Management intensive grazing university of georgia. Effective grazing management on pastures not only ensures high forage. Controlled grazing also known as rotational or management intensive grazing is the process of moving a herd of livestock from one pasture to. It does not seem worth all of the extra work if you cannot run more cattle. Grazing management software essentials for planned rotational. Computerbased program helps grazing management beef magazine. Management plan for grazing, burning, haying and supplementation, actual forage growth rates estimated by the manager and. Understanding the intensive in intensive grazing unl beef. Oct 14, 2015 jim gerrish discusses how implementing the correct grazing system and properly managing solar energy, water and soil nutrients are the keys to effective grazing management. Layout and design of grazing systems university of missouri. By rotating the pasture in a mig system, georgia farmers can make more. Nomadic herdsmen practiced intensive grazing by moving livestock from one range to another or by following seasonal forage supplies. This approach to farming is called management intensive grazing mig, and at rock creek farm, a fiftyacre plot at the kerr center for sustainable agriculture, a mig system was put in place during the summer of 2012.
Management of intensive livestock grazing pastures, grazing. A grazing management plansystem should be used to plan. Jim gerrish discusses how implementing the correct grazing system and properly managing solar energy, water and soil nutrients are the keys to. Calculate stocking rate, carrying capacity, planned grazing, cattle records, grazing records. If youve used the paperbased grazing planning charts and would like to more quickly plan different stocking options, this is the software for you. It outlines the basics of grazing systems management, discusses the main elements that go into any grazing management system, examines other grazing systems issues, and shares the experiences of indiana graziers who have implemented grazing systems management. Managementintensive grazing mig refers to several grazing systems wherein. An essential feature of intensive grazing management consists of the rotation of. Some knowledge of range land nutrition, including toxicities and deficiencies common to the area, feed costs, labor problems, and markets, in addition to knowledge of sheep diseases, is very helpful when giving advice and providing preventive programs and management changes to extensive grazing producers. This software does all grazing planning calculations for you and includes a user manual. Although milk yields are often lower in rotational systems, net farm income per cow is often greater as compared to confinement operations. Most folks dont fully understand what the word intensive refers to when used with grazing. Onfarm grazing systems research and development of intensive.
Maiagrazing grazing management software to boost pastures. Data were collected via a farm financial management software program, finpack, now used by ce throughout the u. Intensive management promotes forage recovery after. However, this grazing system does not come with out a cost. The results of a recent study of onfarm adoption of intensive grazing system. Works on excel 2003 or any later version and has options for 30, 50, or 100 paddocks. Intensive grazing is actually an old management practice. As you follow the planning process, the strengths and weaknesses of your current system will become apparent. Management intensive grazing mig is a system of grazing where the management is intensive, but the grazing is not. Management intensive grazing sustainable agriculture at uga. Managementintensive grazing in indiana purdue extension. This manual will help improve your understanding of basic grazing concepts. Better farming with voisin management intensive grazing. Grassfed software made simple learn more maiagrazing is an easy to use, online grazing management tool that helps graziers and ranchers maximise their pastures and profits in the good times and reduce risks when its tough.
Description the management measure is intended to be applied to activities on rangeland, irrigated and nonirrigated pasture, and other grazing lands used by domestic livestock. He has also served as a parttime consultant in management intensive grazing, helping ranchers design and implement grazing systems that increased their stocking rates and net profits. An option for extending the grazing season in kentucky. Pasturemap is grazing management and cattle software. Sometimes severe or short grazing may be appropriate, but more often than not we want more grass leaves left behind after a move so it will regrow faster and be ready for another grazing sooner. Grazing systems management is a combination of art and science. Apr 02, 2019 how to manage pastures using rotational or management intensive grazing.
Setting up an intensive grazing system that works pasture. Tate is the owner of regenerative stewardship, llc a land management and counseling company, started in 2016. This management measure applies to both public and private range and pasture lands. Management cant happen unless there is a goal or objective. Management intensive grazing in indiana ay328 4 getting started w elcome to management intensive grazing. Rotational grazing and intensive pasture management, 1993. The information here should be applicable to any hoosier grazier of any livestock species. Intensive grazing is a great tool when used correctly. Planning fencing systems for intensive grazing management. Trs land and livestock provides consulting, development and management services to landowners with a desire to improve the productivity and ecological value of their land holdings. The animals are merely harvesters, like lawnmowers.
