PROFITABLE PASTURESA guide to grass, grazing, and good management

Produced by:USDA Natural ResourcesConservation ServiceDes Moines, IowaOctober, 2003

in cooperation withConservation Districts of IowaIowa Forage and Grassland CouncilIowa Grassland Alliance

Pasture covers nearly 10 percentof Iowa’s land, and provides for-age that helps produce beef, milk,wool and leather. The impact ofpastureland and livestock thatgraze those pastures is signifi-cant to Iowa’s economy and to thelivelihood of those who managethe land.

Many producers are interested intaking care of the pastureresources, but admit the bottomline is economics. Many say “thebottom line is—if it makes memoney, I’ll do it.”

Good pasture management is keyto higher profits. Producersacross Iowa who have imple-mented some or all of the pasturemanagement practices in thisbook have improved their bottomline.

Pastures are also good for theenvironment. They help reduceerosion, improve water qualityand provide food and habitat forwildlife. In 1997 erosion on pas-tures was 1.1 tons/acre/year, com-pared to cropland erosion of 4.7tons/acre/year.

The goal of USDA’s NaturalResources Conservation Service(NRCS) and the cooperators ofthis publication is to improve thegrassland resource while benefit-ing those who manage the land.

This booklet will show youoptions for pasture management,including different grazing sys-tems. It will provide you withinformation to care for, and to getthe most out of your pastures andgrasslands.

Pasture management is morethan just moving livestock fromone pasture to another, itinvolves choosing and managingforages, soil fertility, fencing,

water development and distribu-tion, harvesting, resting pasturesand much more. This booklet dis-cusses each of these subjects, andtakes you through a step by stepprocess to develop a grazing planthat works for you.

Pasture management is a processthat can be completed in steps.As time and labor allow, you canadd to your current system andmake improvements.

There may be financial assis-tance available to help youimprove and manage your pas-tures. The 2002 Farm Bill desig-nated funds for livestock produc-tion as part of the EnvironmentalQuality Incentives Program(EQIP). State funds are alsoavailable in some counties forpasture improvement throughthe local Soil and WaterConservation District. Checkwith your local conservationoffice to see if funds are availableand if you are eligible.

NRCS will be here to help youalong the road to improved pas-ture management. Iowa NRCScurrently has three grasslandconservationists who work withlandowners across the state toimprove this particular naturalresource. Soil conservationists inlocal NRCS field offices can alsoprovide assistance. NRCS canhelp design or adapt your pasturemanagement system to meetyour production and resourcegoals.

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A COMMITMENT TO GRASSLAND

State Conservationist, NaturalResources Conservation Service, Iowa

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits dis-crimination in all its programs and activities on the basis ofrace, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability,political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or familystatus. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.)Persons with disabilities who require alternative means forcommunication of program information (Braille, large print,audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at202-720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of dis-crimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights,Room 326W, Whitten Building, 14th and IndependenceAve., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice or TDD). USDA is an equal opportunityprovider and employer.

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“Creating a 19-paddock intensive grazingsystem generated more return on myinvestment than any other medium orlong term investment that I’ve made infarming.”

Russell HughesPoweshiek County farmer

Advantages:4 Requires least labor and time.

4 Capital costs are minimal.

4 Animals can eat the best plants ifnot overstocked.

Disadvantages: 4 Lower stocking rate and less

pounds produced per acre.

4 Lower forage quality and yields.

4 Uneven pasture use.

4 Weeds and brush may be a prob-lem.

4 Both overgrazing and under graz-ing can occur in the same pasturemore easily because of a lack ofoptions to move livestock.

4 Animal manure is distributedunevenly.

Advantages:4 Can increase forage production

and condition of pasture over acontinuous system.

4 Allows pastures to rest andallows for regrowth.

4 Can provide for longer grazingseason, reducing winter feed.

4 More even distribution of manurethroughout the paddocks.

Disadvantages: 4 Fencing costs and water supply

establishment can be higher thanin continuous systems.

4 Although forage production isincreased over continuous graz-ing, it is not as high as intensivegrazing systems.

Advantages:4 Highest forage production and

use per acre.

4 Weeds and brush are usually con-trolled naturally.

4 More even distribution of manurethroughout the paddocks.

4 Usually increases stocking ratesand livestock seem more content.

4 Gives more forage options.Pastures can be rested andgrazed more efficiently.

Disadvantages: 4 Requires careful monitoring of

forage.

