grazing management COPY Flashcards
What is rangeland?
Open country that provides grazing for ungulates.
How much of the earth’s land mass is rangeland?
What percent of domestic livestock feed is rangeland and what percent of wild ungulate feed is rangeland?
50%
75%
100%
Characteristics of Rangeland
- Land that provides forage to grazing animals
- Vast areas that require long-term planning
- Land that provides forage to grazing animals
- Land in it’s the natural state
- Land that is non-arable
- Stable
- Vast areas that require long-term planning
Characteristics of Rangeland
grazing
stable
natural
non-arable
vast + long pan
- land provides forage for grazing animals
- stable
- in its natural state
- non-arable
- vast areas of land that require long term planning
Range Management - What the is it?
Application of scientific principles to: 1. Protect the resource (soil, plants and animals) 2. Provide a livelihood for the owner/operator
Who are the environmental stewards that have enabled North American rangelands to be very productive?
ranchers!
8 things important about rangeland? (Ecological Goods and Services)
- Animal Products
- Water and Watershed Protection
- Habitat for Wildlife
- Timber and Wood Products
- Coal, Minerals, Oil and Gas
- Aesthetics
- Biodiversity
- Carbon Sequestration
Definitions of Grazing
- A of A F on GPM
- Does it have to be on a pasture?
(Pasture is a land covered with grass and other low plants suitable for grazing animals, especially cattle or sheep.)
- The act of animals feeding on green plant material
- No, can be within a pasture field or other areas where forage is available
Why is Grazing Important?
- Rangelands are an important resource for livestock grazing.
- In Alberta, 14 percent of the Alberta beef cattle herd.
- environmental benefits
Grasslands in Canadian Prairies are dominated by… gs lrf wt
Grasslands are dominated by grass species which are adapted to areas with low rainfall and warm temperatures
Why is Grazing important? GA B…..C B and C … EE FS “-“
• Our grasslands were developed under grazing animals (specifically the bison) and fire • When bison were almost eradicated cattle replaced them • Bison and Cattle are considered to be ecological equivalents • Fire suppression has had a negative impact on our grasslands
Grazing and Fire Agronomic Crops GinCwF GofA MotGaUAC TRNG
• Grazing in combination with fire play major roles in the development of grasslands • Growing of agronomic or tame crops has also affected the grasslands • Much of the grasslands are utilized for agronomic crops • The remaining native grasslands are limited to areas of rough terrain or have other issues that impact traditional agriculture
Why is Grazing important? same stuff
• Grazing in combination with fire play major roles in the development of grasslands • Growing of agronomic or tame crops has also affected the grasslands • Much of the grasslands are utilized for agronomic crops • The remaining native grasslands are limited to areas of rough terrain or have other issues that impact traditional agriculture
Species used for graxzing… two major groups NS AS
he vegetation utilized for grazing can be classified into two major groups – Native species • Grasses • Forbs • Woody – Agronomic species • Grasses • Legumes • Others • The majority of species are herbaceous and perennial
Plant factors to consider grazing A/T NS aCorD -GtTS
• Agronomics/Tame species have been selected for their fast establishment , quick regrowth & palatability • Native species have developed under our “tough” prairie climate, but regrow later in the spring • A complimentary or deferred grazing system – Grazing the tame species earlier in the season alleviates stress and overgrazing of the native species
Classification of Native species – Decreaser - increaser N,GT, Un,un –invaders –E/A/T generally a sign of decreasing native range condition
• From an ecological perspective, native species can be classified as follows – Decreaser • Native, palatable, grazing sensitive, animals first choice, bunchgrasses – Increaser • Native, grazing tolerant, may be unpalatable, unavailable (low growing), poisonous, begin to take over if decreases overgrazed – Invaders • Exotic/agronomic /tame or annual plants, generally a sign of decreasing native range condition
Effect of Grazing and overgrazing on Plant Species
• Under normal conditions 50% carry over ensures good regrowth for plants
Function of Grazing 2
• Grazing maintains the plants in the active growth cycle • If the pasture plants are left they become “decadent” and not as productive
Last stand of Tallgrass Prairie
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jy21uSG3 ma8
Pasture Conditioning – Healthy – Healthy with Problems – Unhealthy
• Percentages of the dominant/climax plant community – Healthy • 75-100% – Healthy with Problems • 50-74% – Unhealthy • <50%
Stocking Rate • Use of appropriate stocking rates based on the condition of the pasture will maintain and can improve the pasture condition • Stocking rates are expressed as ?? • Expressed as Animal units/unit area (AU/Ha or AU/ac) or Area/AUM (Ha/AUM or ac/AUM) • AUM=? • AUD=?
Animal Units (AU’s)….. • 1 Animal Unit = 1000lb of animal • The area of land allowed per animal unit for the entire grazeable period of the year Animal Unit Month Animal Unit Day
AU Equivelents AU = Animal units These are approximate values: – Cattle: • Weaned calves 0.50 • Yearling heifers & steers ? • Mature cow with or without unweaned calf 1.00 • Bulls (2 yrs and over) ? – Horses: • Yearlings ? • 2 yr olds 1.00 • 3+ yrs ?
