B-6253 07/12 Lone Star Healthy Streams Dairy Cattle Manual Endorsed By: LONE STA R HEALTHY STREAMS Keeping Texas Waters Safe and Clean... Cover picture courtesy of USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Lone Star Healthy Streams Dairy Cattle Manual Authors Jennifer Peterson Extension Program Specialist Department of Soil & Crop Sciences Texas AgriLife Extension Service Ellen Jordan Professor and Extension Dairy Specialist Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center Kevin Wagner Associate Director Texas Water Resources Institute Larry Redmon Professor and State Forage Specialist Department of Soil & Crop Sciences Texas AgriLife Extension Service © 2011 Photos.com, a division of Getty Images. All rights reserved. Table of Contents ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS....................................................................................................... vi LIST OF FIGURES........................................................................................................................ vii LIST OF TABLES.......................................................................................................................... ix PREFACE....................................................................................................................................... x CHAPTER 1: WATER QUALITY IN TEXAS Water Quality in Texas..................................................................................................................... 2 Value of Clean Water to Texas Agriculture....................................................................................... 2 Water Quality Law and Policy.......................................................................................................... 3 Sources of Bacteria in Texas Waterways.......................................................................................... 5 Bacteria Fate and Transport............................................................................................................. 7 Benefits of Voluntary Conservation Practices.................................................................................. 7 The Texas Dairy Industry................................................................................................................. 9 CHAPTER 2: BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR DAIRY CATTLE Grazing-Based Dairies......................................................................................................................... 11 Pasture Management BMPs........................................................................................................... 11 Prescribed Grazing........................................................................................................................ 11 Stocking Rate................................................................................................................................ 12 Grazing Management................................................................................................................... 14 Additional Pasture Management Practices................................................................................... 18 Consequences of Improper Pasture and Grazing Management................................................... 20 Summary of Pasture Management BMPs.................................................................................... 22 Runoff Management BMPs............................................................................................................ 23 Filter Strips................................................................................................................................... 23 Summary of Runoff Management BMPs...................................................................................... 26 Riparian Area Protection and Management BMPs......................................................................... 26 Shade Structures.......................................................................................................................... 26 Watering Facility........................................................................................................................... 27 Exclusionary Fencing.................................................................................................................... 30 Access Control.............................................................................................................................. 32 Hardened Stream Crossings......................................................................................................... 33 Salt, Mineral, and Feeder Locations............................................................................................. 34 Heavy Use Area Protection.......................................................................................................... 35 In-Stream Watering Points........................................................................................................... 36 Summary of Riparian Area Protection and Management BMPs.................................................. 37 Confined Dairy.................................................................................................................................... 38 Runoff Management BMPs............................................................................................................ 38 Field Borders................................................................................................................................. 38 Roof Runoff Structures................................................................................................................. 39 Grassed Waterways...................................................................................................................... 41 Diversions..................................................................................................................................... 42 Summary of Runoff Management BMPs...................................................................................... 44 Lone Star Healthy Streams: Dairy Cattle Manual iv Table of Contents Manure Management BMPs........................................................................................................... 44 Waste Treatment Lagoon.............................................................................................................. 44 Waste Utilization........................................................................................................................... 45 Soil Testing and Nutrient Management........................................................................................ 47 Composting.................................................................................................................................. 48 Summary of Manure Management BMPs.................................................................................... 51 Mortality Management BMPs........................................................................................................ 51 Rendering..................................................................................................................................... 52 Composting.................................................................................................................................. 52 Incineration.................................................................................................................................. 53 Sanitary Landfills.......................................................................................................................... 53 Burial............................................................................................................................................ 53 Summary of Mortality Management BMPs................................................................................. 54 CHAPTER 3: SOURCES OF TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR BMP IMPLEMENTATION Sources of Technical Assistance for BMP Implementation............................................................... 56 Soil and Water Conservation Districts........................................................................................... 56 Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board............................................................................ 56 Natural Resources Conservation Service....................................................................................... 56 Texas AgriLife Extension Service.................................................................................................... 57 Sources of Financial Assistance for BMP Implementation................................................................ 57 Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board............................................................................ 57 Natural Resources Conservation Service....................................................................................... 58 USDA Farm Services Agency........................................................................................................... 58 CONCLUSION.............................................................................................................................. 59 REFERENCES.............................................................................................................................. 60 ADDITIONAL RESOURCES...................................................................................................