4 Initial costs may be higher due tofencing materials and water.

4 Water distribution systems maybe more complicated due to theincreased number of paddocks.

Continuous grazingis a one pasture system wherelivestock are left to graze in alarge area for the entire season.

Rotational grazingis a system with more than onepasture in which livestock aremoved, usually on a calendarschedule.

Multi-paddock intensivegrazingis a system with more than twopastures, sometimes referred toas paddocks. Livestock are movedoften from paddock to paddock,according to forage use andallowing for rest periods.

USE A SYSTEMS APPROACH

Grazing systems range from continuous use of one pasture over a long period of time, to intense grazingof small areas for short periods of time. There are trade-offs for every system, and you’ll have to decidewhich system works best for your operation. You may want to combine concepts and develop a systemthat works into your time schedule, livestock operation and available pasture.

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A system is made up of differentparts, and your system is cus-tomized depending on how youput the parts together. This pub-lication will cover five compo-nents of a grazing system.

ForagesChoosing and managing foragesfor your operation is key. You’llwant forages that meet nutri-tional needs of your livestock andthat are suited for your soils.Consider a mix of cool-season andwarm-season grass pastures, aswell as grass-legume mixtures.Plan for year-around forageneeds to ensure high quality for-age when livestock nutritionalrequirements are high.

WaterGood water is key to producinghealthy livestock. As you usemore pastures for improved graz-ing and production, you mayneed to be creative in how yousupply good water so livestockwon’t have to travel far. Look forunderground, surface and humanmade sources such as ruralwater, and keep livestock out ofthe drinking water supply if youcan.

FencesFence plans should allow flexiblerotational grazing, allow accessto water and keep livestock inthe pastures as intended. Optionsvary from permanent fences totemporary electric fences forsmall paddocks.

FertilityA good fertility program is just asimportant for pastures as it is forcroplands. Soil testing to assessfertility needs is a key step.

Weed and brush controlKeys to weed and brush controlinclude establishing a vigorousstand of forage and a sound graz-ing plan, mowing and clipping asneeded, and herbicide use as nec-essary. Early identification andaction on weed problems caneliminate bigger problems later.

YOUR SYSTEM’S PARTS

“You get the biggest bangfor your buck from yourfirst split of pastures.”

Mark BoswellAdams County farmer

Grazing systems have several components in common, including forages, water, fences, soil fertility, and weed and brush control. What will makeyour system unique is how you integrate these pieces to fit your resource and operation goals.

Choosing foragesKeep your goals in mind asyou consider forage options fora pasture system. Also con-sider how you plan to rotateand rest the pastures. Mostproductive grazing systemsallow for resting of pasturesfor regrowth and include amix of species that leave nogaps in production.

The production chart on theright shows that no singlegrass produces high all yearround. The gap created in thehot summer months with coolseason grasses can be filledwith warm-season grasses orwith a mixture of cool seasongrasses and legumes.

For ease of management andbest use when starting a graz-ing program, mixtures shouldhave no more than twograsses with similar growthhabits. You can increase diver-sity of stands as you becomemore experienced in grazingmanagement.

Common mixturesCommon grass-legume mix-tures in Iowa are alfalfa withbromegrass, orchardgrass ortall fescue; ladino clover withorchardgrass, timothy orsmooth bromegrass; red cloverwith orchardgrass; and birds-foot trefoil with Kentuckybluegrass, smooth bromegrassor timothy.

CHOOSING AND ESTABLISHING FORAGES

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Pasture Production Patterns

The chart above shows when each grass produces the highest yields. Taller grass indicates highestproduction, no grass indicates minimal production.

Using a warm season grass (left) or a grass-legume mixture (below) helps give year-round,high quality pasture for livestock in a pasturerotation.

“Maybe you don’t need toscatter seed right away.After rotational grazing itfor a few years you maybe surprised to see all thespecies you really have.”

Bob EklundUnion County farmer

WinterJanuary 1-March 20The forage is likely to be haycrop residues or stockpiled for-ages. It should be good qualitybecause the nutrient levelrequirements are high for beefcows during this period, justprior to spring calving.

Stored pastureMarch 20-April 20A cool season pasture with for-age from the previous yearworks well here. Kentuckybluegrass, bromegrass or tallfescue produce a heavy sod thatwould work well in the springthaw. It may be necessary tosupplement stored forage withgood quality hay.

