Pastures for Horses

1. Pastures for Horses 2000 Horse Seminar Wautoma, Jan. 15 Marshfield, Jan. 22 Craig Saxe Juneau Co., UW-Ext. 211 Hickory Street Mauston WI 53948 (608) 847-9329

2. Grazing Formula Sunlight + Rain + Green Plants = Plant Growth Plant Growth + Grazing Animals = $$$ The Grazing formula involves: • What’s best for the grass • What’s best for the livestock • What moves you toward your goals!!!

3. Traditional Pastures are often “Continuously Grazed” This usually means: • Lower yields • Serious weed pressure • Erosion problems • General “poor” management

4. In Rotational Grazing... • Pastures are subdivided into smaller areas (or paddocks) • A portion of the pasture is grazed while the remainder “Rests” • Paddocks are allowed to: • Renew energy reserves • Rebuild plant vigor • Improve long-term production

5. Intensive Rotational Grazing... Involves a higher level of management • Greater paddock numbers • Shorter grazing periods • Longer rest periods

6. S W Traditional Pasture

7. S W Rotational Grazed Paddocks Corral

8. S W Intensive Rotational Grazing Corral

9. S W Exercise Paddock

10. Monthly forage productionin 2-acre grass and grass-legume pastures animal need Grass Pasture Grass-Legume Pasture

11. Quality Yield ForageGrowth Curve Best time to graze

12. Seasonal growth patterns in forages

13. The Rest Period • Should vary according to plant growth • In general, must increase as growth rate slows • Relates closely to seasonal forage growth • Need to rotate between paddocks every 3-6 days

14. Relationship of rest period to pasture mass during periods of rapid vs. slow growth Lbs. DM / acre Optimum Rest Period 0 5 10 15 20 25 Period of fast plant growth (days) 0 10 20 30 40 50 Period of slow plant growth (days)

15. Stocking Rate (animals/acre) • Can use formulas for actual numbers • Thumb rule; one 1000 pound horse per 2-4 acres • Intensive Rotational Grazing = one mature, non-producing horse to 1-1.5 acres • Traditional “Under-managed” pastures = one horse to 5-10 acres

16. Consider the New Fencing Technology

17. Useful Life of Fencing Materials

18. Horses & Pasture • A grass-legume pasture can produce enough to meet the maintenance requirements of most adult horses • In general, horses are more destructive to pasture than cattle • Horses are natural “nibblers”

19. Horses & Pasture A Pennsylvania study showed horses preferred: • Grasses over legumes • Bluegrass over taller grasses • Clovers over alfalfa and birdsfoot trefoil The study also showed that horses’ made satisfactory progress on all pasture mixtures

20. If at all possiblegraze cattle with horses Because: • It reduces parasitic infestation • Each will eat around the others’ droppings • It assures more uniform use of the pasture • Cattle will graze otherwise wasted feed

21. Diet Selection of Livestock a A mixture of grass and legumes b Woody material

22. Pasture Types • Kentucky bluegrass • Very palatable and nutritious • Will withstand close grazing • Produces high-quality turf • Produces less forage per acre then other grasses • Grows slow during hot dry weather

23. Pasture Types • Orchard grass • If managed, is as palatable and nutritious as bluegrass • Will withstand closer grazing than other tall grasses • Produces more forage per acre then bluegrass

24. Pasture Types • Legumes • Any legume that is adapted to your area can be used successfully • Are higher in protein • Grow when grasses are going dormant • Nitrogen fixing capacity reduces fertilizer costs Some suggest using only one grass and one or two legumes in a mixture

25. Grazing Management Tips • For rotational grazing to be successful you must be flexible • If you don’t want to make hay during periods of rapid forage growth, move animals faster • Provide free choice salt & minerals

26. Grazing Management Tips • Avoid over or under grazing • Clip pastures regularly during the growing season • Drag pastures with a chain link harrow at least once per year • Apply fertilizer as needed (take a soil test) • Re-seed pastures if necessary