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Grazing Management
Principles for Rangelands
Mort Kothmann
Texas A&M University
Four Basic Principles of
Grazing Management
►Stocking rate
►Season of grazing
►Distribution of grazing across landscape
►Match kinds and classes with the rangeland
vegetation, topography and climate
Grazing Management Concepts
Basic tenets of grazing management
►Grazing intensity (degree of use)
 Light – moderate – heavy – extreme
►Methods for monitoring degree of use
 Key area method (Key species)
Grazing Intensity
► A certain amount of
plant biomass must
remain to maintain
to assure health of
animals, plants and
soil
 Herbivore diet
 Plant vigor and
reproduction
 Soil stability
Grazing Intensity
►As annual precipitation declines, sustainable
level of forage utilization generally
decreases
 Sustainable intensity of grazing is directly
related to availability of water and soil nutrients
 Greater resource availability increases
proportional allocation to shoot relative to root
Grazing Intensity
►Recommended levels of use based on field
estimates and (harvest efficiencies)
 Ryegrass (water & N unlimited) 75% (70-80%)
 Coastal Bermudagrass pasture 50% (40-60%)
 Humid tall grassland 40-50% (20-30%)
 Semiarid grasslands: 20-30% (15-20%)
 Arid SW & Intermountain West: 15-20% (10-15%)
The more arid the land, the lower the sustainable
intensity of use.
Monitoring Range Utilization
►Key Species Method for monitoring use
 Monitor utilization of 1-3 key species that are
abundant, productive, and palatable (decreasers
or increasers) rather than monitor many species
 Assumption: use of entire range is optimal
when use of key species is optimal:
►Key species are moderately used – 30-40 %
►Secondary species are lightly used – 10-25 %
►“Ice-cream” plants may be overused – >40 %
Monitoring Range Utilization
► Key Area method for monitoring range use
 Monitor an area that is “representative” of overall range
condition, trend, and degree of seasonal use
 No rangeland is uniformly used – some “sacrifice” areas
will occur due to area selectivity
►Heavy use – Clipped or mowed appearance
 >50 % of fair or poor forage plants used
►Moderate Use
 50 % of good or fair forage plants used
►Light use
 Only choice plants used
Monitoring Range Utilization
►Key Area method for monitoring range use
 Optimal stubble height in key areas following
grazing vary:
►Tall-grasses
 30-35 cm (12-14 inches)
►Mid-grasses
 15-20 cm (6-8 inches)
►Short-grasses
 5-8 cm (2-3 inches)
TGM for Monitoring Degree of Use
►Using the Demand Day (DD) as a measure
of animal production and maintenance from
the pasture.
 Energy required for maintenance and growth is
estimated from animal weights and expressed
as DD.
 Productivity of the pastures is estimated from
observed animal production and degree of use
on the pasture.
Season of Use
► Yearlong
 Used primarily in tropical & sub-tropical climates
► Seasonal
 Temperate to cold climates
 Tame pastures
► Rotational
 Grazing Systems (This will be covered in a separate
presentation.)
Length of
Grazing Season vs Growing Season
► Rangelands– Grazing season is generally longer
than the growing season. This requires stockpiling
forage for use during the non-growing season.
This frequently involves very light use during the
peak growing season.
► Tame Pasture– Grazing season is matched with
the growing season to harvest forage near
maximum quality. Stockpiling forage usually
involves shortening the grazing period during
active growth.
Timing of Grazing
► Effect of grazing varies according to:
 Season of use -- Plants are more resistant to intense
herbivory during dormancy than in active growth.
 Phenological stage of plant -- Defoliation in spring
when plants start growth may be less harmful than in
fall when plants are flowering and maturing.
 Opportunity for regrowth – Will plants be able to
produce new leaves and develop strong root systems
prior to entering dormancy following defoliation?
Grazing Distribution:
Animal Selectivity
►Area distribution
 Landscape
 Patch
 Feeding station
►Species selective grazing
►Plant part selective grazing
 Live or dead
 Leaf of stem
Area Selection
►Factors affecting area selection include:
 Distance from Water
 Vegetation Type
 Topography (Slope)
 Range Site (Soils)
 Weather
 Animal pests such as flies
 Kind & class of animal
 Management practices such as supplementation
Distance from Water
►Recommended distances between watering
points vary according to terrain, species of
animal, and breed of livestock
►General recommendations:
 Rough country: ≈ 0.5-mile max
 Rolling country: 1.0-mile max
 Flat sandy country: ≈ 1.5-mile max
 Flat country ≈ 2.0-mile max
Vegetation Type
►Herbivores select areas with vegetation that
best meets their nutritional needs
 Bulk grazers prefer open grasslands
►Cattle, Buffalo, White rhinos
 Browsers prefer wooded areas
►Mule deer, Giraffes, Black rhinos
Topography
Cattle
Horses
Deer
Bighorn
Percent Slope
Percent
of
Observations
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80+
Figure 10.2 Relationship of slope gradient to the percentage of
observations of cattle, feral horses, deer, and bighorn sheep.
