Livestock

How Many Horses Can Your Pasture Maintain?

Stocking rates provide information on how many horses a pasture can carry in a month. In general the approximate pasture needs per average-sized mature horse, with pasture providing most, if not all, of the nutrition is:

  • 1 -  2 acres with an excellent, dense sod, permanent pasture
  • 2 - 2.5 acres with an average permanent pasture (spring growth will be OK but summer forage is average)
  • 3+ acres with a thin, poor sod that is unmanaged (supplemental forage will likely be needed)

Flood Recovery for Pastures

Flood waters are receding, but the challenges in recovery for farmers and livestock producers are just beginning. Beth Doran, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach beef specialist, recommends producers get out in their fields as soon as possible. "Beef producers should assess the damage to pastures and hay ground, then check out possible disaster assistance," she said. Doran advised cattlemen to look for three things in their assessment - debris, silt on the forage, and thinned or dead forage plants.

Fencing for Horses

One major investment for a horse farm are installation and upkeep of fences. The fence should be safe and keep horses on the property. Fencing decisions should be based on the age of the animal, breed and temperament of the animal, production system, and situation.

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Sheep & Goats

Sheep and goats offer a low-cost entry for beginning livestock farmers and can be stocked at higher rates on smaller pastures than cattle. Sheep and goats provide meat, milk and fiber products, as well as brush control and pasture improvement services.

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Estimated Costs for Livestock Fencing

Fencing costs are one of the most expensive aspects of livestock grazing. The type of fence constructed greatly impacts the cost per foot, total cost, and annual ownership cost. This publication compares the costs of building a quarter-mile (1,320 feet) straight perimeter fence with four different types of permanent fencing plus temporary interior fencing.

Grass-Based Cattle

An animal is considered grass-fed, according to the USDA Grass Fed Marketing Claim Standards, when grass and forage are the “feed source consumed for the lifetime of the ruminant animal, with the exception of milk consumed prior to weaning.

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Utilizing Goats for Brush Control

Even the smallest timber stands or neglected pasture on an acreage can include unwanted brush. Management of the brush can be time-consuming, expensive and include chemicals which include restrictions, environmental concerns, etc. Some rural residents are utilizing a biological control method for brush – goats!

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