The Rural Voice, 2003-05, Page 29because of past experiences and it
takes time for them to adapt.
Cows will "cream" a pasture in
three days, taking out the best plants.
Therefore, Stewart said, high
performance animals should be
moved every three days and clean-up
animals brought in after to equalize
the grazing in the paddock.
Cows will graze approximately
eight hours a day regardless of the
quality of the pasture. They will not
graze longer if the quality of the
forage is poor.
Stewart said there are specific
ingredients which lead to poor
pastures and the resultant decline in
productivity.
With no grazing control, the cows
tend to feed off selected forages first,
leaving the Tess desirable until the
pasture is close to depletion.
Too many animals on a plot can
also see the forage cropped too short,
stunting and slowing regrowth.
Generally poor fertility will
decrease the forages' growth rates as
well as impact the types which will
flourish.
Stewart said the only way to
improve a pasture is through a
change in management technique,
otherwise it would just go back to its
previous state regardless of remedial
efforts such as reseeding.
When making the change,
consideration must be given to how a
pasture grows.
"They are very dynamic," said
Stewart. "And there are different
growth patterns for different species.
Climate, fertility, moisture and
temperature all impact growth. The
goal is balanced growth throughout
the season.
To establish a good pasture,
Stewart said there are different
species to be considered. Decreaser-
species are good forages, but must be
looked after. Increasers are the
survivor species. And then there are
the invaders such as weeds and
brush.
To sustain a pasture throughout the
season, Stewart said it is important to
realize the growth of natural grasses
is opposite to the growth of the
animals. As the cattle are putting on
weight late in the season, forage
growth is declining.
For a good pasture mix there
should be 30 per cent legumes, he
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