A Primer on Good Pasture Management

Your pasture is more than just an open field for animals and livestock. It provides nutritional forage, exercise space, safety, and mental stimulation. So whether you have horses, cattle, sheep, goats, llamas, or any other kind of livestock, proper pasture management can help your land meet your animals' needs for healthy, productive lives. In this post, we'll explore the basics of good pasture management.

Why Pastures Need Managing

A pasture's condition changes as a result of normal use, and without proper care, problems can develop. Grasses can become overgrazed, allowing weeds and other undesirable growth to gain a foothold in the field. Excess manure can increase the parasite load of the land, spreading diseases among animals. Animal movement over the space tends to compact the soil, which can choke off roots, stunt new plant growth, and impede proper drainage. Furthermore, when animals are kept in the same space without any change, they may become bored and restless, leading to behavioral problems or a general loss of productivity.

Steps for Effective Pasture Management

There are many different options for managing a pasture, and the exact steps that will work best for your fields will depend on the overall size and condition of each, the number and kind of animals in each pasture, and seasonal changes. So there's no one-size-fits-all solution. But several key practices form the basics of good pasture management:

• Pasture rotation. Regularly moving animals to a different pasture not only gives each field an opportunity to rest and recover its natural balance, but it also stimulates the animals as they engage with a new environment. Frequency of movement depends on field size and number of animals, but a general rule is that livestock should be moved several times annually.

• Soil testing. Soil condition should be periodically evaluated across different parts of your pasture to check pH, nutrient composition, fertility, and other characteristics. This allows you to fertilize or otherwise amend your pasture as needed to promote healthier soil conditions and better forage production.

• Reseeding. Heavily grazed pastures often benefit from periodic reseeding to replenish grass and minimize opportunities for weeds and less desirable grasses from taking over the field. This can also be an opportunity to introduce different plants to a pasture to enrich the soil, attract wildlife, or improve your livestock’s forage quality.

• Aeration. Regular aeration helps mitigate the compacting of soil by heavy animals and equipment. It improves soil structure for better drainage, stronger root growth, and improved uptake of organic material into the soil--all of which boosts grass production.

• Manure collection. Some manure will naturally decompose in the pasture and enrich the soil, but if too much manure collects in the field, it will harbor parasites and can be unhealthy for your livestock. Regularly breaking it up to expose it to the elements will speed decomposition, but excess manure should be collected and removed.

• Mowing. Your livestock will naturally keep the pasture trimmed by grazing, but if their grazing is uneven or leaves behind larger dead plants, this can diminish new growth or leave room for undesirable plants to gain a foothold. Periodically trimming the field to an even length helps mitigate this.

• Weed control. Airborne seeds and adjacent land mean that weeds will naturally encroach on even the best-kept pastures. Regularly patrolling your pasture for unwanted plant growth makes it easier to detect and address nuisance weeds before they become a serious problem.

• Fence maintenance. Systematically checking fence lines, gates, cattle guards, and other structures helps ensure there are no breaks, loose panels, or other weaknesses. You'll want to check fence integrity along the entire length at least once a year, looking especially for loose nails, screws, broken boards, and other issues that could cause injuries to the animals.

• Wildlife considerations. A healthy pasture is one that not only nurtures your livestock, but also welcomes regional wildlife. Birds, mice, snakes, and other pasture residents help keep a natural ecological balance by eating bugs and weed seeds, helping maintain your pasture in peak condition. Using hedge barriers or allowing more diverse growth in your pasture will ensure wildlife is right at home alongside your livestock.

To reiterate: Each pasture is a little different, but these practices form the basis of good pasture management. And the better your pasture is managed, the better it will be for your livestock, and the healthier and more productive each animal will be.

If you need help establishing or shoring up some aspect of your pasture management routine, call or stop by to talk with us about it. We carry dozens of premium pasture management products, and our seasoned associates will be happy to take care of you!