ALABAMA A&M AND AUBURN UNIVERSITIES Silvopasture Practices for Sustainable Forage, Meat Goat, and Timber Production

UNP-2056

Introduction A study evaluating the profitability, financial feasibility, and risk considerations of a silvopasture production system for limited- resource farmers on small and medium- sized farms was initiated on the property of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/ Land Assistance Fund near Epes, Alabama in 2006. In 2012, the study was extended to include on-farm demonstrations on farmers properties in the Black Belt region of Alabama. This publication provides an overview of the project and helpful tips to establish sustainable silvopasture practices for limited resource farmers.

Silvopasture is the integration of forage, livestock, and timber production on one section of land.Silvopasture presents opportunities to increase the diversity of plants and animals, to sustainably increase land productivity, and to improve cash flow by combining annual income from and forage crops and later income from timber. Development of this opportunity is especially needed in the Black Belt Establishment & Management region of central Alabama and northeast Mississippi where limited-resource and A silvopasture enterprise can be established forest landowners on small and medium- in an existing by planting or sized farms are facing viability problems in an existing tree plantation by thinning and struggling to make a profit from the trees to reduce shading for understory conventional and traditional forage planting. The thinning process leaves forestry practices.ARCHIVE Silvopasture takes only the trees that will eventually produce advantage of the fact that many forage quality sawtimber. About 150 to 200 trees plant species produce similar biomass and per acre should be left standing. Trees often have higher protein content when specifically planted for silvopasture systems grown under partial shade. This allows are generally planted in double set rows landowners to continue to earn an annual about 10 ft apart with 10 ft between the income from livestock and hay, while trees in a row. The spacing between each growing trees such as loblolly pines and double set of trees is usually 40 ft. This 40- hybrid poplar for timber. ft interspace area is then planted with a

www.aces.edu/urban Figure 1. Loblolly pines silvopasture system at FSC (left) and meat goats grazing silvopasture plots (right) at FSC, Epes Alabama. forage grass or mixtures if no desirable in retaining double rows of trees and 40- cover is present. For the production of ft wide alleys between them to allow for a high-quality sawtimber, the trees should be variety of forage and browse species to be pruned to a height of up to 20 ft. Soil fertility planted between the tree rows (Figure 1). of the trees should not be necessary since Stumps of the cut trees were completely the understory forage crops are fertilized removed using stump grinders to enable for good forage production. Generally, the use of agricultural equipment for lime loblolly or slash pine have been planted and fertilizer incorporation using disking for silvopasture systems but in recent and for forage planting. The trees were times, hybrid poplar, a fast growing timber pruned to a height of 8 ft to allow the species that is a cross between an Eastern production of knot-free high quality saw cottonwood and a European black poplar is timber. The operations will be evaluated getting increased interest as an alternative for their suitability and profitability to loblolly pine. for sustained meat goat production in conjunction with the production of loblolly Two systems being used in the project pine sawlogs. include starting with an already established loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) plantation and Hybrid Poplar Plantations establishing new “systems” by planting hybrid poplar (Populus deltoides x Hybrid poplar trees were planted on a Populus nigra) trees followed by forage couple of participating farm properties. establishment. Hybrid poplar trees grow fast (up to 10 times faster than most timber trees) and Established Loblolly Pine Plantation as much as 10 ft per year. Hybrid poplar sticks, without roots, were planted in the In the Black Belt project, a seven-year-old spring of April 2013. Prior to planting a few fully stocked loblollyARCHIVE pine plantation at the holes were poked in bags for respiration Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land while the sticks soaked in cold water for a Assistance Fund (FSC) in Epes, Alabama couple of days. Normally, sticks should be was thinned from about 600 trees per soaked for 1 to 4 days, to promote rooting. acre to 150 trees per acre. The thinning The planting sites were previously used operation involved completely removing all as cow pasture. These sites were sub- the trees of every other row, followed by soiled before planting began to eliminate removing every other tree of the remaining weeds and to loosen the soil. The herbicide rows using chainsaws. This set up resulted glyphosate was sprayed up to the day

