Grazing Management 101 Basic Concepts

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

2. 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 Basic Tools of Grazing Management

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

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

8. Graze 6 Months Rest 6 Months 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. 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. 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. Flexibility • Annual planning • Keep number of herds to minimum • Move ALL the cows Important Points

23. 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. 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. 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.