Grazing Management Plans - Fsa.usda.gov

Grazing Management PlansPatti Novak-EcheniqueNevada State Rangeland Management SpecialistUSDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service

Grazing Management The manipulation of grazing animals to accomplishdesired results in terms of animal, plant, land, oreconomic responses (Valentine 1990). Grazing management “both a science and an art,should be based on both the knowledge of scienceand the wisdom of practical experience”.(Valentine 1990)

Prescribed Grazing – NRCS Conservation Practice 528Definition:Managing the harvest ofvegetation with grazingand/or browsing animalswith the intent to achievespecific objectives.Purpose: Improve/maintain:desired speciescomposition, structureand vigor; quantity & quality offorage for animals surface and/or subsurfacewater quality/quantity;riparian/watershedfunction; manage fine fuel loads

Kinds of Grazing Lands Native RangeSeeded Range (Crested wheatgrass, etc).Riparian AreasPermanent Pasture (Irrigated/Non-irrigated)Grazed Forest or WoodlandsAftermath Grazing of Hayland or Cropland

Why Develop a Grazing Plan? Establish goals and objectives forranch/individual pastures/family– Improve economic value of ranch– Better management of natural resources– Basic needs of families – food, economicstability– Sustained forage and livestock production

Grazing Plan Development Describe present management and identifyopportunities, issues, problems List what you have to work with (private land,allotments, resources, facilities) Determine your objectives Determine animal needs and timing Determine plant needs and timing Determine management tools and techniques Design the plan, grazing strategy, contingencyplan for disasters Determine monitoring design

Present Management What are you doing now that you want tokeep? Are you managing grazing as well as you could? What are you doing now that you want toexamine or change? What opportunities exist?

Analyze the Resources Natural Resources:– Land base (soils, veg) for a year-round ranch plan– Private lands – irrigated pastures– Public lands – rangelands Physical resources (fences, water, facilities,equipment, etc.) Animal resources – livestock, wildlife, feralhorses Human resources - labor, capital

Grazing Plan Objectives Profit/Economic Stability – Improve bodycondition/reproduction– Better calf weights– Reduce costsImprove range health– Plant health, resiliency– Water quality– Soil quality– Wildlife habitat Better use of resources– Efficient harvest of range forage– Grazing land sustainability

Animal Needs Nutritional needs at various stages ofproduction Forage-animal balance: match forage availablewith the needs of the grazing animals

100Pregnancy Rate (%)9080706050403456Body Condition ScoreStuth and TollesonCalvingBreedingWeaning7

/20008/26/20009/10/200010/14/2000Energy Intake vs. Requirement - Sheep865Lactation7Early gestationFlushing &breedingGestation43210NEm IntakeNEm Req

Crude Protein - CattleCr WheatgrassMeadow Hay AftermathCr WheatgrassMeadow Hay AftermathNative MeadowMountain BrowseCr WheatgrassMeadow Hay AftermathMeadow Hay AftermathNative MeadowMountain BrowseMountain BrowseNative MeadowNative MeadowMountain BrowseCr WheatgrassCr WheatgrassAlfalfa - Grass HayGrass HayNative MeadowMountain BrowseAlfalfa - Grass HayAlfalfa - Grass HayAlfalfa - Grass HayCr WheatgrassGrass HayGrass HayGrass HayNative MeadowCr WheatgrassNative ngCalving AprAprMarMarFebJanJan

Plant NeedsLeaf areaGrowing pointsMoisture for growth/regrowthOpportunity for regrowthFrequency and intensity ofdefoliations (how often andmuch?) Timing of Grazing (when?)

Short and Long Shoot GrassesShort shoot grassesLong shoot grasses(more grazing tolerant)Kentucky bluegrassGalleta grassSquirreltailNeedle and threadBlue gramaBuffalograss(often less tolerant)Bluebunch wheatgrassCrested wheatgrassIdaho fescueGreat Basin wildryeIndiangrassSwitchgrass

Defoliation AboveGrowing Points of Leaf Blade Growth continues provided water, sunlight andproper temperatures are present. Photosynthesis produces carbohydrates Some used for new cells and cell enlargement Some becomes soluble carbohydrate reservesand plant health not affected

Defoliation BelowTerminal Growing Point Growth stops Few carbohydrates produced or stored New growth from dormant basal buds Uses soluble carbohydrate pools stored in theroot crown and/or lower part of stems Repeated defoliation below growing points, during therapid growth phase, across years, reduces and caneliminate stored energy reserves, which kills tillers andplants

Root Growth Grass root growth – 20-50% of roots must bereplaced annually (Dietz 1988)% leafvolumeremoved% root 78%80%100%90%100%

Proper Number of Livestock Stocking rate: The number of specific kindsand classes of animals grazing or utilizing aunit of land for a specific period of time(NRCS-NRPH 1997). Selection of the correct stocking rate is themost important of all grazing managementdecisions (Holecheck et al 1999).

