Pastures and Forages Lab Final

Native Forages

plants, primarily grasses or legumes that are native to a specific region and are used as food for livestock or wildlife.

Switchgrass

• Native

• perennial

• warm season

Big Bluestem

• Native

• perennial

• warm season bunchgrass

• drought tolerant

Indian grass

• Native

• perennial

• warm season bunchgrass

• erosion control

• feed for livestock

Eastern gamma grass

• Native

• perennial

• warm season sod forming bunchgrass

• high class feed crop

Non native forages

grasses introduced to area they don’t naturally exist and can negatively impact native ecosystems and wildlife

Bermudagrass

• native to Eurpe, Asia, Africa, Aus

• perennial

• warm season

• fast growing and tough

Tall fescue

• cool season

• perennial

• native to Europe

• used for forages and soil conservation

Johnsongrass

• Native to Asia and Northern Africa

• perennial

• used for forage and erosion control

• highly palatable, nutritious and productive

Orchardgrass

• Cool season

• perennial

• Native to Europe, Asia and Northen Africa

• Used for hay and pastures

• causes hay fever

Stocking rate

number of animals per unit area of land FOR a period of time

Stocking Density

number of animals per unit land area AT a period in time

Carrying capacity

• max stocking rate possible year after year without inducing damage to the vegetation or related resources

• the average number of animals that a particular range will sustain over time

Animal Unit (AU)

One mature 1000 lb cow or the equivalent based upon average daily forage consumption of 26 lbs of dry matter per day

Animal Unit Equivalent (AUE)

numerical figure expressing forge requirement for a kind and class of animal.

• equivalent to the amount of forage needed to maintain an animal

Animal Unit Day (AUD)

the amount of forage needed by an animal for one day

Animal Unit Month (AUM)

the amount of forage needed by an animal unit for one month

Animal Unit Year (AUY)

amount of forage needd by an animal unit for 1 year

Poor condition pasture

25% usage

fair condition pasture

25%-35% usage

moderate condition pasture

35%-45% usage

excellent condition pasture

45%-60% usage

Water adjustment for cattle

• 0-1 miles / 0% reduction in use

• 1-2 / 50% reduction

• 2-3 / 100% reduction

Slope adjustment for cattle

• 0-10% slope / 0% reduction

• 10-30% slope / 30% reduction

• 31-60% slope / 60% reduction

• >60% slope / 100% reduction

Slope adjustment for sheep

• 0-50% slope / 0% reduction in use

• >50% slope / 100% reduction in use

Animal Unit Equivalent for Cows

1.00

AUE for mature bull

1.25

AUE for yearling heifer

0.75

AUE for stocker

0.60

AUE for ewe

0.20

AUE for dow

0.17

AUE for horse

1.25

AUE for whitetail deer

0.17