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Fannin Soil & Water Conservation District
|
NEWSLETTER
| Volume 11 |
Summer 2004 |
Number 1-3 |
Pasture Stocking Rate and Carrying Capacity
Pasture and hay meadow acreage is on the increase in this area. Seed drill rental from the Fannin SWCD amounted to 1,166 acres of former cropland seeded to grass in the spring of 2004. That only accounts for a fraction of the acres of grass established this year. Sprigging which is also used for the establishment of hybrid Bermuda grasses accounts for some grass establishment. Other seeding methods such as broadcasting followed by rolling or harrowing have been used. Contacts in the Honey Grove and Bonham areas support the estimation of six to eight thousand acres being planted to grass this spring within a 25 mile radius of Bonham. Not all of this estimated planting is in Fannin County.
Whats causing this change? The economics of farming is playing a big part. Equipment costs and know-how for row crop farming plays a part. EQIP contracts under the Farm Bill are promoting grass planting to combat erosion. Abandoned and active cropland alike is eligible under the EQIP program and, the program promises to be even bigger next year. Another factor is the growing number of horses and goats. The high price of cattle is a major contributor; everybody would like to sell another calf.
For optimum production, grass must be managed with nutrient and pest management practices. In other words fertilize it according soil test recommendations and control the weeds and bugs. Since utilization of this grass will be for hay production and pasture, the following edited excerpts from Fact Sheet 788 of the Maryland Cooperative Extension titled, Understanding Pasture Stocking Rate and Carrying Capacity, should also provide useful management suggestions.
Introduction
One of the most important considerations in pasture management is understanding how much forage various species of livestock require for maintenance, meat production, milk production, and growth. Many first-time livestock producers incorrectly buy animals and then try to fit them on the available pasture acreage.
Pasture carrying capacity depends on many variables: the most important of which are soil productivity, rainfall, and the management ability of the landowner. This fact sheet will describe a process for determining the number of livestock that should be stocked on a given area. It will also explain options that can be used to increase the carrying capacity of pastureland.
Definitions
The terms stocking rate and carrying capacity are similar, but have slightly different meanings.
Stocking rate is the number of animals stocked per acre of grazing land in a management unit for a defined period of time.
Carrying capacity is the stocking rate that achieves a targeted level of animal or economic performance over a defined period of time without causing deterioration of the pasture ecosystem. Carrying capacity refers to the forage producing capacity of various pastures.
Animal unit is used to describe the stocking rate recommendation for various classes of livestock. One animal unit equals 1,000 pounds.
Therefore, a 1,000-pound non-lactating (dry) beef cow is an animal unit. Two 500-pound beef steers would also be one animal unit. Table 1 lists the average equivalent animal units for various species and types of livestock, taking into account different productive stages and feed rations.
Table 1.
Livestock Class Animal Units
Beef cow (1.000 pounds), non-lactating .. 1.0
Beef cow/calf pair .... 1.3
Yearling (over 18 months) beef steer .. 0.9
Yearling cattle (12-18 months) 0.8
Calf (under 12 months) 0.6
Mature bull .. . 1.5
Dairy cow (1,000 pounds) 50% forage ration .... .. 0.77
Dairy cow (1,300) pounds) 50% forage ration .... . 1.0
Dairy cow (1,600 pounds) 50% forage ration . .. 1.23
Horse. .. 1.2
Sheep/Goat, non-lactating . 0.2
Ewe/Goat with young . .. 0.3
Weaned lamb/kid ...... 0.15
Conclusion
Maintaining the correct animal stocking rate on pastures is one of the most important considerations in maximizing animal health and productivity. Overstocking a given pasture area is damaging to the environment, causing soil erosion and nutrient pollution of streams and some times resulting in decreased animal performance and loss of income from the livestock operation.
There are many variables to take into consideration when deciding on the proper number of head to place on a pasture area of a given size. A general rule of thumb such as one horse per 2 to 3 acres of pasture, for example, might be helpful but is only a starting point. Correctly estimating the carrying capacity and then maintaining a stocking rate in balance with the productivity of the pasture are the first steps to establishing a sustainable and profitable grazing system