Pasture Management - Animal Science - Lecture Slides, Slides of Biology

Download Pasture Management - Animal Science - Lecture Slides and more Slides Biology in PDF only on Docsity!

Pasture Management

• Establishing New Pastures
• Varieties or Cultivars to use
• Fertilization
• Weed Control
• Pest Control
• Grazing Management
• Prescribed Burning
• Help Docsity.com

Ranking of yield (3 year average) and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) of bermudagrass hybrids and relative to Coastal

Hybrid Yield IVDMD

Coastal 100 100 Tifton 44 87 104 Tifton 78 83 83 Tifton 85 124 111 Coastal 68 91 107 Alicia 96 91 Russell 90 102 Midland 99 101 101 Berlin 92 102 ================================ G. W. Burton, unpublished data.

What’s the best variety of forages for my farm?

It depends on location and land type.

Bermudagrass Coastal and Tifton 85

What component of my feeding program most limits animal production?

Bahiagrass Tifton 9

Nutrient Removal by Selected Crops Nutrient Removal Crop Yield N P K ---------------------pounds--------------------

Bermudagrass hay 8 tons 400 70 300 Corn 120 bushels 115 47 32 Peanuts + vines 2 tons 240 39 185 Wheat grain 60 bushels 70 33 20 Wheat grain + straw 60 bushels 100 40 122 Ryegrass pasture 300 lb. beef 9 7 1 Bermuda pasture 200 lb. beef 6 5 1

Pasture Fertilization

Soil sampling

• sample to a depth of 2 to 3 inches
• take 20 or more subsamples
• avoid sampling within 150 feet of watering points, shade, and loafing areas.

Take Soil Samples

Follow the recommendations!

Weed Control

• Timeliness
• Burning
• Mowing
• Spraying
• Use selective herbicide

Prescribed Burning

Another effective management tool

When to burn?

• One week prior to green up of bermudagrass
• Historical dates for last freeze
• March 13 for south Georgia
• March 30 for central Georgia

Must contact county forest ranger Contact local or county public safety offices before burning near roads

Prescribed Burning

What are the problems?

Safety

• unintentionally burning of woods and homes

Burning too early

• grass is more susceptible to late freeze

Burning too late (after green up)

• may reduce the stand
• may kill stolens on the surface

Managing the Prescribed Burn

Develop a fire plan for the field(s)

• location of firebreaks
• backfires, headfire line, etc.
• location of personnel and safety equipment

Firebreaks

• a plowed strip 10 feet wide
• a wet break using a strip of small grains
• a dirt road or paved road

Have plenty of help Make sure all personnel know the fire plan Constant monitoring during and after the burn Docsity.com

Spraying

Use selective herbicide Contact chemical representative (rep) for recommendations Liability involved?

What crops are your neighbors growing?

Care should be taken; wind-drift etc

Grazing restrictions?

Selective Herbicides for Pastures

Grazon P + D

Plateau

Model Farm - Case Study

Item 1996 2000 Change

Hay fed per cow 2.5 tons 1 ton - 60% Calving percentage 87% 95% + 9% Stocking rate 0.8 cow/A 1 cow/A + 25 % Total variable costs $219/cow $92/cow - 58% Total fixed costs $42/cow $70/cow + 67% Total costs $261/cow $162/cow - 38% Net return $66/cow $260/cow + 294%

Rozier and Linda Wingate, Old Orchard Farm Ellijay, Gilmer County, Georgia

Remember, you are in the grass business

first!

You decide what works best on your farm,

regardless of the species that you raise!