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| * Purdue Department of Agronomy |
November 19, 2007
Grazing management publication offers a lot to chew on
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - There's more to grazing livestock than just turning animals loose on acres of grass. Successful producers carefully plan where, when and how long their livestock feed themselves, and a Purdue University Extension publication shows the way."Management-Intensive Grazing in Indiana" (Purdue Extension publication AY-328) covers the decision-making processes and physical components of grazing systems, as well as providing firsthand experiences from livestock producers.
The publication is $7.50 plus tax and shipping, and can be ordered by calling (888) EXT-INFO (398-4636) or visiting the Purdue Extension Education Store at https://www.ces.purdue.edu/new. A downloadable PDF version is available at https://www.ces.purdue.edu/extmedia/AY/AY-328.pdf.
Although the term implies more attention to details, there are many benefits to management-intensive grazing, said Keith Johnson, Purdue Extension forage specialist and one of the publication's authors.
"Management-intensive grazing is taking a pasture and subdividing it into smaller units that we call paddocks," Johnson said. "What it offers is an opportunity to provide rest for the forages in the pasture. Just like livestock and people, rest is important for forage to be healthy. So if we can graze these plants for a few days and provide several weeks of rest to allow them to regrow, we have healthier, more vigorous plants.
"If we rotate livestock through properly stocked paddocks, plants are going to be vegetative, which means they have the potential to be of higher quality. It also allows us, then, to graze later into the season compared to what we might in a continuous grazing program, where the plants, frankly, are worn out."
The 60-page publication addresses a wide variety of grazing issues, ranging from planning paddocks to identifying grazing-related animal disorders to streamside grazing.
"The publication looks at how to lay out paddocks, how to use modern fencing and how to utilize the great improvements in providing water to animals," Johnson said.
"It also gets into what types of forage should be sown and, if we're starting from the beginning and have fertility issues, how much fertilizer should be applied. Then there's a section on multispecies grazing. Animals graze in different ways because of how their mouths are configured, so we can combine different species of livestock and make better utilization of the forage."
The publication's final five chapters are devoted to the experiences of Indiana graziers. One producer's story focuses on providing forage for goats on one acre of pasture. Another explains how low inputs helped a sheep farm do more than survive. Still another recounts a dairy producer's perspective.
"This publication is great for both novices looking to learn about pasture systems and individuals who've been grazing in a continuous fashion for 20 or 30 years," Johnson said.
Other publication contributors include Ed Heckman, retired Purdue Extension educator; and Susannah Hinds, Jerry Perkins, Victor Shelton and Robert Zupancic, Indiana grazing land specialists with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA NRCS).
The publication was produced with support from the USDA NRCS Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative. The program is a nationwide collaboration of organizations and individuals working together to maintain and improve the management, productivity and health of the nation's privately owned grazing land.
For additional information on grazing and forage, visit the Purdue Forage Information Web site at https://www.agry.purdue.edu/ext/forages/index.html.
Writer: Steve Leer, (765) 494-8415, sleer@purdue.edu
Source: Keith Johnson, (765) 494-4800, johnsonk@purdue.edu
Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722;
Beth Forbes, forbes@purdue.edu
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