Spring pastureApril 20-June 15Cool season grasses begin theirgrowth as temperatures rise inthe spring. Reed canarygrassand Kentucky bluegrass are thetwo earliest producing grasses.Smooth bromegrass, orchard-grass and tall fescue can alsobe used. Consider mixinglegumes with these grasses toimprove forage quality and sup-ply nitrogen for the grasses.

Summer pastureJune 15-September 15This period has traditionallyproduced the poorest pasture.One option is to use mixtures ofcool-season grasses andlegumes, such as smoothbromegrass/alfalfa; orchard-grass/birdsfoot trefoil; and tallfescue/red clover. Anotheroption is to use warm seasongrasses. Switchgrass, whichmatures earliest of the threeprimary native grasses, can beused in June. Big bluestem andIndiangrass mature two tothree weeks later.

Fall pastureSeptember 15-November 10Use cool season grasses againand stockpile some for earlyspring use. Rest grass-legumemixtures through the first halfof this period to maintain ahealthy legume stand.

Early winterNovember 10-January 1Cornstalks and second growthcool season forage all work wellhere. Excess warm seasongrass forage may be anotheroption, which is usually lowerin quality but still suitable.

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No-till interseeding may help revivelow-producing pasture on severeslopes.

Use these guidelinesto establish pastures• Lime and fertilize accord-

ing to soil tests.

• For conventional seeding,work a seedbed on thecontour to a depth of 3inches.

• If erosion or weeds are aproblem, seed a compan-ion crop of oats at abushel-plus an acre.

• Drill seed at a depth of1/4 to 1/2 inch deep.

• Consider no-till seedingon steep slopes.

• To interseed grasses orlegumes into low produc-ing pastures, graze or clipclosely. You may need toapply a burndown herbi-cide to suppress existinggrowth.

• Interseed at only half therate of full seeding.

• Optimum seeding timesfor cool-season grasses areMarch 1-May 15 andAug. 1-Sept. 15. For warmseason grasses, seed fromApril 1-June 1. Dormantseeding dates for both arefrom Nov. 1 to freeze-up.

• Frost seeding of somelegumes, especially redclover and birdsfoot trefoilin late February or earlyMarch can help improve apasture.

• Innoculate legume seedsby the wet method, withinnoculant specific to thelegume seeded.

Choosing forages for a year-long systemThese recommended guidelines are for beef cattle and may vary for different livestock.

Grazing properlyA sound grazing plan adjusts thelength of grazing and restingperiods to balance the needs oflivestock and the plants they eat,and usually includes rotationalgrazing of two or more pastures.

Rotational grazing systems pro-mote plant and root growth,reduce soil erosion, providewildlife habitat and protectwater quality.

In addition, rotational grazingsystems are designed to promoteoptimum forage utilization,extend the growing season andincrease carrying capacity andprofit potential.

The length of rest period for adesired plant species variesthroughout the season. Whengrowing conditions are good, therest period may be as little as 15to 20 days. Later in the season,45 to 50 days may be required toensure adequate rest.

Rest periods speed plant growthand can be used to help establishand maintain legumes in the for-age stand. During periods of fastgrowth, rests should be shorterto keep plants from going toseed. Longer rests periods areneeded when pasture growthslows.

Legumes need at least a 30 dayrest during the growing season toallow for regrowth and reseeding.

In a 2 to 4 paddock system, live-stock could be moved every 7 to14 days. However, with moreintensive systems, plan for restand regrowth periods of 25 to 35days. This would require 5 to 12paddocks and moving livestockevery 2 to 8 days depending onstocking density and plantgrowth.

Try to move livestock accordingto plant growth and not just cal-endar days.

MANAGING FORAGES

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Forage Guidelines

Forage Full Seeding Begin Graze no Cut for Allow regrowthRate grazing closer than: hay to this height before

#/acre: at than: at: killing frost:Cool season*Kentucky bluegrass 5-10 4-6" 2" Not recommended 4"Orchardgrass 8-12 6-10" 4" Boot to early head 6"Reed canarygrass 8-12 8-10" 4" Early boot 6"Smooth bromegrass 10-16 6-12" 4" Med. to full head 6"Tall fescue 8-15 6-10" 4" Boot to early head 6"Timothy 4-8 6-10" 3" Early head 5"

Warm season**Switchgrass 5-7 16-20" 6" Early head 6"Indiangrass 10-12 12-16" 6" Boot 6"Big bluestem 10-12 10-16" 6" Boot 6"

Legumes*Birdsfoot trefoil 5-8 6-10" 4 Early flower 6"Red clover 8-12 1/4 bloom 2" 3/4 to full bloom 8"Alfalfa 10-15 full bud 2" Late bud 10"Crownvetch 8-15 8-10" 3" Use grass timing 6"Notes: Seeding rates can generally be reduced by 25% when grasses are mixed with legumes.