2 Alabama Cooperative Extension System before planting. Note: Consider planting During the summer, spot treat the weeds deep into the soil with good moisture by using 2 to 3% glyphosate (around 12 using dibble bars. Sticks with at least one to 16 oz in 4 gallons of water). Glyphosate good healthy bud should remain above the (Roundup) will kill the poplars easily, so ground. Wet sticks should be kept under avoid getting the weed killer on the leaves shade. Handle sticks gently and be sure by spraying at very low pressure in calm to plan them right-side up. The stick buds conditions, typically from 6:00 a.m. to should be “frowning.” If they are “smiling,” 8:00 a.m. Also, fertilize with up to 80 lbs the stick is upside-down. Pre-emergent of nitrogen, by hand, banded in a 3 ft row herbicides were sprayed immediately after during the spring coincident with rainfall. planting using a tractor. Avoid spraying When using nitrogen, be careful not to get sticks directly. If you wait until the buds the granules right at the stick to prevent start swelling, applying herbicide can kill burning. Spray and fertilize again the the sticks. We used 4 quarts of Pendulum following year. Tree growth will make the 3.3 EC plus 4 oz of Scepter 70DG mixed process go much easier. After the second with 15 gallon of water per acre. year, the trees need only fertilizer. They should close crown and capture the site The recommended population for pulpwood in the third year three. Apply 100 kg N/ production is 450 to 600 trees per acre acre and 25 kg P/acre yearly depending on and rotation length is 8 to 10 years with rainfall conditions. an expected growth of 12 to 16 tons/ acre/year. For this project, 580 trees were Grazing Paddock Establishment planted per acres in double rows 8 ft apart, with sticks 5 ft apart within the rows. The Fencing is important to safely keep goats in alleys between the double rows were set the paddocks (pasture areas) and to keep at 26 ft apart. Poplars like moisture, so predators such as dogs and coyotes out of moderately well-drained soils with some the grazing areas. The perimeter boundary degree of clay content for water retention of the grazing paddocks was fenced with are desirable. Irrigation might be needed 4-ft high woven wire and a grounded barbed during planting. Most of our sticks sprouted wire and the top and bottom of the fence, and rooted. However, one of the sites had laid along the ground to keep predators such poor drainage and the excessive rainfall in as coyotes and wild dogs out (Figure 2). the summer affected the tree-survival rate. Cross fencing will permit for efficient forage management. ARCHIVE

Figure 2. Fenced paddocks for meat goat production in a loblolly pine silvopasture system at FSC, Epes Alabama

Silvopasture Agroforestry Practices for Sustainable Forage, Meat Goat, and Timber Production 3 Figure 3. Students from Alabama A&M University taking soil samples for nutrient analyses in silvopasture plots at Epes Alabama

For this project, the inside boundaries to provide winter grazing. It should be of the sub-paddocks were fenced with 3 seeded in September or October at 15 to strands of smooth electrified wire spaced 20 lbs per acre. 6, 10, and 20 inches from the ground up. Since goats prefer crawling rather than The quality of grass-based silvopasture jumping out of the paddocks, the bottom systems can be improved by planting wire needed to be kept close to the ground. clovers such as ladino or red clovers in Wooden shelter boxes were also placed the . Sericea lespedeza is also in the grazing paddocks to protect the useful in goat pastures to control worms. animals from inclement weather. Supplemental feeding of goats with quality hay should be done if there is a shortage Forage Establishment & Maintenance of forage in the grazing areas. Hay should be tested for nutrient content. Goats The first step in pasture establishment relish woody or spring browse species and is soil testing to evaluate the soil fertility broadleaf weeds that usually will not status followed by the application of any eat. This also helps to control weeds in the needed fertilizer and/or lime for soil pH pastures. correction (Figure 3). Careful planning and adjustments are necessary to develop In the Black Belt project, the existing a year-round forage program. This will grass in the plots, bahiagrass (Paspalum include adjusting the stocking density to notatum), was left as the main grass ensure that some browsing and foraging forage source. Bahiagrass is a summer must be left at the end of each grazing growing perennial that is tolerant of cycle to allow for adequate vegetation shade. Forage production was improved regeneration. Whenever possible, by clearing the understory brush that harvesting ungrazedARCHIVE forages such as hay created open space for forage planting. or silage at an immature stage of growth After clearing brush, pelleted dolomitic when forage growth is more rapid than it lime, CaMg(CO3)2 at 3 tons per acre using can be grazed, should be done to prevent light disking, followed by an application of and also to provide high a 13:13:13 NPK inorganic fertilizer at 400 quality feed when grazing is scarce. Fall lb per acre, were added to the soil in spring and spring grazing can be improved by to improve fertility (Figure 4). White clover planting tall fescue, preferably a novel (Trifolium repens) and red clover (Trifolium endophyte variety that is not toxic to pratense) were seeded in the enhanced grazing animals. Fescue can be stockpiled forage plots at 2 lb per acre and 8 lb per 4 Alabama Cooperative Extension System Figure 4. Applying lime (left) and tillage (right) to improve forage production in a loblolly pine silvopasture system at FSC, Epes, Alabama acre, respectively during the fall. A browse grazing and access to browse pastures. species, Serecea lespedeza, was seeded to When forages are deficient in quality or enhanced paddocks during the spring. Our quantity, does should be supplemented goal was to achieve a ratio of 60% browse with high quality hay and(or) an and 40% grass forage species mixture, byproduct feed such as whole cottonseed. representing the average intake ratio of Cottonseed can be provided at 0.25lb/ browse to grass by foraging goats. head/day in winter or when forages are scarce. Post weaned kids need to Animal Management Guidelines be kept under forage management and supplemented with cottonseed 0.25lb/ Herd Composition head/day for 90 to 120 days, to be sold in the fall at a market weight of 60 lbs. For this project twenty-five breeding doe The herd sire (buck) should be kept herd + one herd sire (6 acres) were used: on forages and supplemented with a commercial supplement during period 53 Kids born 210% of scarce forages. Care should be taken 1 Doe culled 5% when selecting a supplement for bucks to 1 Doe death 3% avoid the development of urinary calculi. Pre-weaning kid mortalities 10% Goats should have 24-hour access to good 50 Kids weaned 200% quality fresh water and loose minerals 2 Replacement does 8% labeled for goats, not for and goats. 48 Kids available for sale 192% Herd Reproductive Management Herd Nutritional Management Does should be bred once a year in the fall In the on-farm demonstration project by natural service for 30-45 days. Kids will animals are kept on a semi-intensive then be born in the spring. The breeding management systemARCHIVE with rotational buck should be fitted with marking harness to aid in recording breeding activity and estimating kidding dates. Does should kid on pasture with access to shelters. Kids should be tagged for identification purposes, weighed 12 to 24 hours after birth and weaned at approximately 90 days of age (3-month-old). Selected doelings need to be kept as replacements. Silvopasture Agroforestry Practices for Sustainable Forage, Meat Goat, and Timber Production 5 Post-weaned bucklings are managed on Economics forages and supplemented if needed to be sold at a weight of 50 to 60 lb. Economic analyses of the research study at the property of the Federatioin of Southern Herd Health Management Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund near Epes, Alabama, results showed that the Pregnant does should be vaccinated 30 technology of producing meat goats in days before kidding against clostridium a sustainable loblolly pine silvopasture types C and D, tetanus, and pneumonia. system is profitable and financially feasible The herd sire should also be vaccinated if the farmer stocks 8 meat goats per once a year against clostridium types C acre. At this stocking rate, total operating and D and tetanus, and pneumonia. Kids cost per acre was estimated at $313 while should be vaccinated at weaning against total revenue was $512. Therefore, at clostridium types C and D and tetanus, these levels of revenue and cost, meat and pneumonia and booster shots given 3 goat production enterprise would generate weeks later. The FAMACHA system chould a profit of $198 per acre on average or be applied as a method to identify and $24.75 per goat. manage animals with high Haemonchus contortus (barber pole worm) loads. This The total revenue from timber products system can be used to identify and select (pulpwood, chip-n-saw and sawtimber) was does with higher resistance to barber estimated at $6,110 while total operating pole worms. Does with poor reproductive costs were $4,467 per acre. At these levels performance and health should be culled. of revenue and cost, loblolly pine plantation High FAMACHA scores are indicative of enterprise is shown to generate a profit anemia and should be treated with an of $1,643 per acre on average. Overall, effective dewormer. Deworming of the herd the results indicate that this technology should be kept to a minimum. Along with is profitable and financially feasible for FAMACHA, other signs of internal parasitism limited-resource farmers in Alabama under should be monitored. At weaning, kids specified assumptions. should receive a cocccidiostat, preferably in their drinking water. Acknowledgements

