Photo from NRCS Range and Pasture Management

 Benefits of grazing management  How grass grows  Steps to effective grazing management  Estimating carrying capacity  Monitoring your pasture  Grazing systems USDA-NRCS

 Animals – number and type  Water – irrigation and/or rainfall  Resources – $, equipment, neighbors  Pasture condition  Expectations  Soil type  Time

 Prevent pasture from deteriorating  Improve grass health and productivity  Increase grazing capacity  Improve soil condition  Help control weeds  Be a land steward USDA NRCS

 Reduces erosion  Improves water quality  Improves range or pasture condition NRCS, Bozeman, Mont.

Your pasture plants, of course! These little guys need lots of food!

 Graze to the desired stubble height.  Don’t regraze a pasture until your key species has reached the desired height.  Ensure adequate regrowth - preserve growing points on your plants.  Reserve leaf area for plants to manufacture carbohydrates  Allow adequate rest periods for grass regrowth.  In an irrigated pasture, don’t let seed heads form.

How many animals can I graze? NRCS

 This is not determined by local zoning!  Amount of forage varies by: ◦ season, ◦ climate, ◦ soil type, ◦ water availability ◦ length of growing season,  Animal needs vary by age, condition, amount of exercise, pregnancy, etc.

You need to know:  CARRYING CAPACITY: ◦ the number of animals a pasture can accommodate without overgrazing  STOCKING RATE: ◦ the amount of forage livestock are going to eat

Forage Needs: (2.5-3% body weight) 30 lbs forage/day or 11,000 lbs/yr Forage Production: 900 lbs of forage/ac/yr 30% Utilization: (trampling, manure piles, wildlife) 900 lbs x 0.30 = 270 lbs of usable forage/yr/ac 270 lbs / 30 lbs forage/day = 11,000 lb forage needed / 270 lbs usable forage 9 days of grazing NRCS ~ 41 acres needed per animal!

 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 SpeciesAUMSpeciesAUM Cow1.00Sheep0.20 Bull1.30Goat0.20 Weaned calf0.50Llama0.30 Mature horse1.25Deer0.17 Yearling horse0.75Elk0.50

 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

 If you don’t have irrigation water, plan to buy all your feed.  Use pastures as exercise area  No grazing allowed until grass is 8”  Feed animals before turnout  Be careful not to overgraze

 Don’t ask… Are my animals ready to graze?  Do ask… Is my grass ready to be grazed?

 Leaving stock in a pasture too long OR  Bringing them back too soon NRCS, Bozeman, Mont. Prevent overgrazing!  Move animals between pastures  Create and use exercise areas and paddocks (install fencing)

 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!

 Look BEHIND: What rest period do my pastures need? (Varies)  Look AHEAD: Has the pasture had enough rest?  Look NOW: Where is the stock, is the stocking rate correct?  Be observant and use common sense  Calculations will only get you so far in managing your grazing system

NRCS, Bozman, Mont.

UNCE, Reno, Nev.

 Bare ground UNCE, Reno, Nev.

 Good cover NRCS, Bozeman, Mont.

WSU Extension

Key Strategies Key Strategies 1. Create a Sacrifice Area 2. Subdivide to create more pastures Farifaxcounty.gov

 Areas of bare soil or sand/soil mix with little grass or other vegetation  Avoid sacrifice areas on slopes to avoid erosion

WSU Extension

Considerations:  Layout  Animal access  Water availability  Type of fencing  Costs  Time  Existing facilities  Quality of forage

Grazing Systems  Season-long grazing  Rotational grazing  Rapid rotation  Cell grazing

UNCE, Reno, Nev. 

NRCS, Bozeman, Mont.

USDA NRCS

NRCS, Bozeman, Mont.

Explanation Bare Buildings Fences Lawn Property Streams Trees Water Weeds

Explanation Bare Buildings Fences Lawn Property Streams Trees Water Weeds

 Grazing order of your pastures  Start grazing and stop grazing dates for each pasture  Seasonal variations and weather  Number of animals on the pasture  General health and productivity of the pasture Southernstates.com

 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  Be adaptive in your management

 Do not allow 24/7 access to forage areas; two to three hours during morning and/or 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 manure  Be observant monitor your land

 Resist urge to graze after semi-dormancy this summer as it greens up.  Weed control this fall (if we get moisture) and next spring.  Poisonous plants may be abundant  Conduct a soil test  Be patient as grasses recover to ensure long term survival

CSU Extension Drought website CSU Extension Range website National Drought Mitigation Center Current drought monitor USDA Drought Page

Legend House Barn Grasses present = blue grama, crested wheat Weeds present = Canada thistle, redroot pigweed, common mullein Well Trees Weedy Bare Ground Marshy Stream Water Trough Gate Fence Septic Manure Pile  Walk your pastures and determine if they are overgrazed, underutilized, etc.  Identify grasses and weeds.  Develop a grazing management plan for your property. Acres = 25 Animals = 2 horses Pasture = 15 ac Months animals graze=5 Soils = sandy clay