1. SGCHS AG Dept. Natural Resource Management Mr. Hochreiter
Grazing Distribution
SGCHS AG Dept.
Natural Resource Management
Mr. Hochreiter

2. What is Grazing Distribution?
Pattern created by livestock grazing an area of rangeland or pasture
animals tend to graze in spotty patterns
forage availability is reduced
grazing selectivity is lost
reduced animal performance

3. What causes uneven grazing patterns?
Pasture shape “L”
Terrain
Water Location
Vegetation
palatability
stage of growth
water content of plants
soil fertility level

4. Grazing lands Why do you think terrain affects grazing lands?
How does water location affect grazing patterns?
Describe one analogy that would compare to gaazing patterns and water location.

5. Managing for Grazing Distribution
Salt & Mineral Feeder Location
placed away from water
may need to move when trampling begins
Oilers, Rubbing Posts, or Dust Bags
attract livestock
Winter Feeding Location (move around)

6. Location, location, location
Why do you want to ensure salt and mineral blocks are not placed around water sources?

7. Managing for Grazing Distribution
Riparian Areas (streams, lakes etc)
provide alternate water and salt away from riparian area
may need to fence off area
Prescribed Burning -livestock prefer regrowth after burning

8. Riparian areas
Why do you think we need to ensure we provide alternative water locations to livestock in the pasture when there is a stream, pond or river in the pasture?

9. Water Developments Quantity & Quality are most important
Cattle consume up to 15 gal per day per 1,000 lbs animal
Stock Ponds - can have poor water quality
silting
animals walking in
Pit Ponds (Dugouts)
Wells - should have 2-3 day storage

10. Windmills
high initial cost unreliable as a continual source of power

11. Electric Pump can pump water to several locations, long distances.
requires electrical source
requires constant monitoring (power outages)

12. Solar-Powered Pumps
can move solar panel & pump to different locations
requires constant monitoring

13. Sling Pump
Used in flowing creeks or streams where electricity is not available.
Harnesses energy from the moving water to pump water to higher elevation.
Can pump water to elevations of 50 feet.
Flows 1-2 gallons per minute

14. Water Developments Pipelines and Troughs Spring Developments
can be placed at the best locations
multiple waterings
initial cost & maintenance can be costly
Spring Developments
provides clean water away from wet areas
with continuous flow, water seldom freezes
Stock Tanks should provide 2-3 days reserve
concrete pad

15. Stock Tank

16. Cross Fencing Dividing large pastures into smaller ones
Conventional materials (barbed wire)
High Tensile Steel - more maintenance
High Energy - Low Impedance
cheaper than barbed

17. Cross Fencing Why would a rancher consider cross fencing his pasture?
What elements must ranchers consider when deciding to cross fence?
What benefits would cross fencing provide a rancher?

18. Cross fencing

19. Check on learning
How can ranchers influence grazing patterns?

20. Season-Long Grazing One pasture for the entire season
Difficult to maintain adequate grazing distribution
What are some problems you could foresee if we allow season long grazing on the same pasture?

21. Management-Intensive Grazing Systems
Ways we can pasture livestock

22. Sequential Forage Grazing
Using 2 or more forages in combination
best utilization of forage
must have different growing seasons
Forage may consist of smooth brome grass or alfalfa in cooler weather and big bluestem or switchgrass in warmer seasons.

23. Partial-season Grazing
Only allowed to graze for part of the growing season
One benefit of partial seasons grazing is to allow livestock to help control growth of cool season grasses and thus improving pasture management.

24. Deferred Grazing
Rest pasture during season of growth, grazed or hayed during dormant time
poor quality forage
cheaper than haying
Why do you think deferred grazing is cheaper than cutting hay?

25. Rotation Grazing Move livestock from pasture to pasture
Only graze each pasture once per season
Most common method of livestock grazing in West Tennessee.

26. Rotation Grazing

27. Rapid Rotation Fewer than 6 pastures
short grazing periods, long rest periods

28. Cell Grazing
Intensified rapid rotation
more than 6 pastures

29. Which grazing system is for YOU?
Things to consider:
water
fencing
animal nutrition
time

30. # THE END