Four Steps to Rotational Grazing Dairy/ Livestock Educator UConn Extension System

The pictures in this presentation are from Susan Schoenian Area Agent Maryland Cooperative Extension

Sheep & Pasture Weaned lambs should get the best pasture Weaned ewes can tolerate lower quality forage In drought or overstocking conditions wean lambs early and put them on drylot Utilize stockpiled forage

Ewenit Intake (lbs dry matter): 1 Ewe X 150 lbs X 0.05 = Lamb X 42 lbs X 0.04 = Animals Intake=10 lbs Step 1. Forage Needs 5% X Lactating Ewe Weight 2% X Dry Ewe Body Weight 4% X Lambs Body Weight 2.5% X Steer or Heifer’s Weight

Step 2: Pasture Yield? Pasture yield (8”-4”) 4” X 250 lbs/ inch 1000 lbs dry matter/Acre lbs wasted(25%)* = 750 lbs available *3 day grazing period

Step 3. Paddock Size 3 ‘Ewenits’ X 10 lbs X 3 days grazing = 90 lbs 90 lbs intake 750 lbs available = 0.12 acres 82’ X 64’ pen for 3 days

Step 4: Number of Paddocks? Rest Grazing Period/ Period + 1= # Paddocks 70 days/ 3 days = = X 0.12 Acres = 3 Acres for 3 ‘Ewenits’ safe pasture * Clean from barber pole parasite ??

Stocking Rate (at one moment in time) 3 Ewenits X 2.5 = 7.5 ‘animals’/ 0.12 Acres = Stocking Rate of 62 ‘animals’/ acre (not ‘animal units’, but number of ‘animals’ feeding)

What about the 70 days of growth? 1) Make hay, then graze re-growth Or 2) Use tolerant animals to: follow young or lactating animals, graze bottom layer of grass, expose parasites to sun

-Vacuums parasites on grass blades -Each will eat around the others’ droppings -It assures more uniform use of the pasture Consider Grazing Other Livestock with Sheep

If re-graze at less than 70 days: Max stocking rate per ‘dirty ‘ acre = 7 small ruminants/ acre (especially young or lactating)

Multi-species Grazing Or use cattle or horses to vacuum the barber pole worm 3 Ewenits X 2.5 = 7.5 Sm. Ruminants = max stocking rate per dirty acre to reduce parasite intake One acre paddocks (7d)= 500 lbs DM/A 3 Ewenits (3 days) - 90 lbs tops 4 Cattle or horses (4d) = 410 lbs (close grazing)

Rest periods of rotational grazing systems (for healthy vegetation) Days WeatherGrowthRest Season conditions rate Period SummerHot, dryVery slow40–60 Summer Hot, moistSlow28–35 SpringWarm, dryMedium14–20 SpringCool, moistFast10–14

Step 4: Number of Paddocks? Rest Grazing Period/ Period + 2= # Paddocks 28 days/ 7 days = = 6 6 paddocks X 1 Acre = 6 Acres top: 3 ‘Ewenits’ bottom: 4 cattle or horses (or 27 non-lactating, mature sm. ruminants for 7 days)

Questions? Cooperative Extension System University of Connecticut