Precision Equine Precision Equine Grazing ManagementGrazing Management

By:By:

Tamara KnaustTamara Knaust

GoalGoal Improve Forage QualityImprove Forage Quality

Decrease hay &Decrease hay &

supplementationsupplementation Weed ControlWeed Control IrrigationIrrigation ManagementManagement Parasitic Pest ControlParasitic Pest Control Forage Production Forage Production

BaseBase

Oklahoma PasturelandOklahoma Pastureland

Oklahoma #7Oklahoma #7thth in the Nation in the Nation 586 million acres in U.S.586 million acres in U.S. Approximately 28 million acres in OKApproximately 28 million acres in OK

Forage ProductionForage Production

Best prevention is a high quality forage Best prevention is a high quality forage basebase

Disease & Weed ControlDisease & Weed Control

GPS for disease prone areas and GPS for disease prone areas and treatmentstreatments

Weed control Weed control Certified SeedCertified Seed

FertilizationFertilization

Bermuda grassBermuda grass Most common pasture grassMost common pasture grass Approximately 4 million acresApproximately 4 million acres

Use of Nitrogen Rich Strips/RampUse of Nitrogen Rich Strips/Ramp GreenseekerGreenseeker Grid Soil Grid Soil

SamplingSampling On the Go On the Go

ApplicatonApplicaton

IrrigationIrrigation

Variable Rate IrrigationVariable Rate Irrigation Pasture MappingPasture Mapping Soil MapsSoil Maps

ManagementManagement

OverstockingOverstocking Determine Stocking rate for quantity/quality of Determine Stocking rate for quantity/quality of

forage availableforage available

Use NDVI to determine areas producing Use NDVI to determine areas producing high/low quality foragehigh/low quality forage

Use of GPS to establish rotating pasture areas Use of GPS to establish rotating pasture areas to increaseto increase Reduce time on commonly grazed areasReduce time on commonly grazed areas Increase time on poorly grazed areasIncrease time on poorly grazed areas

Parasite ControlParasite Control

$178 million annually on parasite control$178 million annually on parasite control Problems even with good programsProblems even with good programs

Drug resistanceDrug resistance Environmental ConcernsEnvironmental Concerns

Surface/ground waterSurface/ground water

Prevent ingestionPrevent ingestion

ParasitesParasites

Parasites congregate Parasites congregate in specific areasin specific areas Low lying areas, and Low lying areas, and

areas most commonly areas most commonly grazedgrazed

Nutrients, Parasites Nutrients, Parasites and Rainfalland Rainfall

Parasite ControlParasite Control

Utilize GPS and GIS Utilize GPS and GIS to locate low and to locate low and over grazed areasover grazed areas

Parasite TreatmentParasite Treatment

Apply pesticide and Apply pesticide and herbicide treatments herbicide treatments only to high risk only to high risk areasareas

ResultsResults

Better for EnvironmentBetter for Environment Reduce pesticide application into animalsReduce pesticide application into animals Reduced money spent on treating entire Reduced money spent on treating entire

fieldfield Increased Forage quantity/qualityIncreased Forage quantity/quality

References:References:

http://www.statemaster.com/graph/geo_lan_acr_tot_pas_or_ran_lan-land-acreage-total-pasture-http://www.statemaster.com/graph/geo_lan_acr_tot_pas_or_ran_lan-land-acreage-total-pasture-rangerange

http://njaes.rutgers.edu/horsepastures/weed_control.htmhttp://njaes.rutgers.edu/horsepastures/weed_control.htm

http://www.crssa.rutgers.edu/projects/gps/web_page/crap/crap.htmlhttp://www.crssa.rutgers.edu/projects/gps/web_page/crap/crap.html

http://www.crssa.rutgers.edu/projects/gps/web_page/web_page.htmlhttp://www.crssa.rutgers.edu/projects/gps/web_page/web_page.html

http://www.noble.org/Ag/Forage/HorseForage/index.html#Mysteryhttp://www.noble.org/Ag/Forage/HorseForage/index.html#Mystery

http://forage.okstate.edu/role-of-forages.htmhttp://forage.okstate.edu/role-of-forages.htm

http://www.noble.org/Ag/Soils/N-RichStrips/PrintLayout_1_85485_85485.htmlhttp://www.noble.org/Ag/Soils/N-RichStrips/PrintLayout_1_85485_85485.htmlhttp://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/livestk/01627.htmlhttp://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/livestk/01627.html