Introduction

• Livestock producers are grass farmers

• Grazing animals are selective

• Prior to fencing, animals roamed free over large areas in large herds

• Forages had time to recover after grazing

• Today, livestock are confined to a given area

• Grazing management focuses on the relationship between number, area, and time

Grazing Systems

• Continuous

• Rotational (Controlled)

• Management Intensive

Continuous

• One pasture

• 30 – 35% utilization

• Selective grazing

• Overgrazing of plants

• Uneven manure distribution

Rotational

• Two to sixteen pastures

• Improved forage utilization

• Incorporates a rest period

• Improvement in manure distribution

Management Intensive

• Seventeen or more pastures

• Up to 70% utilization

• Long rest periods

• Better manure distribution

Benefits of Grazing Management- Increase forage utilization

- Increasing stock density (lbs. live weight / acre)

- Decrease grazing selectivity

Benefits of a Grazing System

• Incorporates a plant rest period

– Allow plants time to recover from grazing and replenish its root energy reserves

– Length of rest period varies with the type of forage, amount of rainfall, and season of the year

– Most important during the growing season

Benefits of a Grazing System

• Soil fertility and soil conservation

– Maintain soil fertility and decrease fertilizer inputs

• Recycle nutrients through livestock

• Incorporate crop residues and animal manure

• Decrease soil erosion and leaching of nutrients

Benefits of a Grazing System

• Forage availability inventory

– At any time, you can determine how much forage is available (drought)

– You have time to make important management decisions

Benefits of a Grazing System

• Weed control

– Control pasture abuse

– Cattle will eat some weeds at certain stages of growth

– Take advantage of multispecies grazing

Benefits of a Grazing System

• Animal health and nutrition

– Internal and external parasite control

– Stimulates forage intake and provides a more constant diet

Benefits of a Grazing System

• Animal control

– Coordinate livestock location with seasonal activities

– Reduce labor requirements

Grazing Terms and Calculations

• Forage available (lbs. forage DM/acre)

• Utilization rate (percent)

• Daily forage intake (percent of body weight)

• Length of grazing (days)

• Weight of animals (approximate)

• Number of animals

Example

• Forage Available = 2000 lb. DM/ac.

• Utilization rate = 50% of available forage

• Forage Required = 600 lb. steer x 3% x 50 hd. = 900 lbs. DM/day

• Forage Required / Forage Available x 50% = 900 lbs. DM / 1000 lbs. DM/ac. = 0.9 ac./day

Example

• Where do we place the temporary fence?

– Pasture is 20 acres and is 660 ft. wide

– 0.9 acres x 43,560 sq. ft./acre = 39,204 sq. ft.

– 39,204 sq. ft. / 660 ft. = 59.4 ft.

Pasture Design

Water Availability

• Cattle should not travel over 900 ft.

• Avoid alleyways (lanes) to water

• Permanent and portable water tanks

• Water should be as clean and cool as possible

New Use for Old Tires

Topography

• Areas where grazing pressure (stock density) should be different

– Uplands verses lowlands

– Slopes and drainage areas

– Riparian areas

Vegetation

• Cool season verses warm season forages

• Brushy areas

• Soil variations

Shade

• Livestock may need shade during summer

• Livestock stress occurs at temperatures above 86 degrees and humidity above 20%

• Manure distribution is higher near lounge areas

• Smaller producers may consider portable shade structures

Shape

• As near to square as possible

• Rectangle pastures should not be more than four times as long as they are wide

Number and Size

• The more the number, the smaller the size

• Grazing periods should not be more than 4 days with 8 to 12 pastures

• Rest periods need to be a minimum of 30 days

• Best results achieved when animals are moved daily

• 50 acres / 30 days rest = 1.7 acres/day

Grazing Strategies

• Extending grazing season

– Long rest periods (90 days)

• Lead/Follow grazing

– Different classes of animals

– Different species of animals

• Adjusting carrying capacity

– Buy or sell animals to match available forage

Summary

• There are so many advantages to implementing some sort of grazing system you can not afford to start

• The grazing system does not have to be complicated, start small and grow over time

• There is no set recipe to follow, do what works best for you