MONITORING UTILIZATION OF PASTURE AND RANGELAND FORAGE TO ASSIST GRAZING MANAGEMENT DECISIONS: A CENTRAL TEXAS COUNTY CASE STUDY
Scasta, J.D.11County Extension Agent, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Texas AgriLife Extension Service, Texas A&M University, Corsicana, TX, 75110
Abstract:
The goal of this project was to implement a user friendly forage utilization monitoring program on a central Texas ranch to serve as a county demonstration model. This project will seek to assist landowners with improper forage utilization which is a critical issue affecting profits, cattle performance and natural resources. The program required two days annually and minimal labor. Short and long term grazing exclosures were established in two pastures. Measurements of plant height and biomass were taken in the fall, inside and outside of exclosures. Percent utilization figures were calculated. Vegetation transect surveys and photo points were established for long term monitoring. The ranch utilized a two herd, two pasture grazing system. 34 Hereford crossbred cows and 2 bulls (1 Hereford, 1 Black Angus) grazed the South Pasture and 24 replacement crossbred heifers grazed the North Pasture. Forage utilization in the South Pasture was high (average 80.9%) and evenly distributed (standard deviation 11.4%) while utilization in the North Pasture was low to moderate (average 42.5%) and unevenly distributed (standard deviation 26.4%). Subsequently, mature cows were identified for culling in the South Pasture herd and alternate supplemental feeding locations used in the North Pasture. This county level, agricultural demonstration will be used to instruct other ranch managers on how to apply a forage utilization monitoring program. This will assist them in making critical grazing management decisions based on ranch specific data acquired with minimal time and labor.