The Wrap-up

Summary of RMS: To provide the best available science and information about on-the-ground application for the care and management of rangelands.

Planned Grazing – Grazing Management that is Based on Plant Development and Recovery Increased Species Diversity. More Vigorous Plants. Better Ground Cover.

Plant Growth It is important to know how plants grow and respond in order to manage them properly The more vigorous the plant, the more grazing tolerant and faster the regrowth.

How Grazing Affects Root Growth Percent leaf volume removed: Percent root growth stoppage: 10% 0% 20% 30% 40% 50% 2-4% 60% 70% 78% 80% 100% 90%

Grazing 50% of leaves, roots continue to grow unimpaired. Grazing 60% - half the root growth is stopped. At 80% - root growth stops completely. At least 30% of roots need to be replaced annually to keep up with roots naturally pruned. Removing 80% stops root growth for 12 days. Taking 90% stops root growth completely for 18 days. Graze moderately, to sustain plant health.

Timing & Duration Timing of Grazing Refers to the time of the season (year) that grazing occurs. Periodically changing the time of the year that a range is grazed provides benefits to grazed plants. Duration of grazing refers to the amount of time a plant (range) is grazed. Controlling the duration of grazing reduces the frequency of grazing – how many times a plant is grazed during a growing period.

Grazing Management Summary: Grazing Management is based on control of livestock. Grazing impacts are managed by controlling the Time and Timing of grazing. Be flexible, every year is different. Remember the difference in site potential. Have biological reasons for Grazing Management proposals.

Rules of Thumb (8): Reduce the number of herds that you manage. Reduce the amount of time you graze each pasture. Don’t stay in the early-growth pastures over 14 days. Later in the growing season, the amount of time can be increased. More pastures give more flexibility.

Rules of Thumb, continued: Don’t graze in the same place at the same time every year. Plan a grazing system that allows for growth and re-growth some time during the year. Planning for rest does not guarantee recovery.

Nutrition Poor nutrition will affect reproduction first. Nutritional value changes with growth stage. Match nutritional needs to what’s available. Both quantity and quality of water important. Manage your range to maintain plant vigour. Supplementing appropriately can be useful. Reproduction is key for profitability Invest in some water improvements on range Testing soils and winter feed- get professional information from your vet or feed dealer. In our case in Kamloops, he has a Phd in animal nutrition and developed a supplement specific to our area. These experts can help you manage for optimal performance and cost effectiveness.

Monitoring - Summary Monitoring is the basis for decision making It assesses the impacts on the land - and the land’s response to those impacts. Provides documentation of our actions. Increases our awareness of what is actually happening. Provides the best protection against challenges based on personal agendas.

Grazing Response Index: Easy to understand and communicate. Incorporates stock density, time and duration of grazing, and plant growth and re-growth. Provides a basis for adjusting grazing in subsequent years. These evaluations should correlate to long-term trend monitoring. GRI is a more comprehensive evaluation of grazing impacts than just measuring utilization.

Remember there is no cookbook or set formula for successful grazing management. You need to use your judgment and common sense tempered with your observations to complement the science. Remember, “It depends….. “

Any Questions or Comments ?