Soil Health Planning Principles Manage More by Disturbing Soil Less Grow Living Roots Throughout the Year Keep the Soil Covered as Much as Possible Use Diversity of Plants to add diversity to Soil Micro-organisms

WV Livestock Grazing Statistics by NASS By Far, Most Livestock Operations are Beef cow/calf By Far, Most Livestock Operations are Beef cow/calf 80% of these operations have no cropland 80% of these operations have no cropland 60% of them have no grazable woodland 60% of them have no grazable woodland Avg. Size is 20 Brood Cows Avg. Size is 20 Brood Cows Avg. Pasture Yield is 2.0 tons with good management – WVU Avg. Pasture Yield is 2.0 tons with good management – WVU Average pasture acres available is 65 acres Average pasture acres available is 65 acres 70%+ do Continuous Grazing, also true for all East U.S. States 70%+ do Continuous Grazing, also true for all East U.S. States

Number of Paddocks: Grazing Periods–Very Long: 40+ Days or All Growing Season Plant Rest Periods–Very Short: 10 to Few Days Stock Density - Low: lbs./ac. Utilization-Low: 30– 50% (or 90%) Degree of Plant Selectivity: Very High to Mod. Continuous Grazing

Soil Health Planning Principles Manage more by Disturbing Soil Less Manage more by Disturbing Soil Less

This is Disturbance!

So is This!

OVERGRAZING DANGER! OVERGRAZING DANGER! Overgrazing is not grazing a plant severely! Overgrazing happens when a plant that is growing from carbohydrate reserves is grazed. “Grazing the roots.” Overgrazing happens when we stay too long, come back too soon and graze too soon after dormancy.

Soil Health Planning Principles Manage more by Disturbing Soil Less Grow Living Roots Throughout the Year Grow Living Roots Throughout the Year

Corresponding Root Growth to % Root Growth Stopped% Leaf Removed

Pasture Soil Quality by Sid Brantly KY NRCS State Grazing Specialist Tall Fescue Tall Fescue Tall Fescue Orchardgrass Orchardgrass Fescue/Bluegrass Rotational Continuous Continuous Rotational Rotational Rotational

Pasture Soil Quality by Sid Brantly KY NRCS State Grazing Specialist Tall Fescue Tall Fescue Tall Fescue Orchardgrass Orchardgrass Fescue/Bluegrass Rotational Continuous Continuous Rotational Rotational Rotational

Effect of Plant Residual Left (Height)

Building Soil with Well-Managed Grazing Water-Holding Capacity Organic matter behaves somewhat like a sponge, with the ability to absorb and hold up to 90 percent of its weight in water. A great advantage of the water-holding capacity of organic matter is that the matter will release most of the water that it absorbs to plants. In contrast, clay holds great quantities of water, but much of it is unavailable to plants.

Soil Health Planning Principles Manage more by Disturbing Soil Less Grow a Living Roots Throughout the Year Keep the Soil Covered as Much as Possible Keep the Soil Covered as Much as Possible

When soil temperature reaches F Soil bacteria die 130 F 100% moisture is lost through evaporation and transpiration 100 F 15% of moisture is used for growth 85% moisture lost through evaporation and transpiration 70 F 100% moisture is used for growth J.J. McEntire, WUC, USDA SCS, Kernville TX, R

Pasture Cover Impacts Infiltration and Runoff Soil loss (tons/A) Percent runoff Excellent pasture 95% ground cover Fair pasture 75% ground cover Poor pasture 50% ground cover 3 inches of rainfall in 90 minutes, 10% slope, silt loam soil (University of Nebraska & USDA-SCS, 1937)

Effect of litter on infiltration rate Grass and litter present Grass with litter removed Grass and litter removed (bare soil) Inches per hour

Runoff Infiltration Continuous Good Rotational Excellent Rotational

Soil Health Planning Principles Manage more by Disturbing Soil Less Grow Living Roots Throughout the year Keep the Soil Covered as Much as Possible Use Diversity of Plants to add diversity to Soil Micro-organisms Use Diversity of Plants to add diversity to Soil Micro-organisms

Pasture Soil Quality by Sid Brantly KY NRCS State Grazing Specialist Tall Fescue Tall Fescue Tall Fescue Orchardgrass Orchardgrass Fescue/Bluegrass Rotational Continuous Continuous Rotational Rotational Rotational