Hay height is for first cutting. *Bulk Rate/Acre **Pure Live Seed/Acre

“One of the most impor-tant things is to leavegrass in the fall.”

Ralph NeillAdams County farmer

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Checklist for keeping agood grazing system4 Graze to proper height at the

right time. Use a “take half,leave half” guide to grazing, orconsult the forage guidelineschart (page 8).

4 Check forage and livestock atregular intervals and move live-stock according to the forage.

4 Allow pasture to rest periodi-cally. Don’t leave livestock onpastures being rested.

4 Top-dress with fertilizer accord-ing to soil tests.

4 Maintain good fences.

4 Mow or hay paddocks beforegrass has set seed heads. Weedsor weedy grasses should bemowed when they reach a heightof 6 inches, before they begin tocompete for moisture and seedsmature.

4 Remove above ground pasturewater systems in the winter andreinstall in the spring.

4 Review and adapt rotationschedule when herd size, or pad-dock number or size change.

Estimated cattle stocking rates, Adams County

Grazing system Acres needed per cow/calf pair Bluegrass Cool season Cool season

grass grass & legumeContinuous graze 3.25-4.5 3.0-4.25 2.5-3.0Rotational graze 2.75-4.0 2.5-3.75 2.0-2.75

(2 pastures)Rotational graze 2.5-3.5 2.25-3.25 1.75-2.5

(4 pastures) Rotational graze 2.25-3.10 1.75-2.75 1.75-2.25

(multi-paddock, 30 day rest)

Grazing rule of thumb for cattle: If you can’tsee the cow’s eyes (above), the grass is tootall. If you can see her nose (below), it’s tooshort.

Note from this chart that you have two ways to carry more livestock on fewer acres–byimproving forages or rotating pastures. The best carrying capacity comes from doing both.Actual stocking rates may vary according to soil type, weather, soil fertility, type of cattleand management. Different variables will yield different carrying capacities.

Review and adapt your rotation schedule regu-larly to balance the needs of livestock and forages.

Access to clean, reliable water is a necessarypart of any grazing system. Key considera-tions when developing a livestock wateringsystem include meeting livestock needs, pro-tecting water quality, minimizing lanes andlivestock movement, and cost effectiveness.When providing water to livestock, you’llneed a source and a way to distribute it topastures.

Water sourcesWater sources may include ponds, streams,rivers, wells, rural water, tile lines, springsand seeps. High quality water is critical for asuccessful grazing system. Keeping animalsfrom entering your water source will main-tain higher water quality which minimizesbacteria and disease.

DEVELOPING, STORING AND USING GOOD WATER

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General Livestock WaterRequirements Per Day

Livestock GallonsDairy Cows 20-30Cows 10-15Sheep 1/2 - 1Goats 1/2 - 1Horses 10 - 12

These general water requirement guidelinescan be modified to fit local conditions.

Cre

eks

Distributing WaterWhen paddock placement androtations isolate livestock fromtraditional water sources listedon the previous page, there areseveral methods to distributewater to the paddocks. It ispreferable to have water avail-able in each paddock with walk-ing distances no greater than 600to 800 feet.

When choosing a distribution sys-tem, you should consider avail-able water sources, herd size,time and costs.

By running a gravity fed orsiphon line from the source,water can be distributed to aseries of tanks throughout thegrazing system.

Animal powered nose pumpsmay be used to draw water fromponds, streams or shallow wells.

Ram type pumps can be used totransfer water to higher eleva-tions for distribution throughoutthe system. These pumps onlyrequire falling water to work.

Portable transfer pumps canbe used to fill portable or station-ary tanks with water from ponds,streams or wells. This may be aviable alternative if a pump andlabor are readily available.

Through the use of a pressuresystem, water can be distributedto paddocks from a well, pond orrural water. Temporary systems,which use above ground plasticpipe and movable tanks, mayhelp reduce costs and add flexi-bility. In large scale permanentgrazing systems, undergroundpiping may be more appropriatefor distributing water to individ-ual paddocks. Size and type ofpipe will depend on distance,pressure in the system and num-ber of livestock.

