Pasture Rotation Karen Hutchinson Virginia Cooperative Extension This presentation is from Virginia Tech and has not been edited by the Georgia Curriculum Office.

Pasture Rotation n Definition: –The use of several pastures, enabling one to be grazed, while the others rest

Why Rotate? n Reduce cost of machinery, fuel, supplies n Reduce supplemental feeding and pasture waste n Improve animal waste distribution and use n allocated pasture to animals more efficiently, based on nutritional needs

Three Principals of Pasture Rotation n Nutritional needs of livestock can be met efficiently n Forage yield and quality and pasture persistence can be optimized n Economic profit can be realized through improved efficiency and productivity of livestock

Nutritional Needs n Enables managers to make best decisions regarding quantity and quality of forages n Requires a good mix of forages n Pasture must be made available in quantities large enough for animal’s nutritional requirements

Forage Yield n Rotational grazing allows manager to regulate frequency and intensity of grazing n Benefits forage production and utilization n Allows plant to be defoliated to a certain height, and then left to grow back.

Economic Profit n Improves livestock efficiency and productivity n Increased animal gains per acre n Increased gains per acre compared to continuous grazing –Virginia’s increased gain per acre is 61%

Rotation Considerations n Fencing n Current resources n Good forage mix n Lanes for moving n Existing facilities n Water availability n Think before acting!

Designing the System n Goals: –Use as much forage as possible to meet needs of cattle, but allow for regrowth –Have water in every paddock –Construct permanent fences where needed –Plant a good mix of warm and cool season forages –Integrate fencing systems with livestock handling facilities

Pasture Maps n Maps should include: –water in each field –access to facilities –fences –notes on pasture type (if more than one) –location of gates

Scope of Paddocks n How big? –Size paddock varies with animal units and quality of pasture. –1000 lb. Cow with calf = 1 AU (animal unit). Assuming excellent pasture, would need one acre/month/AU n How many? –Start with 5-8; allows paddock to be grazed for 3-5 days, and then rested for

Why Feed Forages? n Two main reasons: –Protein (% N x 6.25) –Energy (total digestible nutrients or TDN)

Selecting Forages n Based on animal type, size, stage of growth n For example, average milking beef cow needs 10% crude protein and 56% TDN. n Orchard grass fits the bill. n Try mixing red or white clover with it.

Creep Feeding of Calves n In Cow-Calf operation, can give calves a head start by setting the electric fence high enough that they can slip through a day or two in advance of the cows into the new pasture, thus getting “the best stuff”

Activity n Give mock farm layout, plan a pasture rotation system. n Keep in mind issues discussed earlier.

Scenario n Cow-Calf operation n Don’t worry about number of head right now n Select grasses/forages n Mark off appropriate paddocks n Allow for lanes n Show where waterers would be, etc..