1. Grazing Management 101 Basic Concepts
Lamar Smith
Cascabel Ranch & Consulting
Carta Valley, Texas

2. Basic Tools of Grazing Management
Grazing intensity
stocking rate
Frequency of grazing
length of grazing and rest periods
Season of grazing
plant growth, animal diets, multiple uses
Animal distribution
grazing efficiency, multiple uses
Kind of animal
diet, poisonous plants, topography, water

3. Proper kind of livestock.

4. Animal Unit = 1000 pound cow with calf or equivalent based on forage intake.
Cow = 1 AU
Bull = 1.5 AU
Sheep = .2 AU
Animal Unit

5. Stocking Rate vs Carrying Capacity
Stocking rate is the number of animals actually pastured on a given area for a given amount of time.
Proper stocking rate is the stocking rate that will approximate the carrying capacity over a period of years. Proper stocking can vary from one year to the next.
Stocking Rate vs Carrying Capacity

6. Stocking Density
Number of animals present per unit of area of a given pasture at a given point in time.

7. Graze
12 Months
Rest
0 Months
Stock Density 1
Example

8. Graze
6 Months
Rest
Stock Density 2
Example

9. Graze
3 Months
Rest
9 Months
Stock Density 4
Example

10. Graze
1.5 Months
Rest
10.5 Months
Stock Density 8
Example

11. Stocking Rate vs Animal Production
Gain per Head
Animal Production
Light Mod Heavy
Stocking Rate

12. Stocking Rate VS Animal Production
Gain per Head
Gain per Acre
Animal Production
Light Mod Heavy
Stocking Rate

13. Stocking Rate vs Animal Production
Most profitable stocking rate
Variable Costs
Gain per Head
Gross Income
Animal Production
Fixed Costs
Light Mod Heavy
Stocking Rate

14. Proper stocking rate?
Range Health standpoint

15. Basis for Stocking Rates
Proper stocking based on maintaining sufficient plant residue for:
Plant health/regrowth
Wildlife forage
Erosion prevention
Set stocking rate below carrying capacity
To allow for drought
To allow for low productivity years
Basis for Stocking Rates

16. Overstocking and overgrazing are not the same thing.

17. Grazing resistant species (blue grama) is key species, make up most of forage base.
Animal performance declines before overgrazing occurs.

18. Key species make up small part of forage base,
lack high grazing resistance.
(black grama, bush muhly)
Range will be overgrazed before animal production suffers.

19. Terms Used in Grazing Systems
Continuous vs rotation
Grazing season vs growing season
Deferment vs rest
Rest rotation, deferred rotation
High intensity, low frequency
Best pasture
Terms Used in Grazing Systems

20. Rest is defined as no grazing for a full year or more.

21. One of the disadvantages of intensive grazing management.

22. Important Points Flexibility Annual planning
Keep number of herds to minimum
Move ALL the cows
Important Points

23. Positive Effects Rest heavy use areas, most favored plants
Improve distribution
Better livestock husbandry
Accommodates wildlife and other uses
Positive Effects

24. Rotation grazing can improve livestock distribution.

25. Grazing systems may improve animal husbandry

26. One advantage of smaller pastures is that it is easier to find and gather cattle..

27. Negative Effects Reduced animal performance Higher labor costs
Higher improvement
Negative Effects

28. Grazing systems may reduce animal performance.

29. Grazing systems can increase labor costs.

30. Yep. This ranch is so well improved I have to sell it to pay for the improvements.

31. Grazing systems increase need for improvements and maintenance.

32. Riparian Grazing - What is Different?

33. Temperature is limiting factor to plant growth - not moisture.
Regrowth is predictable and rapid.

34. Riparian Pastures Fence off riparian area from uplands
Time grazing to allow regrowth before flood season
Riparian Pastures

35. Riparian area within larger pasture - not practical to fence out.
1. Graze in dormant season or early in growing season.
2. Short grazing periods.
3. Offstream water, supplements.
4. Riding and culling.