Pasture Management

4 elements to setting up a pasture

1. grazing area

2. fencing

3. shelter

4. water and minerals (forgot most often)

Why graze animals on pasture?

• lowers feed costs - one of the biggest costs in goat operations

  • need high quality feed in order to maximize production whether meat or dairy goat

• boosts nutritional value

• land management

• helps the environment

3 types of grazing

1. continuous

2. rotational

3. strip

continuous grazing

• animals have full access to pasture

• selective grazing of best plants

• Low efficiency (about 35%) and uneven manure distribution

• can cause overgrazing

  • weaken pasture over time

• easiest but worst long term

rotational grazing

• pasture divides into sections, grazed in a sequence

• allows rest and regrowth of plants

• improves forage production, animal performance, and profit

• even manure distribution - healthier pasture

Strip grazing

• uses moveable fence to control small grazing areas

  • no back fencing

• animals get fresh forage frequently

• higher efficiency and less selective grazing

• often used with stockpiled or seasonal forages

grazing tips

• grouping: production stage/lactation, health, age, sex,

  • maximizes animal health while saving time and labor

• make sure land has high-quality forage

  • goats prefer shrubs, leaves, soft plants

• graze early-stage plants for better nutrition

• manage stocking rate and rotation to prevent overgrazing

• provide access to clean water, shade, and fencing at all times

• check for parasites routinely

• provide minerals/supplements as forage quality declines

Stocking rate

number of goats per acre of land

Permanent fencing

• used around farm perimeter to divide pastures

• acts as a physical barrier

• higher upfront cost, more work to install

• less daily maintence

• does not control grazing

• examples:

  • high tensile

  • wire stock

  • board fencing

Temporary fencing

• used for rotational grazing

• easily moveable and quick to set up

• act as a psychological barrier

• examples:

  • electric nets

  • electric wire/rope/tape

  • wire panels

Predators and guardian animals

• coyotes

• dogs

• predatory birds:kids

• bobcats

• mountain lions

• dogs

• llamas

• donkeys

Shelter

• need protection from rain, wind, and sun

• types of shelter on pasture: 3-sided sheds, shades, calf hutches, portable shelters

  • move shelter every day to prevent manure buildup and destroying pasture

• place near feed and water for easy access

• seasonal needs vary: more protection in winter, more shade/airflow in summer

  • no heat needed in winter, they grow natural winter coats (Cashmere)

water and minerals

• should always have access to fresh, clean water

• minerals:

  • essential for growth, reproduction, and immune function

  • pasture alone may not provide enough: supplementation needed

  • provide free choice loose minerals

    • salt (sodium chloride)

    • dicalcium phosphate

  • mineral blocks

• Setup

  • use covered, weather-resistant mineral feeders

  • multi-compartment feeders allow different supplements

    • portable feeders can move with grazing goats

• we offer free choice minerals at Hadley farm

Nutrition

• goats are browsers with a preference of eating brush, shrubs, and leaves

• structure of mouth and split upper lip enables them to choose most palatable and nutritious feed

• can stand on hind legs to reach browse 4-5ft high

• top-down grazers: graze level of pasture uniformly before getting close to soil level

  • naturally stay away from bottom 1-4 in. of pasture where most parasites are

• goats need high quality forage and concentrates to convert into meat

• protein is important to support gestation, reproduction, and lactation

• 2:1 ca:p ratio

• mixtures of legumes and grasses give the best overall nutrition for goats on pasture

Vegetative pasture

• forage with 20-32 days of growth

• supports most groups of nutritional requirements

Mature pasture

• forage with more than 32 days of growth

• meets the nutritional requirements of dry and early pregnant does

• other groups must be supplemented

• the more mature the pasture is, the less nutritious it is

  • think of 1st cut and 2nd cut

Timothy Grass

• easy to establish

• high-yielding and palatable

• good companion grass for legumes

• does not tolerate close grazing well

• “bunch type” grass with a shallow, compact fibrous root system

• erect flowering stems with dense, cylindrical spike-like seed heads

Orchardgrass

• highly palatable when young, but declines in palatability and digestibility as it matures

• grows vigorously during warm, dry midsummer conditions

• less winter-hardy than Timothy and does not persist well in wet soils

• “bunch-type” grass with folded leaf blades and compressed sheaths

Smooth Bromegrass

• good drought tolerance

• palatable and retains nutritional value better than other grasses as it matures

