Pasture Management Practices

Pasture It has been suggested that 60% of a horse’s day should be spent grazing. Kentucky, Ireland, and New Zealand – are the known as the greatest horse breeding centers in the world because of good pastures.

Pasture (continued) Horse’s turned out on pasture can: Exercise freely Reduced risk for developing respiratory diseases Lower chance of developing behavior problems Decrease expense for labor and bedding

Grasses Grasses are referred to as either cool - season or warm-season grasses This is based on the time of year in which they grow. Cool-season are normally seen in the spring and fall. They grow best at temp. of 60º to 80ºF. Examples: Tall fescue, orchard grass, smooth bromegrass, timothy, tall wheatgrass, and ryegrass.

Grasses (continued) Warm season grasses are seen in the summer and early fall. They grow best at temp. of 80 to 95ºF. Examples: Bermuda grass, switch grass, and bluestem.

Fescue Horse owners must be careful of tall fescue. A pregnant mare that grazes on endophyte-infested tall fescue may give birth to a still-born foal or may not be able to produce colostrum. Endophyte- A type of fungus that infects tall fescue.

Fescue (cont.) Mares should be removed from infested pastures at least 60 days prior to foaling.

Legumes Legumes- are plants that have nodules on their roots enabling them to make their own nitrogen. Spread faster than most grasses. Produce more foliage in summer than grasses. Ex.- Alfalfa, Sweet clover, white and red clover, and trefoil.

Stocking Rate Stocking rate- number of horses on the pasture. Should be monitored closely. If too high= pasture will be overgrazed and will become more of an exercise lot than a food source. Too Low= Undergrazed, allow less appealing tall, stemy sections of grass to grow. General Rule= 1 acre of pasture per horse.

Pasture Management Well managed pasture requires time and expertise. Mowed Receive fertilizer when necessary Have a rotation schedule

Mowing Cut 2 in. to ground. Horses prefer short, soft grass near the ground because of taste and it is easier to pull from the ground. Grass that is kept short is higher in protein and lower in fiber, making it easier to digest.

Fertilizer Benefits pastures that seem to be poor producing. Horses should not be allowed to graze a fertilized pasture for at least 2 weeks.

Rotational Grazing A grazing system in which horses are rotated from one pasture to another to prevent overgrazing and to maximize pasture utilization.

Hay Produced by dehydrating a green forage to a moisture content of 15% or less. Roughage requirement of a horse ranges from 0.75 to 2.0% of body weight, or from 7.5 to 20 lb daily for a 1,000 lb horse.

Characteristics of High Quality Hay Cut at early stage assuring the maximum content of protein, minerals, and vitamins. Leafy, giving the assurance of high protein content. Bright green, indicating proper curing, a high carotene and palatability. Free of foreign material, such as weeds

Cont. Free of must or mold and dust. Fine stemmed and pliable- not coarse or stiff. “Smells good enough to eat”

HayDateCrude Protein Crude Fiber Digestibility Of Energy AlfalfaJune 3 June 13 June OrchardgrassJune 3 June 13 June Effect of Date of Cutting on Nutritive Value of Hay Fed to Horses

Types of Hay Legume Hay -Alfalfa- important perennial, leguminous forage plant with trifoliate leaves and bluish-purple flowers. - capable of surviving dry periods because of its long root system - Adapted to varying climates and soil.

Alfalfa (cont.) Averages 15.3% protein, which is of high quality and is a good source of certain minerals and vitamins.

Clover Many different types are used to seed pastures, but overall do not make good hay. Dusty, may contain mold, low yielding.

Grass Hay Bermudagrass –Extensively produced in the southern US. –Very high yielding –Provide 3 to 4 cuttings per year

Oat –Excellent feed for horses –Actually cereal grain, not a grass –Early cutting greatly increases its feeding value because of higher protein content.

Timothy –Easy to harvest and cure –In comparison with only hay, it is low in crude protein and minerals, particularly calcium. –Delaying cutting until it has reached full bloom stage results in the highest yields.

Forage Processing Bales –Most common form of hay collection. –Should be cut at the optimum stage of maturity and then be allowed to cure. –Cure- reduce the moisture content of a forage by allowing it to dry. –Moisture content should be 15-18% for baling.

-The moisture content is more than 60% when cut. -The cut hay should be raked into windrows before it is completely dry to avoid leaf shattering and over exposure to the sun. -As soon as the hay is dry it should be colleted into bales.

Cubes –Long or coarsely cut hay is compressed into cubes. –1 ¼ in. square and 2 in. long

Silage –Feed resulting from the storage and fermentation of wet crops under anaerobic conditions.