Introduction to Pasture Introduction to Pasture ManagementManagement

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August 31, 2010August 31, 2010

The basics…The basics…

Pasture is Pasture is healthyhealthy for your animal for your animal

SunshineSunshine

Room to roam, play, socialize with othersRoom to roam, play, socialize with others

Allows for natural eating behaviorsAllows for natural eating behaviors

NutritiousNutritious

The basics…The basics…

Properly maintained pasture:Properly maintained pasture:

1.1. Can provide adequate energy, protein, Can provide adequate energy, protein, vitamins and minerals to maintain most vitamins and minerals to maintain most animalsanimals

2.2. A A cheapcheap source of feed for your animal source of feed for your animal

What is a High Quality What is a High Quality Pasture?Pasture?

Characteristics - Characteristics - DenseDense DiverseDiverse Weed-free (relatively)Weed-free (relatively) Well-drainedWell-drained Crumbly, porous soilCrumbly, porous soil PalatablePalatable

Advantages of PastureAdvantages of Pasture

Promotes normal healthy Promotes normal healthy behaviorbehavior Providing space for play and Providing space for play and

exerciseexercise Promotes social interactionPromotes social interaction Reduces development of Reduces development of

vicesvices

Advantages of PastureAdvantages of Pasture

Reduces likelihood of colicReduces likelihood of colic

Lowers incidence of gastric ulcersLowers incidence of gastric ulcers

Decreased incidence of chronic Decreased incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease obstructive pulmonary disease (Heaves)(Heaves)

Increases bone mineral content in Increases bone mineral content in young horsesyoung horses

Advantages of PastureAdvantages of Pasture

Can produce 1-4 tons of Can produce 1-4 tons of forage matter/acre/growing forage matter/acre/growing seasonseason

Reduces hay costs by Reduces hay costs by approx. $60-100/monthapprox. $60-100/month

Advantages of PastureAdvantages of Pasture

Reduces fertilizer costs when Reduces fertilizer costs when manure spread properly during yearmanure spread properly during year

Pasture recycles nutrients from Pasture recycles nutrients from dropped manuredropped manure

Reduces need to manage bedding Reduces need to manage bedding from stalls and drylotsfrom stalls and drylots

$avings$avings

Advantages – Advantages – Environmental ReturnsEnvironmental Returns

Reduces erosionReduces erosion Recycles nutrientsRecycles nutrients Supplies land surface for ground-water Supplies land surface for ground-water

rechargerecharge Provides an aesthetically pleasing Provides an aesthetically pleasing

environment for rural and residential environment for rural and residential neighborsneighbors

Disadvantages of Disadvantages of PasturePasture

Some weeds, grasses, and legumes contain Some weeds, grasses, and legumes contain toxic compounds:toxic compounds: Weed examples:Weed examples:

Jimsonweed, yellow star thistle, Jimsonweed, yellow star thistle,

pokeweedpokeweed

Grass examples:Grass examples: Tall fescueTall fescue

Legume examples:Legume examples: Aslike clover, red cloverAslike clover, red clover

Disadvantages of PastureDisadvantages of Pasture

Spread of gastrointestinal parasitesSpread of gastrointestinal parasites

Infective stage of parasites shed in fecesInfective stage of parasites shed in feces

Optimal conditions for larval developmentOptimal conditions for larval development High stocking rates High stocking rates increased risk of increased risk of

infection infection

Manure management, appropriate Manure management, appropriate stocking density, and deworming stocking density, and deworming important for horse health on pastureimportant for horse health on pasture

Disadvantages – Disadvantages – Pasture Associated Pasture Associated LaminitisLaminitis

Condition of the foot characterized by Condition of the foot characterized by inflammation of the tissues connecting inflammation of the tissues connecting the hoof wall to the major bone of the the hoof wall to the major bone of the footfoot Severe cases may result in rotation of Severe cases may result in rotation of

coffin bonecoffin bone High prevalence in overweight High prevalence in overweight

animalsanimals Hereditary trait in poniesHereditary trait in ponies

Creating a Quality Creating a Quality PasturePasture

Things to consider…Things to consider… Management of the animalsManagement of the animals

