1. Top Ten Pasture Management Tips Dan Morrical Iowa State University morrical@iastate.edu 515-294-2904

2. Number 10 Increase fertility Nitrogen Increase yields 25-40%
Cost $35 per acre for 50 lbs N
.5 to 1 ton extra feed
Soil test
Multiple small applications

3. Number 9 Incorporate Legumes Improves nutrition value
Evens out forage growth
Frost seed red clover

4. Number 8
Stay Flexible
Grass growth is not constant neither should stocking rate
Rotation order
Hay versus pasture ground

5. Number 7 Plant fence posts Gain control Rotational graze
Utilize excess early growth
Rotational graze
40-60 % more production

6. Number 6 Spring turn out date Variable from year to year
Early turn out
Reduces yield potential
Ewes cannot eat what did not grow
Excessively late turn out
Mature forage
Variable from year to year
Fall rest for root reserves
Fall rest to protect streambanks

7. Number 5 Utilization rate Graze half - leave half
Leaf area for capturing sunlight
35% UR in continuous grazed
50% UR in moderate rotations
70% UR in intensive systems
Match animals and acres

8. Number 4
Match
animals
and acres

9. Number 3
Patience
Pasture improvement takes time

10. Number 2 Change our attitude Iowa grows a lot of corn and soybeans
Iowa can also grow a lot of forage
Must set high forage production per acre as goal

11. Number 1
Become grass farmer
versus
Livestock producer

12. Bonus discussion Managing drought years Managing excess rain fall
Utilize crop residue grazing to extend the season
9 month grazing goal April 15 to Jan 15
Hay storage and supply management

13. Why rest is needed
Grazing animals are selective in what they eat especially sheep
Preferred species are over comsumed
Weakens vigor and reduces composition
Allows invaders
Root system dies back with grazing
Sheep are very selective graziers

14. Survival and Profit Feed costs are single largest cost
Enterprise records
Pasture cost/ewe/day $.056
Drylot cost/ewe/day $.166

15. Grass Growth is Not Uniform
Manage supply
Increasing paddock # in summer
Warm season grasses
Hay field re-growth
Change stocking rate
Not very practical
Example short duration stockers

16. Why rest is needed
Grazing animals are selective in what they eat especially sheep
Preferred species are over comsumed
Weakens vigor and reduces composition
Allows invaders
Root system dies back with grazing
Sheep are very selective graziers

17. Utilization Rate
Defined by the % forage consumed vs. forage available at turn in
Example 2000 lbs at turn in
1000 lbs remaining at removal
1000/2000 = 50% Utilization rate

18. Utilization Rates by Grazing Intensity
Length of % Utilization
Grazing (days) of DM Available
.5 75
1 70
2 65
3 60
Continuous 30

19. Examples
Improper
gate location
Central
Watering
Hub
Central
watering
hub
Center over utilized, light shaded area is correctly utilized and perimeter area is under utilized.
Gate placement and watering design.

20. The grazing pattern and distance to cover paddocks of different shapes.
Gate
Gate

21. Increasing pasture output
Change forage species
adding legumes
Increase fertility
goal dependent
timing and amounts
Rotational grazing

22. Paddock Layout No perfect system ideal is square
1. Improved uniformity
2. Less fence
3. Less distance traveled
4. Makes for easier clipping or baling

23. Examples
Water
Water
Darkest shaded area is over utilized, light shaded area is correctly utilized and the white area is under utilized.
Alternative to wagon wheel design with poor water location.

24. Fencing sloped areas Incorrect method of fencing slopes
Water lane
Ridge
Slope
Bottom
Correct methods of fencing slopes

25. Successful Systems = Excess Early Forage
Layout paddocks with areas that are hayable separate
If three or four hayable paddocks lay together, subdivide with temporary fence post harvest

26. Water Best situation is water in all paddocks
Eliminates lanes grazing area
Reduced animal travel performance
Water holding device is smaller
with paddocks less than 10 acres
Reduces coccidia contamination
Sheep are low water consumers