Above ground 1200 Dairy cow 1 or 587 (2.10 ac/cow) 1200 Beef cow Pasture Total 3,018 Below ground Pasture roots aeration, sugars for biology Bacteria 2052 digesters of vegetative matter, (e.g. rhizobia, azobacter) bill/tsp Actinomycetes 2052 attributes of both bacteria and fugi, earthy aroma, N cycle Fungi 6244 digesters of lignin, yards of hyphae/teaspoon (e.g. mycorrhizea) Algae 219 autotrophic produce sugars, oxygen and fix N Protozoa 80 eat bacteria release nutrients Nematodes 62 Mites 65 Collembola 65 Earthworms 624 castings 5.5 x more fertile than soil Other fauna 40 Total 14,003 Adapted in part from Brady and Weil Cow producing 40 lbs milk/day 180 days/acre, 50% of forage standing crop consumed, 5 rotations/year. 2. Cow weaning 600 lb calf 3 acres/year. 3. Cool-season grass-clover pasture, 10 inches tall at grazing. 4. Roots equal top growth at grazing. (2.67 ac/cow)

To Manage for Pasture Soil Health We Use the Livestock as a Tool to Enable the Plants to Benefit the Soil-Plant-Animal Ecosystem

The Yield – Quality – Persistence Compromise Phase I Phase II Phase III

Yield Distribution: CS Grasses & Legumes Cow/Calf Demand

Grazing Utilization Grazing Utilization - Total season # Grazing Utilization Pastures PeriodRate 1 pasture Continuous35% 4 pasture 7-10 days40+% 8 pasture 3-5 days 50% 12 pasture 2-4 days 65% 24 pasture+ 1-2 days 70 + % Recommended Optimum Grazing Period in Days Cow/Calf 3 – 5 Dairy Cow 0.5 – 1 Sheep 3 – 5 Stocker 1 – 2 Dairy Heifer 3 – 5

What Kind of Grazing Management will promote these soil Health Principles (Conservation) and Provide a Good Bottom Line for the Cow Calf Producer?

Plants are Affected by the Grazing Method Used By the Manager in 3 ways: Frequency – How long of a Recovery do the plants get before being bitten off again Timing – When do the Plants get grazed (begin and end grazing heights/stages) Duration – Grazing Period

Grazing Utilization PeriodRate Continuous35% 7-14 days 40% 3-5 days50% 2-4 days65% days 70 %

Utilization best less than 14 days

Animals tend to Regraze plants every 7-9 days! Number of times grazed Stocking Grazing Rate Period steer/ 20 % ha days % steer/ 20 % ha days % Hart and Balla 1982

Effect of frequent defoliation on forage production (5 year averages from Cook et al. 1958) BitingAverage Yield Interval grams April-June7 days days days 1402 May-July7 days days days 1302

Manage Pastures Correctly

6 - 12” 3 - 4”

Benefit of More Paddocks Percent Rest

Daily Intake/ Days on Paddock Intake% BodyweightIntake% Bodyweight

The Affect of Grazing Management on Plants, Soils, and Water Are Determined By: Intensity – Stock Density Frequency – How long of a Recovery do the plants get before being bitten off again Timing – When do the Plants get grazed (begin and end grazing heights/stages) Duration – Grazing Period

Some Useful Definitions Stocking rate: The number of animals or animal live weight assigned to a grazing unit on a seasonal basis. Carrying capacity: The stocking rate that provides a target level of performance while maintaining the integrity of the resource base. Also what we want in the Forage- Animal Balance in the Prescribed Grazing standard.

Some Useful Definitions Stock density: The number of animals or animal live weight assigned to a specific pasture area for a specific time period. Stock density is probably the most powerful tool we have to manage grassland resources (improves utilization, reduces spot grazing/selectivity, controls weed competition, improves manure distribution, produces seed/soil contact, opens up the canopy for overseeding, etc.)

Stock density of pasture is determined by four factors 1. Available forage - Get out the Grazing Stick! How much forage is available on this acre this day Can be estimated from height If too little, intake will be restricted 2. Size of the pasture (paddock) 3. Weight of livestock (estimate high) 4. Number of livestock

50,000 lbs Beef (40 cows) 10 acres

50,000 lbs Beef (40 cows) 10 acres Stock Density = 5000 lbs live weight / acre

50,000 lbs Beef (40 cows) 1 acre 50,000 lbs Beef (40 cows) 10 acres Stock Density = 5000 lbs live weight / acre

50,000 lbs Beef (40 cows) 1 acre = 50,000 lbs live weight / acre Stock Density 50,000 lbs Beef (40 cows) 10 acres Stock Density = 5000 lbs live weight / acre

