Rotational grazing
In
Approach
In rotational grazing livestock are moved to portions of the pasture, called
Healing native rangeland may require a combination of burning and rotational grazing.[3][4][5]
Rotational grazing can be used with
Benefits
Herd health benefits arise from animals having access to both space and fresh air. Freedom of movement within a paddock results in increased
In a concentrated animal feeding operation it is normal for a large number of animals to continuously occupy a small area. By comparison, with managed grazing, the animals are able to live in a more natural environment. The animals experience less disease and fewer foot ailments, depending on the rotational system being used.
Managed rotational grazing is a key component of a regenerative agriculture system, as it functions as a constant feedback loop.[7] Rotational grazing has been said to be more environmentally friendly in certain cases. Many pastures undergoing certain types of rotational grazing are less susceptible to soil erosion. Paddocks might require fewer inputs. These grazing regimes are sometimes said to be more resilient and more capable of responding to changing environmental conditions.[8] Rotational grazing may reduce greenhouse gas emissions such as carbon dioxide, nitrous oxides, and methane.[9] Adaptive multi-paddock grazing can result in a net carbon sink.[10]
Problems
A key element of this style of animal husbandry is that either each grazed area must contain all elements needed for the animals (water source, for instance) or the feed or water source must be moved each time the animals are moved. Having fixed feeding or watering stations can defeat the rotational aspect, leading to degradation of the ground around the water supply or feed supply if additional feed is provided to the animals. Special care must be taken to ensure that high use areas do not become areas where mud,
Several problems are related to shade in pasture areas. Although shade provides relief from heat and reduces the risk of heat stress, animals tend to congregate in these areas which leads to nutrient loading, uneven grazing, and potential soil erosion.[12]
Weed control
A well managed rotational grazing system has low pasture weed establishment because the majority of
A key step in managing weeds in any pasture system is identification. Once the undesired species in a pasture system are identified, an
Nutrient availability and soil fertility
If pasture systems are seeded with more than 40% legumes, commercial nitrogen
Although grazers remove nutrient sources from the pasture system when they feed on forage sources, the majority of the nutrients consumed by the herd are returned to the pasture system through manure. At a relatively high
High levels of fertilizers entering waterways are a pertinent environmental concern associated with agricultural systems. However, rotational grazing systems effectively reduce the amount of nutrients that move off-farm which have the potential to cause environmental degradation.[15] These systems are fertilized with on-farm sources, and are less prone to leaching as compared to commercial fertilizers. Additionally, the system is less prone to excess nutrient fertilization, so the majority of nutrients put into the system by manure sources are utilized for plant growth.[15] Permanent pasture systems also have deeper, better established forage root systems which are more efficient at taking up nutrients from within the soil profile.[12]
Economics
Although milk yields are often lower in rotational systems, net farm income per cow is often greater as compared to confinement operations. This is due to the additional costs associated with herd health and purchased feeds are greatly reduced in management intensive rotational grazing systems. Additionally, a transition to rotational grazing is associated with low start-up and maintenance costs.[16] Another consideration is that while production per cow is less, the number of cows per acre on the pasture can increase. The net effect is more productivity per acre at less cost.
The main costs associated with transitioning rotational grazing are purchasing fencing, fencers, and water supply materials.
Rotational grazing results in time savings because the majority of work which might otherwise require human labor is transmitted to the herd.[2][16]
Criticism
Managers have found that rotational grazing systems can work for diverse management purposes, but scientific experiments have demonstrated that some rotational grazing systems do not always necessarily work for specific ecological purposes.[20] This controversy stems from two main categorical differences in rotational grazing, prescribed management and adaptive management. The performance of rangeland grazing strategies are similarly constrained by several ecological variables establishing that differences among them are dependent on the effectiveness of those management models. Depending on the management model, plant production has been shown to be equal or greater in continuous compared to rotational grazing in 87% of the experiments.[21]
Incentives
United States
In the United States, incentives for managed rotational grazing operations are found throughout the
Managed rotational grazing is included as an eligible conservation practice for funding under EQIP.[7] Applicants must have a certified grazing plan in place, written and approved by certified grazing planners.[22] The most common grazing practices under this program are grazing management design and identification of necessary materials,[23] prescribed grazing[24] that includes animal rotation and pasture resting, and mechanical treatment to improve soil and plant conditions.[25]
In contrast, CSP is intended to provide "whole-farm" financial and technical assistance to farmers who combine basic conservation activities with more substantial interventions.[7] Grazing enhancements eligible for CSP funding include:[26]
- Management Intensive Rotational Grazing
- Installing electrical fence offsets and wire to facilitate cross-fencing for improved grazing management
- Grazing management that improves or maintains watersheds, pollinator habitat, or wildlife
- Prescribed grazing that protects sensitive areas from gully erosion as well as surface or ground water from nutrients
- Strategically planned patch burning for grazing distribution and wildlife habitat
- Grazing to reduce wildfire risks in forests
- Improved grazing management on pasture for plant productivity and health with monitoring activities
- Maintaining forage quality and quantity for animal health and productivity
Other Farm Bill programs that may impact grazing incentives:[7]
- Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)
- Agriculture Conservation Easement Program (ACEP)
- Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (GLCI)
See also
- Electric fence
- Free range
- Ley farming
- Pastured poultry
- Rangeland management
- Soil conservation
- Transhumance
- Yarding
References
- ^ "Definition of Rotation Grazing". Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Merriam-Webster. 2019. Archived from the original on 28 September 2020. Retrieved 28 September 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Undersander, Dan; Albert, Beth; Cosgrove, Dennis; Johnson, Dennis; Peterson, Paul (2002). Pastures for profit: A guide to rotational grazing (PDF) (Report). Cooperative Extension Publishing, University of Wisconsin. A3529. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
- ^ Small Acreage Grazing impacts to our natural resources Archived 2014-06-30 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Rotational grazing for Pastured Livestock". Archived from the original on 2015-03-11. Retrieved 2015-03-12.