Grazing managementGrazing management

Pasture managementPasture management

TimingTiming

Utilize your growing seasonUtilize your growing season

Optimize the stocking rateOptimize the stocking rate

Horse Grazing BehaviorHorse Grazing Behavior

Time spent grazing varies Time spent grazing varies WeatherWeather Forage availabilityForage availability Alone vs. with palsAlone vs. with pals FliesFlies AgeAge

Will consume approximately Will consume approximately ~ 2 – 2.5% BW in DM on a ~ 2 – 2.5% BW in DM on a daily basisdaily basis

Horse Grazing BehaviorHorse Grazing Behavior

40-80% time spent grazing40-80% time spent grazing

9% of a horse’s time is spent walking9% of a horse’s time is spent walking

5-10% time spent lying down5-10% time spent lying down

Primarily 3-4 hours before dawnPrimarily 3-4 hours before dawn

SELECTIVE GRAZERSSELECTIVE GRAZERS

Horse Grazing BehaviorHorse Grazing Behavior

Grazing ManagementGrazing Management

Optimize forage availableOptimize forage available

Leave some for later. Avoid overgrazing.Leave some for later. Avoid overgrazing.

Know when to graze, when to restKnow when to graze, when to rest

Grazing SystemsGrazing Systems ContinuousContinuous

RotationalRotational

StripStrip

Grazing ManagementGrazing Management

Periods of occupationPeriods of occupation

Recovery periodsRecovery periods

Stocking rate and densityStocking rate and density

Paddock/pasture designPaddock/pasture design

Climate considerationsClimate considerations

Optimize the stocking Optimize the stocking raterate Stocking RateStocking Rate - a measurement of the - a measurement of the long-long-

termterm carrying capacity of a pasture; the carrying capacity of a pasture; the number of animals on the number of animals on the entireentire grazing unit grazing unit for the entire grazing seasonfor the entire grazing season

Stocking DensityStocking Density - the number of animals - the number of animals on a on a given unit given unit of land for a specific amount of land for a specific amount of time (short-term measurement).of time (short-term measurement).

Pasture ManagementPasture Management

Obtaining that optimal pasture requires Obtaining that optimal pasture requires management of the:management of the:

PLANTSPLANTS

SOILSOIL

Pasture ManagementPasture Management

Species SelectionSpecies Selection

Pasture EcologyPasture Ecology

Water requirementsWater requirements

TemperatureTemperature

Plant anatomy/growth factorsPlant anatomy/growth factors

Pest controlPest control

Pasture ManagementPasture Management

Pasture NutritionPasture Nutrition Sunlight / WaterSunlight / Water

NitrogenNitrogen

PotassiumPotassium

PhosphorusPhosphorus

Other nutrients requiredOther nutrients required

Soil acidity (pH level)Soil acidity (pH level)

TIMING!TIMING!

TimingTiming

TIMING IS EVERYTHING!!!!TIMING IS EVERYTHING!!!! SeedingSeeding

GrazingGrazing

RestingResting

IrrigationIrrigation

FertilizationFertilization

Climate-dependentClimate-dependent

Utilize your growing seasonUtilize your growing season

Different species of Different species of plants have different plants have different growth curvesgrowth curves

Variety Variety healthy healthy pasture year-roundpasture year-round

What’s Coming Up?What’s Coming Up?

What plants do I want?What plants do I want?

What plants do I NOT want?What plants do I NOT want?

How do I get rid of the “stuff” that I don’t How do I get rid of the “stuff” that I don’t want?want?

How do I keep my pasture looking good?How do I keep my pasture looking good?

Pasture EcologyPasture Ecology

And more . . . And more . . .