Precision Equine Grazing Management By: Tamara Knaust

Goal  Improve Forage Quality  Decrease hay & supplementation supplementation  Weed Control  Irrigation  Management  Parasitic Pest Control  Forage Production Base

Oklahoma Pastureland  Oklahoma #7 th in the Nation  586 million acres in U.S.  Approximately 28 million acres in OK

Forage Production  Best prevention is a high quality forage base

Disease & Weed Control  GPS for disease prone areas and treatments  Weed control  Certified Seed

Fertilization  Bermuda grass  Most common pasture grass  Approximately 4 million acres  Use of Nitrogen Rich Strips/Ramp  Greenseeker  Grid Soil Sampling  On the Go Applicaton

Irrigation  Variable Rate Irrigation  Pasture Mapping  Soil Maps

Management  Overstocking  Determine Stocking rate for quantity/quality of forage available  Use NDVI to determine areas producing high/low quality forage  Use of GPS to establish rotating pasture areas to increase  Reduce time on commonly grazed areas  Increase time on poorly grazed areas

Parasite Control  $178 million annually on parasite control  Problems even with good programs  Drug resistance  Environmental Concerns  Surface/ground water  Prevent ingestion

Parasites  Parasites congregate in specific areas  Low lying areas, and areas most commonly grazed  Nutrients, Parasites and Rainfall

Parasite Control  Utilize GPS and GIS to locate low and over grazed areas

Parasite Treatment  Apply pesticide and herbicide treatments only to high risk areas

Results  Better for Environment  Reduce pesticide application into animals  Reduced money spent on treating entire field  Increased Forage quantity/quality

References: range