Spot Grazing Horses graze from top down Horses graze from top down Select young immature plants & leaf blades with lips Select young immature plants & leaf blades with lips Constantly consumes young plants: Constantly consumes young plants: damages growth reserves damages growth reserves less desirable species & weeds flourish less desirable species & weeds flourish Horses avoid urine & fecal spots Horses avoid urine & fecal spots

Sand Colic Causes: Grazing sandy pastures Grazing sandy pastures Eating feed/hay on ground Eating feed/hay on ground

Equine Grazing Time Studies at NCSU Vibracorders attached to halters Vibracorders attached to halters 16 hours average grazing/day 16 hours average grazing/day Pastures with forage <3”, horses grazed 20 hours/day Pastures with forage <3”, horses grazed 20 hours/day Restricted grazing time <12 hours, intake is reduced Restricted grazing time <12 hours, intake is reduced

Pasture Size 2 acres / horse = pasture <1.5 acres / horse = exercise lot

Rotational Grazing Dividing the pasture into two or more subpastures permitting grazing and resting periods Dividing the pasture into two or more subpastures permitting grazing and resting periods > forage availability > forage availability

2-Way Rotational Grazing

3-Way Rotational Grazing

Controlled Intensive Grazing

Wheel-type Grazing System

DANGER IN THE GRASS

Fructan/Sugar Fescue Fescue Bromegrass Bromegrass Orchardgrass Orchardgrass Ryegrass Ryegrass Quackgrass Quackgrass Found primarily in cool season grasses Warmseason grasses - potentially lower Fructan Bermudagrass Switchgrass Indian grass Bluestem

Fructan levels depend on: Temperature--  with cold temperatures Temperature--  with cold temperatures Light intensity--  with high sunlight Light intensity--  with high sunlight Moisture content--  with dry conditions; moisture leaches out Fructan Moisture content--  with dry conditions; moisture leaches out Fructan Genetic Potential of the plant Genetic Potential of the plant Time of the day Time of the day 10% Fructan in the morning 10% Fructan in the morning 20-30% Fructan in the afternoon 20-30% Fructan in the afternoon

Grazing Recommendation to Limit Fructan Levels 1. Limit grazing time from first growth until temperature warms 2. Regulate grazing time in the mornings on grasses during normal rain fall periods 3. Remove horses during environmental stress a. Droughts b. Frost

Grazing Recommendation to Limit Fructan Levels Continued 4. After first killing frost; Remove until the plant is dead a. Allow rainfall to leach out sugars 5. Reintroduce on dead/stock piled forage up to 6 hours daily

Soak Hay Before Feeding for Minutes Fructan/sugar are water soluble Fructan/sugar are water soluble 30 minutes - 19%  NSC 30 minutes - 19%  NSC 60 minutes - 31%  NSC 60 minutes - 31%  NSC

Restrict Grazing Time Grazing muzzle Grazing muzzle Graze in mornings, after an evening when the temperature was above 40 degrees Graze in mornings, after an evening when the temperature was above 40 degrees Evening grazing Evening grazing

Services Offered by County Extension Agents Soil testing kits Soil testing kits Review soil test results Review soil test results Make fertilization recommendations Make fertilization recommendations Farm visits Farm visits Farm design Farm design Seeding recommendations Seeding recommendations

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