to 1.5 1.5 to 2

Annual pasture productionAnnual pasture production

Is your land irrigated?

Forage (AUMs/acre) = what an animal consumes by grazing.

FIELD CONDITION

Poor Fair Good

YES <4 4 to 7 7 to 9

NO <1 1 to 2 2 to 3

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Annual production of feedAnnual production of feed

Acres of hayTons of hay per acreTotal hay production

_______ acres X _______ Tons/acre

= __________ Tons

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Annual production of forageAnnual production of forage

Acres of pastureAUMs of forage per acreTotal forage production

_______ acres X _______ AUMs/acre

= __________ AUMs

Animal requirements - feed Animal requirements - feed

Animal Tons per

animal per

month

Number of

animals

Number of

months

Total tons of hay or feed

required

Cow 0.40 X_________X________=_______

Horse 0.50 X_________X________=_______

Sheep 0.10 X_________X________=_______

Llama 0.15 X_________X________=_______

Goat 0.10 X_________X________=_______

Total feed required ______________

Animal requirements - forage Animal requirements - forage

Animal AUMs per animal per month

Number of animals

Number of months

Total AUMs required

Cow* 1.00 X_________X________=_______

Horse 1.25 X_________X________=_______

Sheep 0.20 X_________X________=_______

Llama 0.30 X_________X________=_______

Goat 0.20 X_________X________=_______

Total forage required ____________

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Try an example:Try an example: A landowner has 10 acres 5 acres are used for hay production

(FEED) Hay production acres are not irrigated 5 acres are used to graze two horses

(FORAGE) Grazed acres are not irrigated Landowner considers all his land to be in

good conditionDo the feed and forage balance?

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Step 1: Step 1: Calculate land productionCalculate land production

FEED: Assume that a pasture is in good condition and not irrigated, so 2 tons of hay per acre are produced. The landowner has 5 acres, so 5 acres x 2 tons = 10 tons of hay per year.

FORAGE: Assume the remaining 5 acres is in good condition but is not irrigated, so the pasture produces 2 AUMs. 5 acres x 2 AUMs = 10 AUMs per year.

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Step 2: Calculate animal Step 2: Calculate animal requirementsrequirements

FEED - A horse will eat 0.5 ton per month. The landowner has 2 horses that are usually fed hay for 5 months, so 0.5 x 2 horses x 5 months = 5 tons needed to feed the horses.

FORAGE - 1.25 AUMs x 2 horses x 7 months of grazing = 17.5 AUMs needed for the other 7 months of the year.

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Step 3: Add it all upStep 3: Add it all up

Feed Production = 10 tons of hay

Feed Requirements = 5 tons of hay

Feed production exceeds use!

Forage Production = 10 AUMs

Forage Requirements = 17.5 AUMs

Forage does not balance. There is a shortfall in forage production.

managing grazing for sustainable pastures developed by: wendy williams, natural resources...

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