Determining Initial Stocking Rates1. Determine land area2. Determine forage production3. Determine individual foragedemand (2% of BW or 30lbs/day air-dry)4. Select harvest coefficient5. Adjust for distance from water6. Adjust for slope7. Compute correct stocking rate8. Cross check actual andexpected use

Management Factors Time – the duration animals remain in a given grazingarea– Influences frequency and intensity of defoliation Number – number of animals on the grazing area(stocking density) Area – land available for grazing

A specialization of grazingmanagement that definessystematically recurringperiods of grazing anddeferment for two or morepastures or management units(NRCS-NRPH 1997).Include one or more of 3 basicelements:1. Deferment (non-usefor less than a year)2. Rest (non-use for ayear or more)3. Rotation (livestockmovement on ascheduled basis)

Grazing Systems Rangeland– Continuous or season-long– Deferred rotation– Rest rotation– Short duration Irrigated Pasture– Continuous or season-long– Rotational or ManagedIntensive Grazing

Continuous GrazingAnimals have unrestricted access to the entire pasturethroughout the grazing period (seasonal, year-long) Advantages:– Least capital and management required– Allows greatest selectivity of forage quality– Generally - greater livestock production per unitarea Disadvantages:– Livestock have preferred areas of grazing– Non-uniform distribution of livestock and manure

Deferred Rotation Multi-pasture, multi-herd systems Each pasture receives periodic deferment(every 2-4 years) Designed to maintain or improve rangecondition and forage productivity Works best where considerable differencesexist between palatability of plants andconvenience of areas for grazing Disadvantages:– Individual animal performance less thancontinuous– Added expense for fence and fence maintenance

Rest Rotation (Rotational Stocking) Multi-pasture, multi-herd or multi-pasture, singleherd Uses recurring periods of grazing and rest amongtwo or more pastures Plants periodically receive a full growing season ofrest for recovery Disadvantages:– Individual animal performance less– Added expense of fencing and maintenance

High Intensity-Low Frequency Multi-pasture, single herd Stock density is high to extremely high Length of grazing period is moderate to short,with a long rest period Grazing units are not grazed the same time ofyear each year Disadvantages:– High fencing requirements– High levels of grazing intensity may reducelivestock performance– Soil compaction – grazing on wet soils

Managed Intensive Grazing

Successful Grazing Strategies Designed with animal performance, plantproductivity, and economic viability in mind. Match animal type and nutrient needs toforage availability/quality Consider the basic rangeland resources - thetype of plants (cool season/warm seasongrasses, forbs and/or shrubs) and plant growthcycles. Combination of management tools andtechniques that promote distribution oflivestock

Facilitating Practices Fencing Water developments Animal trails andwalkways Other Tools:– Herding– Behavior modification– Salt and supplementplacement

Accelerating Practices VegetationManipulation– Brush Management– Range or PasturePlanting– NutrientManagement– Irrigation WaterManagement– Pest Management– Prescribed Burning

Mechanical Brush ManagementRange PlantingPasture PlantingChemical Brush Management

Riparian Area Grazing Management Attract livestock away from riparian areas– Offsite water developments– Manipulation of upland vegetation– Supplementation Excluding use or promoting avoidance ofriparian areas– Fences, barriers, stream access points, low-stressherding Herd management and animal husbandry– Culling practices – “riparian huggers”– Breeds

Designing the PlanGuidelines (8):1. Provide as much growing season recoverytime as possible, i.e. reduce duration ofgrazing for each unit.2. Consider the rate of plant growth (soilmoisture and temperature) in planningduration.3. Increase the number of pastures (useareas) and stock waters to increaseflexibility.

Designing the PlanGuidelines:4. Consider combining herds to make morepastures available.5. Try not to graze the same unit at the sametime of the year every year.6. Adjust the intensity to match the seasonand duration of use.7. Make the whole plan fit together.8. Develop a contingency plan.

Contingency Plans Accounts for potential management problems(i.e., drought, wildfires, insects)– Put up additional hay– Reduce herd size (cull open cows, replacementheifers, broken mouth, older animals)– Early weaning– Alternative feeds (corn stalks, alfalfa stubble)– Acquire additional grazing land

Monitoring Essential to understanding the effects ofmanagement decisions and actions on the healthand sustainability of rangelands Document successes and failures Document annual grazing use Climatic conditions Long-term trend invegetation – photo points,transects, utilization cages

ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENTPlan(assume that the system can continuallybe improved )ImplementReview & ReviseMonitor

Questions?

water quality/quantity; riparian/watershed function; manage fine fuel loads. Kinds of Grazing Lands . Grass Hay. Grass Hay. Grass Hay. Grass Hay. Cr Wheatgrass. Cr Wheatgrass. Cr Wheatgrass. Cr Wheatgrass. Alfalfa -Grass Hay. . ( Holecheck et al 1999). Determining Initial Stocking Rates. 1. Determine land area 2. Determine forage production