Extension Communications
3614 Administrative Services Building
Ames, Iowa 50011-3614
(515) 294-9915
6/3/02
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts:
John L. Creswell, Nutrient Management Education Project, (515) 727-0656,
creswell@iastate.edu
James R. Russell, College of Agriculture, (515) 294-4631, jrussell@iastate.edu
Jean McGuire, Continuing Education and Communication Services, (515) 294-7033,
jmcguire@iastate.edu
Pasture Rotations Improve Profitabilty and Reduce
Soil Erosion
Ames, Iowa — "Producers could do a better job of reducing soil
erosion in pastures by using rotational grazing," says John Creswell,
coordinator of Iowa State University (ISU) Extension’s nutrient management
education project.
"Most Iowa land currently in pasture is undesirable for crop production
because of steep slopes, making the land vulnerable to erosion,"
says Creswell. "So a well-managed pasture with a good vegetative
cover is important for improved water quality. Research indicates that
the best-managed pasture areas are under a rotational grazing system."
Jim Russell, professor of Animal Science, says, "Rotational grazing
is a system that moves animals through a series of paddocks. There are
many advantages of a rotational grazing system, including increased production,
better pasture vigor, more storage of forages and better animal performance
in terms of reproduction and growth of young."
Rotational grazing prevents overgrazing by ‘resting’ vegetation
in the idle paddocks. Continued re-grazing forces the plant to draw nutrients
from its roots, eventually weakening or even killing it. Short grazing
periods with periods of ‘rest’ in between helps the pasture
remain vital and healthy.
"The length of the rest period depends on the season, availability
of soil moisture, forage species, and previous grazing intensity,"
says Russell. "For example, removing animals during a dormant season
does not constitute rest because plant growth is limited during dormant
times of the year. High animal density for short periods of time is a
good thing. It increases competition between animals for forages and forces
them to spend more time eating and less time wandering, which saves energy.
It also means that they will eat plants that they would otherwise ignore."
According to Russell, there are additional costs and management issues
with rotational grazing. "Fencing is a leading cost concern. But
a single strand, high tensile electric fence with a low-impedance fencer
provides high output, and cattle learn quickly to avoid it. Also, since
a herd doesn’t move itself from paddock to paddock, time is another
management factor. But more frequent contact translates into better management,
since there are more opportunities to check animals and make visual assessments."
The Nutrient Management Education Project is funded in part by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources through an EPA grant. More information about the Nutrient Management Education Project can be found on the NP Knowledge Web site (http://extension.agron.iastate.edu/NPKnowledge/).
-30-
ml: isufarm
Extension programs are available to all without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, or disability.