Moving livestock to waterIf it is not possible to installwater in each paddock, it will benecessary to bring livestock tothe watering site. Water is usu-ally accessed through laneswhich connect paddocks to thewater source.

Lanes should not be too wide, 16to 24 feet is adequate, as they arenot used for vehicle travel andcan lead to erosion problems.Frequently used lanes should beinstalled on the contour as muchas possible.

Gateways into lanes should beplaced in the corner of the pad-dock to which livestock wouldnaturally flow. Setting up pad-docks and lanes to fit normal ani-mal movement reduces fencemaintenance and enhances sys-tem performance.

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Options for water distribution include clockwise from upper left: portable animal powered nosepump, portable plastic barrel and stock tank that can supply water to numerous pastures.

Soil fertilization can help youcontrol forage quality, yield anddiversity. Fertilizing and limingpromote vigorous stands of forageby adding nutrients to the soil.

Soil sampling and testing arecritical to effective pasture fertil-ity management. Soil testing willhelp you assess available nutri-ents for the forage crop anddetermine how much fertilizerand lime to apply to each pastureto meet your yield goals.

For information on how to take asoil sample and where to send itfor testing, contact your localNRCS or Extension office.

FERTILITY—JUST AS IMPORTANT AS ON CROPLANDS

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Applying fertilizer (left) and lime(below) are steps often needed toimprove pasture productivity.

NitrogenThe most commonly applied fertilizer in a non-legume pas-ture is nitrogen (N), some of which is applied naturallythrough animal manure. If you begin to see “cow spots” ormuch taller, greener grass around “cow pies,” it may meanthe pasture is nitrogen deficient.

Nitrogen applied in late summer can help provide more for-age and extend grazing into December. For the best results,apply nitrogen in August and rest pastures until lateSeptember or early October. A wet fall will enhance foragegrowth if fertility is adequate and in a dry fall the nitrogenwill carry over to the spring.

Phosphorus and PotassiumLate summer and early fall is also a good time to applyphosphorus (P) and potassium (K) to grass or grass legumepastures. Soil tests are your best guide in determining whatis needed.

LimingLime is often needed in pastures to neutralize acidic soiland improve pasture productivity. Plants, especiallylegumes, are unable to use nutrients in soil that is tooacidic. Micronutrients, which are obtained through liming,are essential for normal growth of pasture plants to meetlivestock needs. Lime according to soil test recommenda-tions when pH is below 6.0, or consult your local NRCS orExtension office for a general rate of application.

Taking a soil sample is a critical stepin developing a sound fertility manage-ment program on your pasture.

Controlling weeds and brush inyour pasture will increase forageproduction, carrying capacity andultimately, your profits.

Weeds and brush compete forvaluable nutrients and water.Every pound of weeds means lesspounds of desirable forage.

Grass in weed-free pastures formthicker stands, which cattle andsheep graze more uniformly, thuswasting less forage.

Effective management of weedsstarts with identification of unde-sirable plants. Paddocks shouldbe scouted regularly during thegrowing season and treated withsuitable weed control practices.

PreventionGood land management will helpkeep desirable vegetation healthyand weeds under control.

SeedingMost annual, biennial and peren-nial weed species are effectivelycontrolled once a thick legume-grass or grass sod is established.

Biological controlSometimes nature finds a way toweaken or kill a weed species.For instance, certain fungi andinsects attack seed heads andother plant parts.

Livestock grazingGraze weeds before they go toseed because livestock can easilycarry and spread seeds on theircoats or in their waste. Livestockwill control most plants they caneat, and many weed species arepalatable and nutritious to live-stock if grazed before seed headformation.

Mechanical controlMowing weeds or harvesting haybefore weeds go to seed may helpeliminate them in paddocks.Clipping in the fall can help con-trol tree seedlings such as buck-brush, hazelbrush and others.Some regrowth may occur, butclipping can reduce the chancesof brush taking over the pasture.Clipping also weakens weeds asthey go into winter, making con-trol easier the next year.

Chemical herbicidesHerbicides may be expensive, butare effective when applied in theproper amounts and at theproper time of year. Fall sprayingwith 2-4,D may be effective inmany grass pastures. New weedsthat started in late summer andweeds that regrow after clippingare especially vulnerable. Readlabel instructions carefully andfollow directions.