The intensive grazing software program that i am reprogramming and adding financial inputs to can be used by extension personnel, educators, producers or by any one interested in sustainable agriculture for educational purposes. In managementintensive grazing, the grassroots of grass farming, he uses vivid images and detailed explanations to take graziers stepbystep through the mig system. The social implications of management intensive grazing. If so, you should reconsider your grazing management. Land restoration with the application of intensive grazing. Management intensive grazing animsci 3400 application of scientific principles of plant growth, animal nutrition and behavior to manage grazing systems for profitable, sustainable livestock enterprises. This publication has valuable information for all of western oregon.
What kind of ratio can you expect to have if it is a normal year, lets say two years down the road. Historically, these rangelands experienced prolonged rest periods that allowed the vegetation to fully recover and grow. If youve used the paperbased grazing planning charts and would like to more quickly plan different stocking. Redistribution of nutrients present in fecal and urine deposits is an important issue for efficient conversion of herbage into animal. Dougherty recycling of plant nutrients is of major concern in managing paddocks in pasturefields for intensive grazing. Fencing systems for intensive grazing management 10 october 2009 making the most of your forage with rotational grazing, will allow stocking rates to be increased resulting in increased beef production per acre, write extension officers, l. Dave has 30 years experience with intensive grazing, including dairy and sheep.
Planning fencing systems for intensive grazing management l. Intensive grazing may result in better utilization of kentuckys forage resources. Dec 14, 2011 management intensive grazing is the process of moving animals to fresh pastures based on pasture condition. Management intensive grazing this approach emphasizes management rather than the system or its components. How to manage pastures using rotational or management. Apr 09, 2020 owing to these two major gaps in the grazing literature, we decided to undertake the preliminary task of creating a comprehensive annotated bibliography that covers the social implications of management intensive rotational grazing.
A grazing system is the way a producer manages forage resources to feed. As consultants, business owners, and leaders in the grazing industry theyre an invaluable resource for our the pasturemap community. Adoption of intensive grazing systems the journal of extension. The benefits of management intensive grazing include increased pasture yields, quality of feed, and improved pasture parasite management.
Jim gerrish discusses how implementing the correct grazing system and properly managing solar. Gerrish coined the phrase managementintensive grazing mig, putting the emphasis on management of the growth of the grass. The beginning of management intensive grazing can you. A method of utilizing the forage resource to maximize return, while maintaining long term productivity of the resource base aims at managing the soil, water, plants and animals together as a whole in a systems approach you the manager are in control of time and space. Grazing management software essentials for planned.
Management intensive grazing managementintensive grazing mig refers to several grazing systems wherein animals are allowed to graze only a small portion of the pasture an individual paddock while other paddocks are rested and allowed to recover. Thus, its the intensity of your management that enables you to meet your grazing goals. The grazing plan should include all the components of the grazing and pasture system and serve as a map for making management improvements. Education for serious grazers on september 28, 2017 at the red river research station in bossier parish day 2 september 29 red river conference for advanced livestock graziers beyond the basics of rotational and intensive grazing management, targeted to provide continuing education read more. Its not intensive labor or intensive animal movement. Designing a grazing plan is the first step in your pasture management system. The management of intensively grazed pastures is directed and propelled by only two factors the pasturerecovery period and the. Grazing management systems aim to produce highquality forage to feed livestock for as much of the year as possible.
Management intensive grazing requires an increase in labor and management as well as initial costs for extra fencing and watering supplies needed. Grazing systems range from continuous grazing of one area over a long period of time to intensive rotational grazing on small areas for short periods of time. Producers can compare profitability on continuous grazing versus different intensive grazing systems. The software leads users through the process and contains the necessary data, such as forage growth cycle information for wherever you operate, besides doing the calculations automatically. Management intensive grazing is the process of moving animals to fresh pastures based on pasture condition. Management intensive rotational grazing involves a higher level of management with greater paddock numbers, shorter grazing periods, and longer rest periods. Sometimes this requires livestock to be moved multiple times per day. Written for those new to mig grazing, gerrishs insights and personal experience can help experienced graziers fine tune their grazing operations for added income. Some specific components grazing management software must include.
Fencing systems for intensive grazing management the cattle. Extensive grazing systems for sheep management and. We focus on the use of regenerative grazing systems to restore biodiversity, enhance utility and improve. This is due to the additional costs associated with herd health and purchased feeds are greatly reduced in management intensive rotational grazing systems.