Pasture and Grazing Management in the Northwest Pnw 614
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Pasture Guide Cover TO PRINT_Pasture Guide Cover with 9/16 spine 3/2/10 3:18 PM Page 1 PASTURE AND GRAZING MANAGEMENT IN THE NORTHWEST IN AND GRAZING MANAGEMENT PASTURE PNW 614 The comprehensive resource for anyone who manages livestock on pastures in the Northwest. Because each pasture is different, no single man- agement recipe works in every situation. Your task PASTURE AND GRAZING as a manager is to customize a system that will en- able your pastures—and your livestock—to reach their maximum production potential. Pasture and MANAGEMENT IN THE NORTHWEST Grazing Management in the Northwest will give you the knowledge you need to succeed. • A step-by-step process for assessing resources and setting goals for your pastures. • Recommendations for forage species and mix- tures whether you live east or west of the Cas- cades. • Step-by-step procedures for choosing the optimal stocking rate, stock density, grazing cell design, and irrigation system for your situation. • Seeding, fertilization, and irrigation guidelines for maximizing forage production. • Descriptions of the most common weeds, pest in- sects, and diseases in forage and strategies for managing them. • Information on plant growth to help you manage grazing to maximize forage production. • Insights into animal behavior to help you encour- age uniform grazing. • Information on animal nutrient requirements, for- age quality, and animal health to keep grazing ani- mals healthy and productive. • Detailed costs and returns estimates that you can modify for your own pasture enterprise. The authors Northwest Extension Publication A Pacific Editors Glenn E. Shewmaker, University of Idaho for- age specialist, and Mylen G. Bohle, Oregon State University extension agronomist, and more than 20 other experts from land-grant universities, USDA, and private industry bring together Northwest-spe- cific information from their own research and other relevant sources. A Pacific Northwest Extension Publication $18.00 A Pacific Northwest Extension Publication University of Idaho • Oregon State University • Washington State University Pasture and Grazing Management in the Northwest Edited by Glenn E. Shewmaker and Mylen G. Bohle A Pacific Northwest Extension Publication University of Idaho • Oregon State University • Washington State University Published by University of Idaho Extension, Moscow, Idaho 83844-2338 © 2010 by the University of Idaho All rights reserved. Published 2010 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 1 2 3 4 5 This publication was partially funded by Western SARE Professional Development Program Grant EW05-12. The editors and authors are grateful to Teresa Welch at Wild Iris Communications for her skillful copyediting. Cover photography—Front cover photos, clockwise from top, are by Lynn Ketchum (© 2005 by Oregon State University), Dawn Gerrish, and Glenn Shewmaker, all used by permission. Back cover photos, from top to bottom, are by Glenn Shew- maker, Wilson Gray, Glenn Shewmaker, Lynn Ketchum (© 2007 by Oregon State University), Glenn Shewmaker, and Glenn Shewmaker, all used by permission. To order additional copies: In Idaho, call (208) 885-7982, In Washington, call (800) 723-1763 e-mail [email protected], or go online http://pubs.wsu.edu or fax (208) 885-4648 Pacific Northwest extension publications are produced cooperatively by the three Pacific Northwest land-grant universities: Wash- ington State University, Oregon State University, and the University of Idaho. Similar crops, climate, and topography create a natural geographic unit that crosses state lines. Since 1949, the PNW program has published more than 600 titles, preventing duplication of effort, broadening the availability of faculty specialists, and substantially reducing costs for the participating states. Published and distributed in furtherance of the Acts of Congress of May 8 and June 30, 1914, by University of Idaho Extension, the Oregon State University Extension Service, Washington State University Extension, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture cooper- ating. The three participating extension services offer educational programs, activities, and materials without regard to race, color, na- tional origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, or status as a disabled veteran or Vietnam-era veteran, as required by state and federal laws. University of Idaho Extension, Oregon State University Extension Service, and Washington State University Extension are Equal Opportunity Employers. Contents Introduction . .1 C. Cheyney and G. Shewmaker Chapter 1 Pasture Resources, Goals, and Planning . .3 S. Williams and S. Baker Chapter 2 Species Selection and Grazing Management Guidelines . .7 D. Ogle, L. St. John, and