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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1995-03-22, Page 26Keeping the pasture healthy Controlling the area over which livestock is allowed to graze will improve the quality of forage as well as prolong its life. PLETCH ELECTRIC LIMITED 'ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR- MOTOR SALES, REWINDS & SERVICE, POLES SALES, INSTALLATiON & TRENCHING WINGHAM 357-1583 AVAILABLE FROM: JOHN KING Wingham - 357-2645 SOYBEANS from FIRST LINE SEEDS LTD. GALT MAPLE GLEN 2650 CHU 2650 CHU AC BRAVOR AC PROTEUS 2700 CHU 2600 CHU HiStick The high performance Rhizobium Inoculant for Soybeans SEED CORN G4024 2550 CHU G4030 2575 CHU G4043 2600 CHU X9302 2575 CHU THE TIRED OF WONDERING WHAT THAT PILE OF FENCING MATERIAL ON THE DEALER'S SHELF REALLY LOOKS LIKE? OFR Lr'G POWER FENCE DISPLAY Gallagher Accessories Gallagher Engergizers m moo /OWN R. egiVlif Plug In Gallagher Insultimber Permanent Fence rrt *tkOZIJUSY--- Solar Also available recycled plastic posts Come and see the variety of fence systems & components as they would appear & work in field conditions. LAW)? Power Fencing Display & Research Plot 2 km east of Brussels on Huron County Road 16 TIM PRIOR Brussels 887-9648 INOMOVINIM, PAGE A6. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 1995. A GRICULTURE '95 Controlled grazing, a N. Zealand practice for 50 years By Janice Becker An idea which may seem to be relatively new to North American livestock farmers has been utilized in New Zealand for more than 50; years. The concept of controlled graz- ing was developed to maintain the health of the pasture through better management of the resource avail- able. David Pickens, area manager for a fencing company, presented a brief synopsis of the benefits of controlled grazing to a group of more than 60 local farmers who gathered at BMG Community Cen- tre on Feb. 28. "The basis of controlled grazing is to regulate the amount of time and area over which the animals are allowed to feed," says Mr. Piccons. "The improved maintenance of the land may increase the grazing potential which in turn will lower input costs to maintain." The animals harvest the crop and return the fertilizer to the field themselves, thereby reducing the time needed to operate machinery to maintain the pasture. Power fencing, which allows for the movement of cattle to new grazing areas, has made great improvements in the last 15 years, he says. A tumblewheel fence system allows as many as 300 cattle to be moved to a new grazing area in less than 15 minutes A 100 acre pasture split into 20 paddocks uses nine kilometers of fence, costs under $8,000 and lasts at least 20 years with little or no maintenance, says Mr. Piccons. "When implementing a con- trolled grazing system, there are several principles which should be followed to provided good results." The first step is to graze an area at the correct time of growth, when the grass crop has attained a rea- sonable level of growth which leaves the plants tender and desir- able for the animals, but has not yet begun to go to seed. A field should be grazed when a height of between six and 10 inches has been reached and the animals should be allowed to graze 1/2 to 1/3 the height of the growth. This level of consumption will maximize weight gain or milk pro- duction, says Mr. Piccons. If you see contented cows relax- ing and laying about after two or three hours, you know the pasture is adequate for the herd. To maintain the health of the pas- tures, grazing at the proper time of the year is crucial, taking into con- sideration the climate, pasture species and clover content. If the growth of the crop is fast, a fast rotation can be used. In the spring, rotations can be as short as seven to 10 days and the pasture should not be grazed short. During dry spells, the paddocks need a longer rest period to recover from the last grazing cycle. By further subdividing the pad- docks, the cycle can be slowed to 60 to 90 days. A pasture containing 30 percent clover will also reduce fertilizer costs because it returns nitrogen to the soil, aiding growth, he says. Controlled grazing provides con- trol over clover balance by reduc- ing grass shading of clovers and allowing them to flourish. The total pasture area should also provide more forage than can be used by .the grazing herd. The sur- plus can be cut early in the year for hay or silage. Another 10 to 20 per cent of the field area should be closed off to save for fall pasture. This surplus can be harvested in late summer, but should be taken before the fibre content is too high and seeds are produced. The animals should utilize all areas of the pasture, leaving no ungrazed clumps. Areas of less desirable grasses not taken down by the herd during the rotation period should be cut down to promote better growth. To prevent consumption of regrowth, which occurs when ani- mals are left too long in individual paddocks, the movement through the series of grazing pastures should be done quickly. Depending on the grass species, animals should be moved after three to five days. Grazing regrowth may weaken the pasture and watery, sappy pas- ture does not grow meat or milks well. Another reason for quick move- ment through the paddocks is to prevent weight loss. Once the animals have consumed the more desirable grasses, leaving only poor quality plants, they may stop eating or will consume the poor grasses which will not provide the necessary nutrients. Once the basic principles of con- trolled grazing are considered, the process of designing a system begins. Water is one of the limiting fac- tors in the efficiency of a controlled grazing operation. A source of water must be avail- able in each paddock to provide the distribution of fertilizer across the pasture area. Animals tend to congregate around the watering tank, resulting in trampled, less productive pasture if the herd must return to the same . tank from each field section. The herd will also walk less, and therefore waste less energy, if water is available in each paddock. The shape of the fields should Continued on A7