(From Ganskopp and Vavra 1987. Reprinted with permission.)
Improving Livestock Distribution
►Provide supplemental feeds/mineral licks
 Cattle move from water to grazing to salt:
►Change location of salt-mineral licks
►Place salt away from water in areas that grazing
animals are avoiding
►Grazing systems that reduce pasture size
and significantly increase animal density
may improve livestock grazing distribution.
Improving Livestock Distribution
►Prescribed burning
 Removal of previous years’ growth
►Greater access to new plant growth
 Early spring fires can
►Increase soil temperature
►Initiate growth
►Improve forage quality
►Encourage earlier grazing
Improving Livestock Distribution
►Adjust kind/class of livestock
 Changing animal species can improve livestock
distribution depending on:
►Vegetation composition
►Water distribution
►Topography
 Because of non-uniform plant composition, multi-
species animal production systems can increase:
►Herbivore distribution
►Vegetation use
►Animal production
Improving Livestock Distribution
►Fencing can be used to control:
 Area selective grazing
 Season of use
 Rotational grazing systems
 Use of high-value forages such as hay crops
 Movement of wildlife
Livestock Distribution
►Negative Aspects of Fencing
 Cost prohibitive where productivity is low
 Electric fences are less costly to construct
than standard barbed wire but more
expensive to maintain
 Restrict movement of some wild species
 High-fencing to control game species
Kind & Class of Animal
► Kind of animal (species)
 Cattle, sheep, goat, horse, wildlife species
► Class of animal (age, sex, physiological status)
 Reproductive -- pregnant or open
 Age -- mature or young
 Lactating or dry
► Adaptation to climate and forage quality
 Breed of animal
 Genetic potential for growth and lactation
Choice of Kind & Class of Animals
►Match animal genetics with forage quality
►Match the grazer with the landscape and
the kinds of vegetation

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PPT Grazing Management Principles for Rangelands.pptx

  • 1. Grazing Management Principles for Rangelands Mort Kothmann Texas A&M University
  • 2. Four Basic Principles of Grazing Management ►Stocking rate ►Season of grazing ►Distribution of grazing across landscape ►Match kinds and classes with the rangeland vegetation, topography and climate
  • 3. Grazing Management Concepts Basic tenets of grazing management ►Grazing intensity (degree of use)  Light – moderate – heavy – extreme ►Methods for monitoring degree of use  Key area method (Key species)
  • 4. Grazing Intensity ► A certain amount of plant biomass must remain to maintain to assure health of animals, plants and soil  Herbivore diet  Plant vigor and reproduction  Soil stability
  • 5. Grazing Intensity ►As annual precipitation declines, sustainable level of forage utilization generally decreases  Sustainable intensity of grazing is directly related to availability of water and soil nutrients  Greater resource availability increases proportional allocation to shoot relative to root
  • 6. Grazing Intensity ►Recommended levels of use based on field estimates and (harvest efficiencies)  Ryegrass (water & N unlimited) 75% (70-80%)  Coastal Bermudagrass pasture 50% (40-60%)  Humid tall grassland 40-50% (20-30%)  Semiarid grasslands: 20-30% (15-20%)  Arid SW & Intermountain West: 15-20% (10-15%) The more arid the land, the lower the sustainable intensity of use.
  • 7. Monitoring Range Utilization ►Key Species Method for monitoring use  Monitor utilization of 1-3 key species that are abundant, productive, and palatable (decreasers or increasers) rather than monitor many species  Assumption: use of entire range is optimal when use of key species is optimal: ►Key species are moderately used – 30-40 % ►Secondary species are lightly used – 10-25 % ►“Ice-cream” plants may be overused – >40 %
  • 8. Monitoring Range Utilization ► Key Area method for monitoring range use  Monitor an area that is “representative” of overall range condition, trend, and degree of seasonal use  No rangeland is uniformly used – some “sacrifice” areas will occur due to area selectivity ►Heavy use – Clipped or mowed appearance  >50 % of fair or poor forage plants used ►Moderate Use  50 % of good or fair forage plants used ►Light use  Only choice plants used
  • 9. Monitoring Range Utilization ►Key Area method for monitoring range use  Optimal stubble height in key areas following grazing vary: ►Tall-grasses  30-35 cm (12-14 inches) ►Mid-grasses  15-20 cm (6-8 inches) ►Short-grasses  5-8 cm (2-3 inches)
  • 10. TGM for Monitoring Degree of Use ►Using the Demand Day (DD) as a measure of animal production and maintenance from the pasture.  Energy required for maintenance and growth is estimated from animal weights and expressed as DD.  Productivity of the pastures is estimated from observed animal production and degree of use on the pasture.