K. Jensen Chapter 3 Soils, Fertility, and Nutrient Management for Pastures . .21 G. Shewmaker, R. Koenig, D. Horneck, M. Bohle, G. Cardon, and S. Jensen Chapter 4 Pasture Renovation, Planting, and Establishment . .31 B. McLain, S. Fransen, and G. Shewmaker Chapter 5 Growth, Development, and Defoliation Responses of Pasture Plants . .41 S. Fransen and T. Griggs Chapter 6 Principles of Pasture Irrigation . .53 H. Neibling, M. Bohle, and C. Falen Chapter 7 Weed Management . .67 R. Whitesides and M. Bouck Chapter 8 Insect, Mite, and Related Pests of Pacific Northwest Pastures . .73 G. Fisher, A. Dreves, M. Bohle, and D. Hannaway Chapter 9 Disease and Nematode Management . .79 O.T. Neher Chapter 10 Nutritional Needs of Grazing Animals . .91 C. Engel, T. Fife, and J. Hall Chapter 11 Pasture Plant Composition and Forage Nutritional Value . .107 T. Griggs, J. Church, and R. Wilson Chapter 12 Health Considerations for Grazing Animals . .119 D. Cash, A. Hulting, D. Hannaway, and M. Bohle Chapter 13 Foraging Behavior and Grazing Management . .133 K. Crane, J. Glaze, and G. Shewmaker Chapter 14 Grazing Systems and Methods . .139 T. Griggs, G. Shewmaker, and J. Church Chapter 15 Grazing Cell Design and Installation . .149 J. Gerrish and C. Cheyney Chapter 16 Estimating Forage Production, Monitoring, and Evaluating the Grazing System . .161 G. Shewmaker, B. Gillaspy, S. Fransen, T. Griggs, and L. Hooper Chapter 17 Economics and Risk Management in Grazing Systems . .177 W. Gray and M. Bohle Glossary . .195 References . .200 Authors . .204 Color plates follow page 204 Introduction C. Cheyney and G. Shewmaker PASTURES ARE REMARKABLE PLACES. They beau- • Well-managed pastures reduce the loss of nitrogen to tify the landscape, protect soil from erosion, capture the atmosphere. carbon to reduce greenhouse gases, release oxygen for Humans are seldom content with a system that func- us to breathe, produce feed for livestock, and provide tions well, unless it produces food or fiber they can habitat for wildlife. Ecologically diverse, well-managed use. Thus, pastures pose a problem. They store solar pastures are relatively resistant to the scourges of dis- energy primarily in structural carbohydrates (cellulose eases and insects, and they seldom need chemical in- and hemicelluloses), which humans cannot digest. puts to control weeds. What more could we want? Only certain protozoa and bacteria can utilize the en- All of Earth’s inhabitants benefit from the ecosystem ergy in structural carbohydrates, and they need to live services provided by pastures. For example: in a warm, moist, protected environment. • Both rural and urban residents value pastoral land- Nature provided a solution to this problem through the scapes. Most people enjoy scenes of animals grazing specially adapted digestive tracts of ruminants, well-managed pastures. camelids, rodents, and horses. Of these, ruminants have the most sophisticated digestive system. • Pastures protect and enrich the soil with their exten- sive root system. The ruminant’s digestive tract has four compartments, including the true stomach. The largest compartment • Grasses, legumes, and other forbs serve as millions is the rumen. The rumen serves as a fermentation vat, of little solar panels to capture huge amounts of solar where protozoa and bacteria live in a mutually benefi- energy. Through photosynthesis, they convert this en- cial relationship (symbiosis) with the animal. The mi- ergy into chemical energy and store it in carbohy- crobes enzymatically break down otherwise drates, a process that takes carbon dioxide (CO ) 2 indigestible structural carbohydrates and use the nutri- from the atmosphere and releases oxygen. Irrigated ents to grow and multiply. The remaining forage mass, perennial pastures in the Northwest can sequester as well as some of the microorganisms, are further di- 88,000 pounds per acre of carbon over 30 years. This gested in the ruminant’s true stomach. is 160% of the carbon stored in irrigated annual crop- land. Most of the gain in carbon sequestration in pas- The resulting liberated nutrients are absorbed into the tures is in perennial plant growth. In addition, ruminant’s bloodstream through the small intestine, al- production and harvesting of irrigated pastures emit lowing the animal to grow and reproduce. The rumi- only 26% of the carbon emitted to produce and har- nant then provides humans with fiber and food that is vest annual crops. high in energy, essential amino and fatty acids, and other nutrients that we would otherwise need to ac- • Pastures filter sediment and excess nutrients from quire from a variety of plants. Energy and nutrients not overland water flows. They protect the soil from the used by the animal are returned to the pasture. There impact of raindrops, increase water infiltration and they are reused in growth processes