grazing reform 1: sustainable grazing regimes Flashcards
Given a growth curve for forage, characterize and explain forage growth rates at the 1) left; 2) middle; and 3 right side
1) leftt: slow growth because small roots, less photsythesis, less foliage
2) middle: fast growth because bigger foliage, no room for competition
3) slow growth: too much competition limits growth
Explain what the term “use factor” means
How much you will allow cattle to graze. The % of biomass supply harvested (consumed)
Explain “generally” how the usable supply of forage is calculated and how the stocking rate is determined (#cows/acre/time)
- Biomass (how much forage ache has) x use factor (how much you think pasture can handle) = usable forage
- Usable forage/ how much cattle will eat over that time
Define overstocking (too heavy) and explain how degrades pasture health and animal carrying capacity of the land
too many cows over too much time. Cow eats too much (not enough green for regrowth or root development), cow nips regrowth, shallow roots susceptible to damage.
Define understocking (too light) and explain how degrades pasture health and animal carrying capacity of the land
too few cows in too little time :
leads to overcrowded forage and slow growth. Selective grazing occurs ( under grazed undesrible plants) pasture composition shifts. less productive pasture
Identify the basic benefits and costs associated with a continuous grazing system
Benifts: Low cost. fewer fences and low labor
Costs: overgrazing and selcective grazing in some areas
Identify the basic benefits and costs associated with a rotational grazing system
Benefits: Less overgrazing and selective grazing
Costs: Higher costs, more fences, labor, water sources
Identify the two key factors in an intensive rotational system and explain why each is important
1: Long recovery time between grazing! Important because the a long recovery time allows the roots to grow
They can get this by having more paddocks per herd
2: Need to have a short duration of having the herds on the paddocks because if the pasture starts to regrow and the cows are still there they will eat that regrowth too soon. Need to get the livestock out of there before regrowth!!!
Identify the basic benefits and costs associated with an intensive system, clarifying why the cost barriers to adoption are exceptionally high
Benefits: No overgrazing, because you’re moving the livestock fast selective Grazing because
Costs:
A Lot higher
A lot more fences
More labor
More water sources (you need one in each paddock)
Clarify how best practices and new technologies can reduce the costs and lower the barriers to the intensive system
lowered their consists by lengthening the grass season, and reduced winter feed required bc they can keep their cows out there on their land for a long time
Identify 3 key characteristics of grazing permits that inhibit the adoption of intensive rotational grazing on public lands, and for each, identify new permitting policies that could eliminate those barriers
rancher not allowed to own improvement: ranchers need to own their assets
during of permit is 10 years: lengthn during of permit longer
rigid stocking rates and exit dates: allow more flexability and chose how many cattle to have
Characterize the problem of flexability, and explain how outcome-based management can add flexibility
grazing permits are very rigid and don’t allow for adaptability. As is, the permit tells ranchers their stocking rate and the seasons of use for their allotments,
ranchers too to be able to adapt their grazing seasons to changing weather pattern.
Outcome based management will:
Widen the windows of use: ranchers make those adjustments to those changing weather conditions, decides when and where to move their cows.
Characterize the deeper problem of state-led management, and explain how outcome-based management empowers ranchers
Ranchers know their land better than BLM manager. BLM doesn’t live with consequences, they need flexibility.
Let Ranchers decide how to achieve agreed outcomes (healthy grass animals). BLM does not need to micro manage every allotment
Recognizing overlap in how current permits can inhibit both intensive rotation systems and outcome-based management, identify a characteristic of grazing permits that are of especially great concern for outcome-based management, and identify a new permitting policy that could help address that barrier
BLM setting stocking rate: get rid of it. need flexibility for focus on sustainability. (if you lower stocking rate, you devalue your land)
fed gov owns improvement: have ranchers allow their improving so they have incentive to do it.
10 year assessment: Longer duration.
