Module 3-range management Flashcards
for successfully raising cattle on range what needs need to be met for the cattle
The plants must provide sufficient nutrients to sustain the animals; when live plant material is insufficient for the animals’ needs, supplemental feed must be provided.
what are perennial plants
plants that survive for a single growing season & must be reseeded each year
what are grasses
herbaceous plants with narrow leaves growing from the base; maybe ‘native’ or ‘tame/seeded’
what are legumes
flowering plants with roots that bear nodules containing nitrogen-fixing bacteria; alfalfa and clover are the most common pasture legumes
what are forbes
broad-leafed herbs that are not grasses
what is forage
all plants that are suitable for animal consumption
what is pasture
seeded/tame perennial and/or annual plants used for grazing livestock
what is range
native perennial plants used for grazing livestock
what is fodder
harvested feed put up in the form of hay, silage or grain used to supplement diets when pasture/range is insufficient; generally used for winter feeding
what are some benefits of grazing management
protects the environment from damage by the grazing animal ensuring sustainability of the pasture or rangeland to continue to support livestock
what does sustaining a natural system require
sufficient plant material be present for photosynthesis to occur to prevent the death of the plants
what happens to plants if overgrazing occurs
cause death of forage species and allow invasion of weeds
what are thr basic pasture requirements to prodrce heslthy livestock on range
requires careful management of the soils and plants used for grazing; a healthy range or pasture is needed to produce healthy livestock
what do grazing systems control
control timing, intensity, and frequency of grazing to optimize plant viability and soil quality
The grazing systems employed by ranchers managing extensive livestock operations are
(1) continuous grazing; (2) rotational grazing; and (3) complimentary grazing
what is continuous grazing
involves putting livestock out on pasture or range and leaving them in that pasture for the grazing season
what are some disadvantages to continuous grazing
the livestock will overgraze preferred areas reducing the quality of the forage over time
what are the advantages to continuous grazing
is that the only labour required is that to maintain fences, ensure the water supply and replenish salt and mineral supplements
what is rotatanol grazing
systems utilize at least two pastures. Grazing animals are kept in one area for a period of time and then moved to the next pasture. The frequency of movement between pastures is determined by a number of factors including season, type of forage and stocking density. Rotations are carried out according to the growth status of the plants with animals allowed to graze an area when the vegetative state provides maximum forage quality and quantity and being removed before the area becomes overgrazed
for rotatinal grazing when are animals added to a pasture and when are they taken out
Typically, livestock is moved into an area when the forage stand is ten to twelve inches high and removed when it is grazed down to four inches
what are the benefits of rotational grazing
Rotational grazing allows higher stocking rates over the entire grazing area than continuous grazing and helps maintain the integrity of the soil and the plants throughout the area
what are the disadvantages to rotational grazing
it does require more labour to move livestock from pasture to pasture and has higher overhead costs for cross-fencing grazing areas.
is rotational grazing intensive or extensive
Rotational grazing systems can be extensive with cattle moved between pastures once or twice a month or even every other month or they can be intensive with cattle moved between pastures two or three times a week or even daily
what is involved with an intensively grazed land and what are the benefits
Intensively managed pastures involve more cross-fencing to create smaller areas and more labour for moving cattle between pastures but they do increase the number of head that can be fed on a given area of land.
