Grazing & Management Flashcards
Livestock units
LU are a measurement of livestock grazing.
- 1 LU requires roughly 12 tonnes DM annually.
- 1 dairy/suckler cow = 1.0 LU
- cattle < 2years = 0.6 LU
- Sheep = 0.5 LU
Paddock grazing
Land divided equally into 20-30 paddocks, ideally of equal size.
-Herd grazes a new paddock every day.
- Grazed paddocks are allowed to be fertilised and recover for at least 3 weeks.
ADV: Fresh leafy grass each day, No grass wasted, Excess grass produced can be used for silage.
DISADV: Expensive to set up- fencing/water supply etc., If paddocks are too small, it can be difficult to cut silage from them.
Strip Grazing
- A moveable electric fence is used to divide a field.
- A fresh strip of herbage is given to the livestock each day.
- A back fence is used to prevent livestock moving into the pasture.
- Grazed strips are fertilised and allowed to recover for at least three weeks.
ADV: Fresh leafy grass each day, no grass wasted, grass not damaged while regrowing since it is not available to livestock.
DISADV: A lot of labour required, if using a fixed water supply, that area left for access can be damaged and not used for grazing.Expensive
Strip Grazing
- A moveable electric fence is used to divide a field.
- A fresh strip of herbage is given to the livestock each day.
- A back fence is used to prevent livestock moving into the pasture.
- Grazed strips are fertilised and allowed to recover for at least three weeks.
ADV: Fresh leafy grass each day, no grass wasted, grass not damaged while regrowing since it is not available to livestock.
DISADV: A lot of labour required, if using a fixed water supply, that area left for access can be damaged and not used for grazing.Expensive
Block Grazing
-Consists of dividing up large fields into smaller blocks.
-Livestock graze each block for about one week.
-Livestock return to a block after three weeks.
ADV: Cheaper than paddock system, less fencing needed, less labour required.
DISADV: Not as efficient as paddock and strip grazing
Set Stocking
- Stocking allowed free access to all grazing land over grazing season.
-Associated with poor farm management, low stocking rate & little or no fertiliser use.
ADV: low cost system, poaching minimised, since livestock are not densely packed in an area, less labour required.
DISADV: Grass is not fully utilised - wasted, a lot of grass becomes too stemmy, leading to reduced feeding value, If diseases present , all livestock exposed.
Zero Grazing
-Cattle are housed all year round, grass/forage crops cut and brought to livestock in the shed, Cattle do not graze land.
ADV: Land not poached, animals do not waste energy through movement which means more energy goes into production.
less chance of lameness, access to fresh grass at all times , topping is unnecessary.
DISADV: Labour intensive, machinery on land can lead to compaction, animals in close quarter can lead to the spread of disease.
Zero Grazing
-Cattle are housed all year round, grass/forage crops cut and brought to livestock in the shed, Cattle do not graze land.
ADV: Land not poached, animals do not waste energy through movement which means more energy goes into production.
less chance of lameness, access to fresh grass at all times , topping is unnecessary.
DISADV: Labour intensive, machinery on land can lead to compaction, animals in close quarter can lead to the spread of disease.
Topping
Mowing grass to a uniform height of 5-7cm after cows graze a sward.
Allows uniform regrowth of grass.
- encourages tillering, controls weeds
Creep Grazing
A creep gate is used to allow calves or lamps access to a new field with fresh, leafy grass and reduces their exposure to parasites.
- Gate preventing older animals from entering the new field but allows the young to graze and return to suckle their mother.
Leader-Follower System
-Young animals ahead of the older animals.
- This gives young animals access to fresh, good quality grass and reduces their exposure to parasites
Mixed grazing
Grazing different animals together, usually sheep and cows
-used within a rotational grazing system.
ADV: Higher production levels for cattle and sheep, Sheep will eat grass that cows will avoid, less waste as sheep graze closer to ground than cattle. Increased tillering as sheep graze closer to the ground.
Extended Grazing
-Grazing is extended over the winter period when animals are usually in housing.
Sections of land should be closed off in July/August to allow the grass to build up so that it is available in winter when grass doesn’t grow.
ADV: Reduced need for silage, reduced cost from making less silage.
DISADV: Poor weather conditions can lead to unsuitable conditions, low DMD as the grass is being grazed late, Less grass available during the final few months of grazing.
Conservational grazing
Use of livestock to maintain and increase biodiversity of semi-natural grassland by controlling moe agressive plant species and preventing scrub development.
Impact of grassland management practices on livestock and other animals
-Less exposure to parasites such as nematodes and liver fluke
-Less exposure to diseases.
- Increased growth rate and production levels.
-Access to mothers for calves and lambs in creep grazing