- ^ "Managing Your Pasture: Small scale solutions for your farm" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2022-01-28. Retrieved 2018-03-21.
- ^ Alice E. Beetz and Lee Rinehart 2004. Rotational grazing Archived 2014-05-13 at the Wayback Machine. National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service (ATTRA).
- ^ a b c d e Harris, Jenileigh (January 20, 2023). "MANAGED ROTATIONAL GRAZING POLICIES: An Overview of Farm Bill Programs to Support Regenerative Agriculture" (PDF). Center for Agriculture and Food Systems, Vermont Law and Graduate School. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 26, 2023. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
- ^ Archer, Steve, Fred E. Smeins. Grazing Management an ecological perspective edited by Rodney K Heitschmidt and Jerry W Stuth. p. Chapter 5. Archived from the original on 2021-05-14. Retrieved 2013-04-09.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - S2CID 130971926.
- S2CID 158453430.
- ^ "Grazing systems planning guide" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-08-09. Retrieved 2018-12-27.
- ^ a b c d 2005. Pasture management guide for Livestock Producers Archived 2013-08-20 at the Wayback Machine. Iowa State University (note, no electronic source available)
- ^ Sullivan, K., DeClue, R., Emmick, D. 2000. Prescribed grazing and feeding management for lactating dairy cows Archived 2015-11-23 at the Wayback Machine USDA-NRCS
- S2CID 96402221.
- ^ a b Blanchet, K., Moechnig, H., and DeJong-Hughes, J. 2003. Grazing systems planning guide Archived 2013-06-18 at the Wayback Machine. USDA-NRCS and University of Minnesota Extension and University of Minnesota Water Resource Center
- ^ a b c d Kriegl, T., McNair, R. 2005. Pastures of Plenty: Financial performance of Wisconsin grazing dairy farms Archived 2010-06-10 at the Wayback Machine. Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems, Center for Dairy Profitability, and Program on Agricultural Technology Studies
- ^ Cadwallader, T. and Cosgrove, D. Setting Posts: Fencing systems for rotational grazing Archived 2013-12-10 at the Wayback Machine. University of Wisconsin Extension.
- ^ 2005. Electric fencing for serious grazers. USDA-NRCS.
- ^ Watering systems for grazing livestock. Great Lakes Basin Grazing Network and Michigan State University Extension.
- S2CID 17085968.
- S2CID 30969297.
- ^ A.R. Rissman, A. Fochesatto, E.B. Lowe, Y. Lu, R. Hirsch, and R. Jackson, Grassland and Managed Grazing Policy Review (manuscript in revision for publication 2023).
- ^ Grazing Management, USDA, https://www.nrcs . usda.gov/getting-assistance/other-topics/ organic/nrcs-assistance-for-organic-farmers/ livestock-and-pasture-management (last visited Nov. 14, 2022).
- ^ USDA, 528-CPS-1, Conservation Practice Standard: Prescribed Grazing Code 528 (2017).
- ^ Grazing Land Mechanical Treatment, USDA, https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/resources/guidesand-instructions/grazing-land-mechanicaltreatment-ac-548-conservation-practice (last visited Nov. 16, 2022).
- ^ CSP Enhancements And Bundles, USDA, https:// www.nrcs.usda.gov/csp-enhancements-andbundles-0#Abundles (last visited Nov. 16, 2022).
External links
- Watering systems for grazing livestock. Iowa State University Extension.
- Greener Pastures.
- NRCS Range and Pasture Handbook
- Forage Resources
- The Ins and Outs of Overwintering
- Nitrogen Fertilization
- Weed Control in Pastures without Chemicals
- How does managed grazing affect Wisconsin's environment
- Milking more than profit
- Graze Anatomy. By Richard Manning. OnEarth Magazine, Spring 2009
- Managed Rotational Grazing: An Overview of Farm Bill Programs to Support Regenerative Agriculture