Herbicides may also be used tomanage unpalatable woodyshrubs and brushes. However,when controlling brushes, treesand large shrubs, consider leav-

ing some for a field windbreak.Fencing livestock away fromwindbreaks encourages grazingin open pastures while providingexcellent protection for livestock.

BurningNative or warm season grassesmay benefit from periodic burn-ing. Burning stimulates growthby reducing competition fromweedy plants and removes excessplant residue.

All of these weed and brush con-trol practices may influence live-stock distribution. Think aboutthe results of these practicesbefore you apply them to ensurethey will have a positive effect ongrazing and will result in moreplant and animal production.

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CONTROLLING WEEDS AND BRUSH

Weed free pastures are a result of good management.

“The better job I do ofgrazing, the fewerweeds I have.”

Greg KoetherClayton Countyfarmer

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Fences are a key component of apasture management system.Planning and controlling live-stock movement allows you toensure adequate resting andgrazing of pastures. Establishingfencing that meets your opera-tion’s needs can help you moreeffectively manage your system.

There are many types of fencesavailable, varying from perma-nent to temporary, and a widerange of costs. When selecting afence for your system consider: 4 Topography

4 Livestock

4 Cost

4 Availability of power

4 Maintenance

4 Flexibility

Other considerations include:establishing a manageable num-ber of paddocks to evenly distrib-ute forage supply; placing gatesto make moving livestock easy;and fencing ditches and gulliesseparately to minimize potentialerosion problems. It may be nec-

essary to have a holding penwith electric fence to train live-stock. In addition, special fencingconsiderations may be needed toprevent problems with predatorsin grazing systems for sheep.

Portable electricPortable electric fencing is light-weight, portable and easy toarrange. It is reasonably priced,although you must also considercosts of electric or solar power.Temporary electric fencesweather poorly and require regu-lar maintenance.

Hi-tensile wire Electrified single or doublestrand hi-tensile wire fencing isoften used for interior bound-aries. Multi-strand hi-tensilewire (5-11 wires) is used forboundaries. Hi-tensile wirefences are easy to install butrequire regular maintenance.

Barbed wireBarbed wire fencing controls cat-tle and sheep very well, but maycause injuries to horses. Laborand material costs are high, andperiodic maintenance is required.

GOOD FENCES MAKE GOOD PASTURES

When using electric fencing, it’s important toselect an energizer large enough to meet yoursystem’s needs.

*Cost estimates includelabor and materials.

It may seem like extra bother oran unnecessary exercise, but sit-ting down to plan out what youwant from a pasture programand what you’ll do to get theremay be time well spent.

The NRCS offers technical assis-tance for pasture improvements.NRCS can also help you throughthe following planning processthat serves as a roadmap forachieving pasture and livestockgoals.

1 Identify your problems.Are your pastures overgrazed oris there too much pasture for thelivestock you have? Should yoube getting more production fromthe acres you have? Do you needbetter quality in your forages?

Is erosion a problem? Are weeds,brush or thistles a problem? Isyour ratio of pasture to hay inbalance? Are pastures too big?

Is there a gap in pasture growthor production during the sum-mer? Do you lack good water?

2 Set your goals.Do you want to have more live-stock on the same amount ofland? Are you planning to raiseprimarily beef cows, dairy cows,sheep, graze yearlings, or have amixed livestock operation?

Are you interested in keepingyour herd size constant, but inusing less land for grazing? Doyou want or need a system thatreduces the amount of time youspend managing the pasturesand livestock?

Do you have cropland that wouldbe better suited to pasture? Areyou interested in reducing offfarm purchase of hay to maintainyour existing herd?

3 Inventory the resources. Resource inventory covers every-thing from water sources tofences to livestock type and num-bers, but it starts with soil types.

Soil survey information indicatessuitability for pastures, as wellas general fertility and adaptabil-ity for different forages.

You’ll want to write down thenumber of acres, the type andcondition of forages, soil types,fertility levels and water sourcesfor each pasture. You’ll also wantto note fence conditions.

4 Study your choices.After you’ve taken inventory andknow what you want to accom-plish with the resources you haveavailable, you’re ready to look atoptions. The NRCS, Extensionand other producers are all goodsources of help here.

Using more forages with shorterrotations to allow more rest aftergrazing is something to consider.Another option is to get moregrass–legume combinations inyour rotational mix. NRCS andExtension have information onexpected yields, forage qualityand recommended grazing pat-terns for forages used in Iowa.