50,000 lbs Beef (40 cows) 1 acre = 50,000 lbs live weight / acre Stock Density 50,000 lbs Beef (40 cows) 10 acres Stock Density = 5000 lbs live weight / acre 50,000 lbs Beef (40 cows) 1/4 acre

50,000 lbs Beef (40 cows) 1 acre = 50,000 lbs live weight / acre Stock Density 50,000 lbs Beef (40 cows) 10 acres Stock Density = 5000 lbs live weight / acre 50,000 lbs Beef (40 cows) 1/4 acre Stock Density = 200,000 lbs live weight / acre

Continuous Grazing Rotational Grazing Management-intensive Grazing Strip Grazing High Density Grazing Grazing Methods

Stock Density < 1000 lbs.

Photo: Eddie Jolley, AL

Grazing Method that utilizes recurring periods of grazing and Plant Recovery Number of Paddocks: Grazing Periods: 5 – 40 days Plant Rest Periods - Long: 20 – 40 days Stock Density per acre: 5000 – 20,000 lbs. Temporal Utilization: 30% – 50% Degree of Plant Selectivity: Moderate Rotational Grazing

5000 pounds stock density

A Goal Driven Approach to Managing Grassland Resources For Long Term Sustainability > 8 Pastures Number of Paddocks: 8 – 80+ Grazing Periods: 0.5 – 5 days Plant Rest Periods: 20 – 40+ days Stock Density per acre: 10,000 – 50,000 lbs. Temporal Utilization: 50% – 70% Degree of Plant Selectivity: Low - Moderate Management Intensive Grazing (MIG)

Stock density of 20,000 pounds of beef per acre

Stock density of 40,000 pounds of beef per acre

Similar to MIG but usually no back fence used. Typical for grazing Fall stockpiled forages Number of Paddocks: 40 – Very Many Grazing Periods: 0.5 – 3 days Plant Rest Periods: 20 – 40+ days Stock Density per acre: 30,000 – 100,000 lbs. Temporal Utilization: 65% – 75% Degree of Plant Selectivity: Very Low Strip Grazing

Stock density of 30,000 pounds of beef per acre

Goal is to Manage Animal Impact to Have Healthy Animals and Improve the Land Grazing a Taller, Fully Rested Plant VS. an Immature Plant (late Second Stage) If Overgrazing is Done, Give a Longer Rest Period, Let Tops and Roots Fully Recover What is High Density Grazing? Grazing By a Relatively Large Number of Animals at a High Stock Density Per Acre for a Very Short Period of Time (some equate this term with Mob Grazing)

Ideally 50-60% Consumed, 20% Trampled 20-30% Standing Residual More litter for Microbes High Organic Matter Better Manure Distribution More Dung Beetles Faster Mineral Cycling More Drought Proof More Diversity of Forages Increased Stocking Rate* High Density Grazing

Number of Paddocks: Very, Very Many Grazing Periods: Minutes – 1 day Plant Rest Periods: 20 – 180+ days Stock Density per acre: 100,000 – 500,000 lbs. Temporal Utilization: % Degree of Plant Selectivity: Low High Density Grazing

% leaf growth completed by date GROWTH 5/155/306/307/30 Cool Season Warm Season Averages From Goetz 1963 MS Thesis NDSU

Animal Performance on High Density Grazing If managed properly it is really good If not managed properly, it is really bad

High Density Grazing Stock density ~ 150,000 pounds of beef per acre

Nutrient Management on Pastures

Nitrogen Deficient Dung Pat -Nitrogen Sufficient Nitrogen is the most limiting Mineral Nutrient in Pastures.

Manure Distribution

Rotation Frequency Years to Get 1 Pile/sq. yard Continuous27 14 day 8 4 day 4 – 5 2 day 1 time a day 2 1 (Grazing Season)

Quality of Diet, pumpkin pie consistency with dimple in middle Splatters! Grass too short Stackers! fiber too high Good grassland just right Dung beetle activity sign of good soil health

Soil Health Planning Principles Works for Grazing Systems Too! Management Can: Disturb the Soil Less Grow More Living Roots Throughout the year Keep the Soil 95% Covered Bring Diversity of Plants to add diversity to Soil Micro-organisms This Gives Healthy Livestock More grazing – Less Hay

Fast track to Soil Health Get the pH and fertility balanced in medium category Manage for cover: brown and green High density grazing minimum 4,000 lb to over 100,000 lb/ac Leave at least half of forage behind, 2/3 is better Recovery period of 45 day average but in general not over 90 days in growing season.

50,000 Pounds Stock Density Per Acre