1. Photo from NRCS Range and Pasture Management

2.  Benefits of grazing management  How grass grows  Steps to effective grazing management  Estimating carrying capacity  Monitoring your pasture  Grazing systems USDA-NRCS

3.  Animals – number and type  Water – irrigation and/or rainfall  Resources – $, equipment, neighbors  Pasture condition  Expectations  Soil type  Time

4.  Prevent pasture from deteriorating  Improve grass health and productivity  Increase grazing capacity  Improve soil condition  Help control weeds  Be a land steward USDA NRCS

5.  Reduces erosion  Improves water quality  Improves range or pasture condition NRCS, Bozeman, Mont.

6. Your pasture plants, of course! These little guys need lots of food!

7.  Graze to the desired stubble height.  Don’t regraze a pasture until your key species has reached the desired height.  Ensure adequate regrowth - preserve growing points on your plants.  Reserve leaf area for plants to manufacture carbohydrates  Allow adequate rest periods for grass regrowth.  In an irrigated pasture, don’t let seed heads form.

11. How many animals can I graze? NRCS

12.  This is not determined by local zoning!  Amount of forage varies by: ◦ season, ◦ climate, ◦ soil type, ◦ water availability ◦ length of growing season,  Animal needs vary by age, condition, amount of exercise, pregnancy, etc.

13. You need to know:  CARRYING CAPACITY: ◦ the number of animals a pasture can accommodate without overgrazing  STOCKING RATE: ◦ the amount of forage livestock are going to eat

14. Forage Needs: (2.5-3% body weight) 30 lbs forage/day or 11,000 lbs/yr Forage Production: 900 lbs of forage/ac/yr 30% Utilization: (trampling, manure piles, wildlife) 900 lbs x 0.30 = 270 lbs of usable forage/yr/ac 270 lbs / 30 lbs forage/day = 11,000 lb forage needed / 270 lbs usable forage 9 days of grazing NRCS ~ 41 acres needed per animal!

15.  Animal Unit: ◦ the forage consumption of one 1,000-pound cow plus calf  Animal Unit Month: ◦ the amount of forage required for one animal unit for one month (AUM)  All other animals are compared to one 1,000-pound cow plus calf SpeciesAUMSpeciesAUM Cow1.00Sheep0.20 Bull1.30Goat0.20 Weaned calf0.50Llama0.30 Mature horse1.25Deer0.17 Yearling horse0.75Elk0.50

16.  1 cow and calf OR:  2 weaned calves  5 sheep  5 goats  3 llamas  5 deer  2 elk  Etc. All require 1,000 pounds per month of air-dry feed

17.  If you don’t have irrigation water, plan to buy all your feed.  Use pastures as exercise area  No grazing allowed until grass is 8”  Feed animals before turnout  Be careful not to overgraze

18.  Don’t ask… Are my animals ready to graze?  Do ask… Is my grass ready to be grazed?

19.  Leaving stock in a pasture too long OR  Bringing them back too soon NRCS, Bozeman, Mont. Prevent overgrazing!  Move animals between pastures  Create and use exercise areas and paddocks (install fencing)

20.  The stocking rate of both paddocks is identical: 100 animal days per acre  However, the stock density is much greater in the pasture on the right, so the effect will be much different!

21.  Look BEHIND: What rest period do my pastures need? (Varies)  Look AHEAD: Has the pasture had enough rest?  Look NOW: Where is the stock, is the stocking rate correct?  Be observant and use common sense  Calculations will only get you so far in managing your grazing system

22. NRCS, Bozman, Mont.

23. UNCE, Reno, Nev.

24.  Bare ground UNCE, Reno, Nev.

26.  Good cover NRCS, Bozeman, Mont.

27. WSU Extension

28. Key Strategies Key Strategies 1. Create a Sacrifice Area 2. Subdivide to create more pastures Farifaxcounty.gov

29.  Areas of bare soil or sand/soil mix with little grass or other vegetation  Avoid sacrifice areas on slopes to avoid erosion

30. WSU Extension

31. Considerations:  Layout  Animal access  Water availability  Type of fencing  Costs  Time  Existing facilities  Quality of forage

33. Grazing Systems  Season-long grazing  Rotational grazing  Rapid rotation  Cell grazing

34. UNCE, Reno, Nev. 

35. NRCS, Bozeman, Mont.

36. USDA NRCS

37. NRCS, Bozeman, Mont.

40. Explanation Bare Buildings Fences Lawn Property Streams Trees Water Weeds

41. Explanation Bare Buildings Fences Lawn Property Streams Trees Water Weeds

42.  Grazing order of your pastures  Start grazing and stop grazing dates for each pasture  Seasonal variations and weather  Number of animals on the pasture  General health and productivity of the pasture Southernstates.com

43.  Control weeds and undesirable plants in pastures and adjacent areas  Prevent or reduce differential or selective grazing  Mow pastures, especially those dominated by bunchgrasses, if selective grazing has occurred  Be adaptive in your management

44.  Do not allow 24/7 access to forage areas; two to three hours during morning and/or evening will suffice  Divide or subdivide grazing areas into smaller blocks, where feasible  Improve waste management so that forage is not lost or damaged by manure  Be observant monitor your land

45.  Resist urge to graze after semi-dormancy this summer as it greens up.  Weed control this fall (if we get moisture) and next spring.  Poisonous plants may be abundant  Conduct a soil test  Be patient as grasses recover to ensure long term survival

46. CSU Extension Drought website www.ext.colostate.edu/drought/ CSU Extension Range website http://range.colostate.edu/ National Drought Mitigation Center http://drought.unl.edu Current drought monitor http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/DM_state.htm?CO,W USDA Drought Page www.usda.gov/drought

47. Legend House Barn Grasses present = blue grama, crested wheat Weeds present = Canada thistle, redroot pigweed, common mullein Well Trees Weedy Bare Ground Marshy Stream Water Trough Gate Fence Septic Manure Pile  Walk your pastures and determine if they are overgrazed, underutilized, etc.  Identify grasses and weeds.  Develop a grazing management plan for your property. Acres = 25 Animals = 2 horses Pasture = 15 ac Months animals graze=5 Soils = sandy clay http://www.ext.colostate.edu/sam/sust-homestead.pdf