There are various new options forfencing and watering to thinkabout. Fertility and weed/brushcontrol are also areas to consider.

5 Choose a course ofaction.It’s a good idea to decide on acourse of action, even if you knowit will change. Deciding on a planwill help you move closer to mak-ing needed changes in your pas-ture management system.

6 Make your plan.The NRCS will help you get theplan down on paper in an orga-nized fashion, and can also makerecommendations, consult oncost-share and supply resourceinformation.

Your plan should include soil sur-vey information, proposed pas-ture boundaries, water sources,type of forages in each pasture,and other information that wentinto your decision-makingprocess.

7 Continually evaluate,adapt when necessary.Your plan is very likely tochange. As you see the need toadd forages or livestock, or adaptto new technology, it will be agood idea to look at the plan tosee how those changes fit into thebig picture.

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THINK THROUGH YOUR GRAZING SYSTEM

Several simple planning steps can help youachieve productive pastures.

PUT YOUR GRAZING SYSTEM ON PAPER

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As you can see from previous pages in this publication, grazing sys-tems are made up of several components. To maximize the use ofland and the management of grass and livestock, you’ll want to havea written blueprint of your system—a plan. This plan can be in anumber of forms, but should include certain items.

InventoryWrite down the number of acres, types of grass, soil types, health ofthe grass (excellent, fair, poor), sources of water and number of live-stock in each pasture. This information gives a good picture of whereyou are.

Your goalsThink about what you want to accomplish. Do you want to:4 Graze more cattle?

4 Get better gains?

4 Improve forage quality during lactation?

4 Leave livestock on grass longer—less feeding?

4 Have more pasture options—separate herds?

Livestock needsThis section may take some time, but it is like a “feeding budget.”You should include the amount of feed you’ll need for each month.Remember to consider an increase in feed needed during lactation.You can use Animal Unit Months (AUMs) or pounds of forage needed,whichever is easier for you.

Refer to Table 3 in the record keeping section on page 18 for samplesto follow when calculating your livestock needs. Other samples willhelp you figure your pasture forage availability and hay or supple-mental forage availability.

By fencing rivers, streams and ponds youcan help to improve the quality of waterfor your livestock, your family and othersdownstream.

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Matching needs toyour goalsThe next step is to decidehow to meet your live-stock needs and startreaching your goals. Ifyou aren’t comfortabledoing this step yourself,local NRCS, Extension orother pasture manage-ment professionals canhelp.

Remodeling yourpastureConsider the pasture planto be a remodeling planfor your land. You maycomplete it all in one year,or take several years tobuild the system youwant.

Consider your labor andmanagement time avail-able, because intensivegrazing systems onlywork if they are managedproperly. You’re the onlyone who can really decidehow much time you haveto spend on your system.

Producers experienced inintensive grazing say livestock catch on quickly and once they aretrained it doesn’t take long to move them from paddock to paddock.If you are accustomed to regularly checking your livestock now, youmay find that intensive grazing may not take a whole lot more time.Most people who have experience with pasture management systemsadvise others to start slow and build on their systems. This allowsyou to make adjustments and work into the management process.

Record KeepingKeeping accurate records is a continual process in effective pasturemanagement. The example on the following page (18) is a good placeto start. You may also want to keep informal records of livestock typeand number, forage height on the dates in and out of each paddock,and any other comments that may help trigger your memory in thefuture. This will help you track conditions of pastures and effectivelymanage each paddock over the long term.

In addition to keeping good pasture records, it’s important to accu-rately track livestock performance. Local Extension Service offices,veterinarians and others can assist you to develop and use a live-stock record keeping system.

*Nose pump waterer, piped from a large pond.

MAKING A PLAN AND KEEPING RECORDS

***An Animal Unit (AU) or its equivalent is equal to one mature cow of approximately 1000 pounds and a calf as old as 3 months.