• more difficult to establish

Kentucky Bluegrass

• palatable pasture grass with early spring growth

• tolerates close and continuous grazing

• performs best in cool, humid conditions on fertile soils

4 types of legumes

• legumes are plant produce seeds and pods (ex. beans, peas, lentils, peanuts, and soybeans), and are a rich source of protein, fiber, complex carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals

• alfalfa

• birdsfoot trefoil

• red clover

• white clover

Alfalfa

• high protein yield per acre compared to other forage legumes

• very drought resistant due to a deep root system

• has a long, thick taproot with few smaller side roots

• produces upright, woody stems that are relatively high in fiber

• highly nutritious for goats but intake should still be monitored for signs of bloat

Birdsfoot trefoil

• well adapted to a wide range of soil types and environmental conditions

• lower yield than alfalfa and more difficult to dry for hay

• reseeds itself easily

• non-bloating legume, making it a safer option for grazing goats

red clover

• remains palatable longer as it matures

• easier to establish and grow than many legumes

• grows upright (vertical growth habit)

• tolerates wetter and more acidic soils

• can suppress growth of other legumes

White Clover

• very common in pastures

• low-growing with a spreading habit

• tolerates frequent grazing well

• highly palatable for goats

Soil Quality

• support plant and animal health

• good soil tilth

  • deep plant roots

  • no compaction

• proper drainage

• large and diverse microbial population

• essential nutrient cycling

Types of in house soil testing

• grazing stick: measures available forage by measuring grass height and density

• Wire flag test: tests soil compaction by measuring depth of where wire bends

• pH test: tests soil pH which affects nutrient availability

  • mix distilled H2O with soil sample

  • Use pH strips or monitor

  • 6.5-7

• water infiltration test: measures how fast water can enter the soil

  • fill metal ring with water and use timer to measure

Soil testing send out

• why? ensure optimal plant growth and cost efficiency

• sample: ensure the quality of the sample represents the whole pasture

  • 15-20 cores consisting of 4-6 in. of soil

  • send out to lab - mass soil testing lab

• report: determines soil quality, pH, and nutrient availability

  • nutrient holding and cation exchange capacity

soil health

• types: composed of different proportions of sand, silt, clay

• productive soil pH=6.7 to 7, which promotes the most grass, legume, and plant growth

• nutrient availability varies depending on pH

  • acidic soil pH in MA: nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, calcium, selenium are less available.

  • Selenium injection

Hadley farm pasture management

• rotational grazing

  • moving animals every 2-3 days

• Does are usually at end of lactation in summer

• supplemented with grain

• temporary electric net fencing

• temporary shade shelters that move daily

• once a pasture fully grazed, will not be used again for at least two months

  • parasite life cycle, regrowth of plants, and avoiding compacted soil

parasite life cycle

• life cycle lasts 21 days

• infective L3 stage lives on plants

• parasites usually reside in the bottom 1-4in. of pasture

Common parasites

• haemonchus contorts (barber pole worm)

  • causes severe anemia and bottle jaw can be life-threatening

• coccidia (cocci)

  • causes diarrhea and poor growth especially in kids

• liver flukes

  • found in wet areas, damages the liver

• lungworms

  • causes coughing and breathing issues,, spread through slugs or snails on pasture

• use Camacho

Hoof Rot

• cause: wet, muddy pastures promote bacterial growth

• treatment: hoof’n heel, hoof baths, possibly antibiotics

• prevention: regular hoof trimming and maintaining dry/clean environments

• highly contagious to herd

• severe lameness, odor, fever, decreased appetite

Hoof scald

• cause: irritation from environment

• treatment: hoof bathes, clean environment

• prevention: regular hoof trimming and maintaining dry/clean environments

• non-contagious inflammation

• lameness, sensitive pink and raw skin in between toes

Bloat

• clinical signs: severely distended left side, teeth grinding, lethargy, no appetite

• cause: rapid buildup of gas in the rumen

  • over-consumption of legumes such as alfalfa and grain

• Treatment: anti-foaming agent such as poloxalene (vet) or mineral oil, rumen trocarization (last resort: insert tube in left side to release gas)

• prevention: managing nutrition, limiting intake

Poisonous Plants

• rhododendron

• yew

• nightshade

• clinical signs: teeth grinding, foamy mouth, lethargy, neurological, bloating

• treatment: activated charcoal, toxin, homemade remedies (pepto-bismol, milk of magnesia)

• prevention: identify and remove them from secure pasture, supplement grain if needed