pasture management and output dr. dan morrical iowa state university
TRANSCRIPT
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Pasture management and output
Dr. Dan Morrical
Iowa State University
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Survival and Profit Sheep industry competitors– New Zealand and Australia– Range operators– Beef cattle producers– Swine producers– Dairy producers
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Survival and Profit Feed costs are single largest cost Enterprise records– Pasture cost/ewe/day $.056– Drylot cost/ewe/day $.166
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Increasing pasture output Change forage species– adding legumes
Increase fertility– goal dependent– timing and amounts
Rotational grazing
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Grass Growth is Not Uniform Manage supply– Increasing paddock # in summer»Warm season grasses»Hay field re-growth
– Change stocking rate»Not very practical»Example short duration stockers
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The relationship between paddock number and plant rest
0102030405060708090
100
1 2 3 4 5 6 8 10 12 16 20
Number of Paddocks
% R
est
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Why rest is needed Grazing animals are selective in what
they eat especially sheep Preferred species are over comsumed–Weakens vigor and reduces composition– Allows invaders– Root system dies back with grazing
Sheep are very selective graziers
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How Often Should I Rotate? Factors to assess– Animal needs» Feeder lambs, lactating ewes or dry ewes
– Time»Cell location, human resource
Stage of growing season– Fast growth - fast rotation– Slow growth - slow rotation
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Utilization Rate Defined by the % forage consumed vs.
forage available at turn in
Example 2000 lbs at turn in 1000 lbs remaining at removal 1000/2000 = 50% Utilization rate
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Utilization Varies from 0-100% More paddocks = higher utilization rate Without balanced utilization– Over use - slow re-growth and long rest– Under use - forage accumulation
- decreased quality
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Utilization Rates by Grazing Intensity
Length of % Utilization
Grazing (days) of DM Available
.5 75
1 70
2 65
3 60
4-7 40-50
10-14 35
Continuous 30
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Paddock Layout No perfect system
ideal is square 1. Improved uniformity
2. Less fence
3. Less distance traveled
4. Makes for easier clipping or baling
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Examples
CentralWateringHub
Center over utilized, light shaded area is correctly utilized and perimeter area is under utilized.
Impropergate
location
Centralwatering
hub
Gate placement and watering design.
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Examples
Darkest shaded area is over utilized, light shaded area is correctly utilized and the white area is under utilized.
Water Water
Alternative to wagon wheel design with poor water location.
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The grazing pattern and distance to cover paddocks of different shapes.
R
R
Gate
Gate
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Fencing sloped areas
Water lane
Incorrect method of fencing slopes
Ridge
Slope
Bottom
Correct methods of fencing slopes
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Getting Started with Paddock LayoutStep 1 Pencil and paper and aerial or soil
map
Step 2 Flag proposed system
Step 3 Check gate location and animal flow
Step 4 Seek input
Step 5 Modify
Step 6 Build fence
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Successful Systems = Excess Early Forage
Layout paddocks with areas that are hayable separate
If three or four hayable paddocks lay together, subdivide with temporary fence post harvest
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Sacrifice Paddock (s) Why– Abuse small area vs whole pasture–Weather is not always perfect– Easy to get to– Easy to renovate–Many recover with more rest
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Water Best situation is water in all paddocks– Eliminates lanes grazing area– Reduced animal travel performance–Water holding device is smaller»with paddocks less than 10 acres
– Reduces coccidia contamination Sheep are low water consumers
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Water precautions MIG success– leads to increased carrying capacity– do not under build water system» 50% over capacity
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Taking Water to Sheep
1. Pressurized buried system– Locate new well on high ground
2. Pressurized above ground
3. Gravity flow from pond
4. Pump from pond or stream
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Water Development
$2000 and up
Location for gravity flow
Fence to keep flock out
$20-30 per ft.
Pressurized
Location to allow gravity assist
PondsPonds WellsWells
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How Earthen Return Fences Work
Single wire system with circuit completed through hoof contact with ground.
Two wire system with circuitcompleted by cow contacting hotand ground wires simultaneously.
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Reasons Electric Fences FailEnergizer too small
Induction Coil
Poor connections
Poor insulators
Faulty insulation on lead out wire
Lead Out wire too small
HOT
Ground rods too shortor close together
HOT
HOT
Conductor wire mass too small
Lighting arrestor
Poor connections
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Success with Cornstalks Strip graze to maintain nutrient quality
Adjust ewes gradually
May require protein supplementation
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Keys to stock piled grazing Ration or strip graze Late summer nitrogen– 40-60 pounds
Precautions– Ice–Monitor ewe condition
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MIG Success Flexible Productivity increases over years Labor is only an issue with location Change mind set Pasture is the cheapest feed source
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