Kind of Forage Acres YieldAUMs*/Acre

Animal Unit Months (AUMs)

Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Total

1 Brome 20 6.0 24 30 - - 24 24 18 120

2 Alfalfa/Brome 15 6.6 12 15 15 12 8 8 8 78

3 BFT/Orchard 20 5.0 16 - 26 26 20 10 4 102

4 BFT/Fescue 20 5.0 10 20 - - 30 20 20 100

5 Big Bluestem 15 6.6 - - 36 36 30 - - 102

Total Available 62 65 77 74 112 62 50 502

Pasture forage availability -�Table 1

FieldNumber

6 Alfalfa/Brome 15 6.0 90 Ton 5/25 7/1 8/10

FieldNumber

Kind of Forage Acres

Estimated Yield (Tons)

Per/Acre TotalTotal Animal UnitMonths (AUMs)

Cutting Dates

7 Corn Residue** 200 100

8 Alfalfa/Brome 8 4.8 38 Ton 5/25 7/1 8/10

Total Available (Hay)

**Assumed 2 acre/cow/month. Weather will affect availability of crop residues.

Hay or supplemental forage availability - Table 2

Kind ofLivestock

Number ofAnimals

Animal Unit(AU)***

Factor

AnimalUnits (AUs)

Animal Units Needed Per Month

Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.

1500 lb. bull 2

1200 lb. cow 50

1000 lb.horse

Calves(over 3 mo.)

45

Yearlings

Ewes

Total Needs

Total Available from Tables 1 & 2

Difference

1.5 3.0

60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60

14 14 14 14 14

1.2 60

1.0

.3 14

.7

.2

Livestock needs-Table 3

63 63 63 63 63 63 63 77 77 77 77 77

62 65 77 74 112 62 50

-1 +2 +14 -3 +35 -15 -27

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

18

*An Animal Unit Month (AUM) is the amount of forage required by an Animal Unit (AU) for one month.

1 cow= 100,000 acres

GRASSLAND, LIVESTOCK RESOURCES IN IOWA

19

CRP soil savings

About 23 percent of Iowa’s land is grass or hay-land. Although hayland is often categorized ascropland, it is used primarily for livestock pro-duction and is managed differently than othercrops. In Iowa, about 3.6 million acres of landare used for pasture.

In addition to pasture and hayland, in 1997,Iowa had about 1.7 million acres of land in theConservation Reserve Program (CRP.) As CRPcontracts expire, that land will be re-entered intoCRP or converted to pasture, hay or cropland.

Using average grazing figures of $15 per animalunit month (AUM), the value of the forage con-sumed by livestock in the state contributes $111million to the economy.

Average soil loss on CRP land has been reduced from18 tons/acre/year to 1 ton/acre/year, equivalent to a total savingsof 36 million tons.

Pastureland in IowaIn 1992 the heaviest concentrations of pasture were in southernIowa.

CRP acres in Iowa, by countyIn the past decade, 1.8 million acres, about 7 % of Iowa’s totalcropland, were enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program .

Land use in IowaNearly 1/4 of Iowa’s land is grass or hayland, which includespasture, CRP and grass on croplands.

Minor land Cropland Pastureland

Tons/acre/year6.7

1.31.6

Soil erosion on pasturesSoil loss rates on Iowa cropland in 1992 were 4 to 5 timeshigher than those on other land uses.

<10,000 = 10,000 - 25,000 = >25,000 =

Pasture10%

Crop70%

Other7%

Forest5%

CRP6%

Developed2%

20

PASTURELAND RESOURCES

The Natural ResourcesConservation Service has informa-tion about grazing systems and forages,and can help you improve your grazingsystem to meet your resource and eco-nomic goals. NRCS will help you deter-mine if your operation is eligible forcost share. Contact your local USDAService Center.

Your local Soil and WaterConservation District can help pro-vide technical help through state pro-grams. Some counties have cost shareavailable for pasture systems. The Soiland Water Conservation District islocated in the same office as the NRCS.

Extension Service has grassland andgrazing specialists that will help youmake a grazing system plan. ExtensionService has several pamphlets on graz-ing and pasture management. Contactyour local Extension Service office.

The Iowa Grassland Alliance is avoluntary effort to enhance privategrasslands in Iowa. The informal groupcoordinates cooperation among organi-zations with interests in grasslands.NRCS currently facilitates the Alliance.

The Iowa Forage and GrasslandCouncil is a nonprofit, educationalorganization of forage and livestockproducers, and representatives fromindustry and public service sectors.Contact the Council at 900 Des MoinesSt., Des Moines, IA 50309.

The Southern Iowa Forage andLivestock Committee is a non-profitorganization of local farmers, businesspeople and USDA agencies. TheCommittee has demonstrated pastureand hayland as alternatives to row cropproduction on highly erodible land fol-lowing CRP. Contact NRCS orExtension Service in Corning, Iowa.