Top Ten Pasture
Management Tips
Dan Morrical
Iowa State University
morrical@iastate.edu
515-294-2904
Number 10
Increase fertility
 Nitrogen
– Increase yields 25-40%
– Cost $35 per acre for 50 lbs N
– .5 to 1 ton extra feed
– Soil test
– Multiple small applications

Number 9
 Incorporate
Legumes
– Improves nutrition value
– Evens out forage growth
– Frost seed red clover
Number 8

Stay Flexible
– Grass growth is
not constant
neither should
stocking rate
– Rotation order
– Hay versus
pasture ground
Number 7
 Plant
fence posts
 Gain control
– Utilize excess early growth
 Rotational
graze
– 40-60 % more production
Number 6

Spring turn out date
– Early turn out
» Reduces yield potential
» Ewes cannot eat what did not grow
– Excessively late turn out
» Mature forage

Variable from year to year
– Fall rest for root reserves
– Fall rest to protect streambanks

Utilization rate
– Graze half - leave half
– Leaf area for capturing sunlight
» 35% UR in continuous grazed
» 50% UR in moderate rotations
» 70% UR in intensive systems
– Match animals and acres
Number 5
Number 4
Match
animals
and acres

Patience
Number 3
– Pasture improvement takes time
Number 2
Change our attitude
Iowa grows a lot of corn and
soybeans
Iowa can also grow a lot of
forage
Must set high forage
production per acre as goal
Number 1
Become grass farmer
versus
Livestock producer
Bonus discussion
Managing drought years
 Managing excess rain fall
 Utilize crop residue grazing to extend
the season

– 9 month grazing goal April 15 to Jan 15

Hay storage and supply management
Why rest is needed
Grazing animals are selective in what
they eat especially sheep
 Preferred species are over comsumed

– Weakens vigor and reduces composition
– Allows invaders
– Root system dies back with grazing

Sheep are very selective graziers
Survival and Profit
Feed costs are single largest cost
 Enterprise records

– Pasture cost/ewe/day $.056
– Drylot cost/ewe/day $.166
Grass Growth is Not
Uniform

Manage supply
– Increasing paddock # in summer
» Warm season grasses
» Hay field re-growth
– Change stocking rate
» Not very practical
» Example short duration stockers
Why rest is needed
Grazing animals are selective in what
they eat especially sheep
 Preferred species are over comsumed

– Weakens vigor and reduces composition
– Allows invaders
– Root system dies back with grazing

Sheep are very selective graziers
Utilization Rate

Defined by the % forage consumed vs.
forage available at turn in
Example 2000 lbs at turn in
 1000 lbs remaining at removal
 1000/2000 = 50% Utilization rate

Utilization Rates by Grazing
Intensity
Length of
Grazing (days)
.5
1
2
3
4-7
10-14
Continuous
% Utilization
of DM Available
75
70
65
60
40-50
35
30
Examples
Improper
gate
location
Central
Watering
Hub
Center over utilized, light shaded
area is correctly utilized and
perimeter area is under utilized.
Central
watering
hub
Gate placement and watering
design.
The grazing pattern and distance to
cover paddocks of different shapes.
R
R
Gate
Gate
Increasing pasture output

Change forage species
– adding legumes

Increase fertility
– goal dependent
– timing and amounts

Rotational grazing
Paddock Layout

No perfect system
ideal is square
1.
2.
3.
4.
Improved uniformity
Less fence
Less distance traveled
Makes for easier clipping or baling
Examples
Water
Darkest shaded area is over
utilized, light shaded area is
correctly utilized and the
white area is under utilized.
Water
Alternative to wagon wheel
design with poor water
location.
Fencing sloped areas
Incorrect method of
fencing slopes
Water lane
Ridge
Slope
Bottom
Correct methods of fencing slopes
Successful Systems =
Excess Early Forage

Layout paddocks with areas that are
hayable separate

If three or four hayable paddocks lay
together, subdivide with temporary fence
post harvest
Water

Best situation is water in all paddocks
– Eliminates lanes
grazing area
– Reduced animal travel
performance
– Water holding device is smaller
» with paddocks less than 10 acres
– Reduces coccidia contamination

Sheep are low water consumers