Marketing The authors and researchers would like to extend special thanks and appreciation to Kids (males and unselected females) the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/ should be sold at 50 to 60 lb. Culled does Land Assistance Fund in Epes, Alabama, should be sold annually. There are various and the farmers in the Black Belt region of methods of selling goat. Options for market Alabama participating in this project. goats include the local livestock auction facility, directly off the farm, or directly to a broker, processor, or retailer. Funding Acknowledgement Note: Revenue generated from meat goat production may varyARCHIVE with operational cost The project was supported by the which include: nutrition, health and genetic National Research Initiative of the USDA management costs. Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service, grant number 2006- 55618-17020 and the USDA/NIFA grant number 2012-68006-30189

6 Alabama Cooperative Extension System ARCHIVE

Silvopasture Agroforestry Practices for Sustainable Forage, Meat Goat, and Timber Production 7 Maria Lenira Leite-Browning, DVM, Extension Animal Scientist, Alabama Cooperative Extension System, Alabama A&M University Ermson Z. Nyakatawa, PhD, Research Scientist/Professor, College of Agricultural and Natural Sciences, Alabama Agricultural & Mechanical University James O. Bukenya, PhD, Professor of Resource Economics, College of Business and Public Affairs, Alabama Agricultural & Mechanical University David A. Mays, PhD, Adjunct Professor of Agronomy, College of Agricultural and Natural Sciences, Alabama Agricultural & Mechanical University Kozma Naka, PhD, Associate Professor of Forestry, College of Agricultural and ARCHIVENatural Sciences, Alabama Agricultural & Mechanical University For more information, call your county Extension office. Look in your telephone directory under your county’s name to find the number. UNP-2056 Trade names are used only to give specific information. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System does not endorse or guarantee any product and does not recommend one product instead of another that might be similar.

Published by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M and Auburn Universities) in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. An Equal Opportunity Educator and Employer. New May 2014; UNP-2056

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