0.67 0.75 1.50 1.50j
AU Equivalents – Sheep & Goats • 5 weaned lambs, kids & yearlings 0.50 ? ? – Deer ? – Bison • Yearling ? • Mature cow ? • Mature bull ?
• 5 ewes or does with or without unweaned young 1.00 • 5 rams or bucks 1.50 deer • 5 deer 1.00 bison 0.75 1.50 1.80
Summary G is important to MG oGDuGaF PC cb N,A, or C taNofGS SRaaMtDhmAcG in an A/F
• Grazing is important to maintain grasslands • Our grasslands developed under grazing and fire • Pastures composition can be native, agronomic or combinations • There are a number of grazing systems • Stocking rates are a mechanism to determine how many animals can graze in an area/field depending on the condition of the pasture
review • Define an Animal Unit:
– 1000lbs or 500kgs
Review • What is a decreaser species?
– Native, palatable, grazing sensitive, animals first choice, bunchgrasses
What percent of Earth is considered rangeland? What percent of the feed required for livestock comes from rangeland? What percent for wild ungulates?
Approximately 50% of the earth’s land mass is considered range rangeland provides 75% of the feed required for domestic livestock, almost 100% of that required by wild ungulates
Is the use of rangeland ecologically friendly?
yes, it can be if sound ecological principles are used.
What do rangelands have to be managed with to become and remain environmentally friendly?
Be managed with sound ecological principles
Ranchers as environmental stewards have enabled what?
North American rangelands to be very productive
Name five characteristics of rangelands? L……..F to G L…..NS L. …….n-a St V………..l-t p
Land that provides forage to grazing animals • Land in it’s natural state • Land that is non-arable • Stable • Vast areas that require long-term planning
Various classes of livestock are considered grazers: CHSGED llamas and alpacas
– Cattle – Horses – Sheep – Goats – Elk – Deer – Llamas – Alpacas – Etc.
How are poisonous plants classified?
Increaser
Why grazing is important. What in combination with grazing plays a major role in development of grasslands? The growing of what kind of crops has affected the grasslands? What kind of crops are grasslands utilized for? What kind of terrain are native grasslands limited to that impact traditional agriculture?
razing in combination with fire play major roles in the development of grasslands • Growing of agronomic or tame crops has also affected the grasslands • Much of the grasslands are utilized for agronomic crops • The remaining native grasslands are limited to areas of rough terrain or have other issues that impact traditional agriculture
Plant factors to consider for grazing. What characteristics are agronomists/tame species selected for?
their fast establishment , quick regrowth & palatability
Plant factors to consider for grazing. T or F Native species have been developed under our “tough” prairie climate, but regrow later in the Spring • What is a complimentary or deferred grazing system
T Grazing the tame species earlier in the season alleviates stress and overgrazing of the native species
Effect of grazing and overgrazing on plant species. What percent carry-over ensures good regrowth for plants?
50%
Function of grazing What happens to plants that are “left”?
They become decadent and not as productive.
T or F Rangelands are an important resource for livestock grazing. In Alberta, it is estimated that rangelands provide forage to about 14 percent of the Alberta beef cattle herd.
True
T or F Grasslands are never utilized for agronomic crops
False
T or F Much of the grasslands are utilized for agronomic crops
True
What is a complimentary or deferred grazing system?
Grazing the tame species earlier in the season alleviates stress and overgrazing of the native species
T or F rangeland provides 95% of the feed required for domestic livestock,
FALSE 75%
? provides 75% of the feed required for domestic livestock,
Rangeland
What term refers to: Grazing the tame species earlier in the season alleviates stress and overgrazing of the native species
complimentary or deferred grazing system
Growing of ? or tame crops has also affected the grasslands
agronomic
• Much of the ? are utilized for agronomic crops •
grasslands
Where are the non-agronomic crops of grassland limited to?
areas of rough terrain (or have other issues that impact traditional agriculture)
Native species • Grasses ? ? – Agronomic species • Grasses •≈ • Others
• Forbs • Woody legumes
T or F the majority of agronomic species are herbaceous and perrenial
The majority of species are herbaceous and perennial
Benefits of well-managed pasture?
1 reduced soil erosion; 2 improved air and water quality; 3 better plant diversity, vigor and production; 4 improved fish and wildlife habitat. … 5 The overall soil quality improves with improved grazing management.
Agronomics/Tame species have been selected for their
fast establishment, quick regrowth & palatability
1 Animal Unit = ?lb of animal
1000
benefits of grazing
- reduced soil erosion
- improved air and water quality;
- better plant diversity,
- vigour and production
- improved fish and wildlife habitat. ..
The overall soil quality improves with improved grazing management. Grazing animals are able to utilize vegetation, a resource that humans cannot breakdown.
In other words, stuff we can’t eat makes steak.