  • 11. Season of Use ► Yearlong  Used primarily in tropical & sub-tropical climates ► Seasonal  Temperate to cold climates  Tame pastures ► Rotational  Grazing Systems (This will be covered in a separate presentation.)
  • 12. Length of Grazing Season vs Growing Season ► Rangelands– Grazing season is generally longer than the growing season. This requires stockpiling forage for use during the non-growing season. This frequently involves very light use during the peak growing season. ► Tame Pasture– Grazing season is matched with the growing season to harvest forage near maximum quality. Stockpiling forage usually involves shortening the grazing period during active growth.
  • 13. Timing of Grazing ► Effect of grazing varies according to:  Season of use -- Plants are more resistant to intense herbivory during dormancy than in active growth.  Phenological stage of plant -- Defoliation in spring when plants start growth may be less harmful than in fall when plants are flowering and maturing.  Opportunity for regrowth – Will plants be able to produce new leaves and develop strong root systems prior to entering dormancy following defoliation?
  • 14. Grazing Distribution: Animal Selectivity ►Area distribution  Landscape  Patch  Feeding station ►Species selective grazing ►Plant part selective grazing  Live or dead  Leaf of stem
  • 15. Area Selection ►Factors affecting area selection include:  Distance from Water  Vegetation Type  Topography (Slope)  Range Site (Soils)  Weather  Animal pests such as flies  Kind & class of animal  Management practices such as supplementation
  • 16. Distance from Water ►Recommended distances between watering points vary according to terrain, species of animal, and breed of livestock ►General recommendations:  Rough country: ≈ 0.5-mile max  Rolling country: 1.0-mile max  Flat sandy country: ≈ 1.5-mile max  Flat country ≈ 2.0-mile max
  • 17. Vegetation Type ►Herbivores select areas with vegetation that best meets their nutritional needs  Bulk grazers prefer open grasslands ►Cattle, Buffalo, White rhinos  Browsers prefer wooded areas ►Mule deer, Giraffes, Black rhinos
  • 18. Topography Cattle Horses Deer Bighorn Percent Slope Percent of Observations 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80+ Figure 10.2 Relationship of slope gradient to the percentage of observations of cattle, feral horses, deer, and bighorn sheep. (From Ganskopp and Vavra 1987. Reprinted with permission.)
  • 19. Improving Livestock Distribution ►Provide supplemental feeds/mineral licks  Cattle move from water to grazing to salt: ►Change location of salt-mineral licks ►Place salt away from water in areas that grazing animals are avoiding ►Grazing systems that reduce pasture size and significantly increase animal density may improve livestock grazing distribution.
  • 20. Improving Livestock Distribution ►Prescribed burning  Removal of previous years’ growth ►Greater access to new plant growth  Early spring fires can ►Increase soil temperature ►Initiate growth ►Improve forage quality ►Encourage earlier grazing
  • 21. Improving Livestock Distribution ►Adjust kind/class of livestock  Changing animal species can improve livestock distribution depending on: ►Vegetation composition ►Water distribution ►Topography  Because of non-uniform plant composition, multi- species animal production systems can increase: ►Herbivore distribution ►Vegetation use ►Animal production
  • 22. Improving Livestock Distribution ►Fencing can be used to control:  Area selective grazing  Season of use  Rotational grazing systems  Use of high-value forages such as hay crops  Movement of wildlife
  • 23. Livestock Distribution ►Negative Aspects of Fencing  Cost prohibitive where productivity is low  Electric fences are less costly to construct than standard barbed wire but more expensive to maintain  Restrict movement of some wild species  High-fencing to control game species
  • 24. Kind & Class of Animal ► Kind of animal (species)  Cattle, sheep, goat, horse, wildlife species ► Class of animal (age, sex, physiological status)  Reproductive -- pregnant or open  Age -- mature or young  Lactating or dry ► Adaptation to climate and forage quality  Breed of animal  Genetic potential for growth and lactation
  • 25. Choice of Kind & Class of Animals ►Match animal genetics with forage quality ►Match the grazer with the landscape and the kinds of vegetation