BENEFITS OF MULTISPECIES GRAZING →
BENEFITS OF MULTISPECIES GRAZING →
BENEFITS OF MULTISPECIES GRAZING Charlotte Clifford-Rathert, DVM With assistance from : Assistant Professor Mr. Mark Kennedy State Extension Specialist, Small Ruminants State Grazing Lands Specialist Lincoln University USDA-NRCS Missouri
WHAT IS MULTISPECIES GRAZING? The use of more than one species of herbivore to graze forage resources. Cattle, Horses, Goats and Sheep
WHY MULTISPECIES GRAZING? Utilization of more plants in a pasture Improved pasture quality Increased carrying capacity More total pounds of gain per acre More uniform grazing (grazing around dung and urine patches) Reproductive efficiency Efficient foragers Vegetation control More profit potential
DIFFERENT TYPES OF PLANTS Sheep and goats will eat a majority of the plants that grow in North America. Grass Forbs (weeds) broadleaf Browse shrubs, trees, vines Photo by J.M. Luginbuhl NC State Univ.
FORAGING BEHAVIOR OF GOATS Opportunistic grazers. Browsers - prefer woody plants, shrubs, and vines. Do not like clover, but will eat it.
Do not like to graze close to soil surface. Inclined to graze higher, drier areas. Tolerance for tannins and bitter compounds and fewer problems with plant toxicities. “Clean-up Artists” Browse => Forbs => Grass
FORAGING BEHAVIOR OF SHEEP Prefer forbs (weeds) Eat grass and browse Like clover Graze close to the ground Inclined to graze higher, drier areas. Can tolerate salty compounds. Good “second grazers” Forbs => Grass => Browse
FORAGING BEHAVIOR OF CATTLE Primarily grazers of grasses Tend to graze taller grasses sheep will reject Prefer lower flatter areas
COMPARISONS TO BEEF CATTLE Vary in their grazing behavior. Are more selective foragers; select a more nutritious diet. Sheep and goats have higher nutritional needs.
(goats > sheep > beef cattle) Higher maintenance requirements due to their smaller size (weight) Much greater reproductive potential Rotate sheep and goats ahead of cattle
VEGETATION MANAGEMENT Sheep and goats are used to reduce fuel loads to reduce wildfires To control unwanted vegetation on public lands & environmentally sensitive areas where chemicals cannot be used
VEGETATION MANAGEMENT Where mechanical means are too expensive and landowners or the public desire an environmentally friendly alternative Convert heavily wooded land back to native pastureland. Photo by J.M. Luginbuhl NC State Univ. Controlling Multiflora Rose
PROFIT FROM 1 TON OF BRUSH ? Get goats! It takes about 5 – 6 pounds of intake to get 1 lb.
gain Current 60 – 70 lb kid prices = $1.75/lb $1.75/5 = $0.35 $1.75/6 = $0.292 $0.35 x 2000 = $700 Based on Current Market Report, Missouri Dept. of Agriculture
GOATS IN LAND AND FORAGE MANAGEMENT In a NC State study, after 4 years of goat grazing pastures containing herbaceous weeds, vines, multiflora rose, blackberry and hardwood sprouts, pastures became dominated with grass and clover In a West Virginia study goats reduced brush cover from 45% to less than 15% in one season.
GOATS IN LAND AND FORAGE MANAGEMENT In an Ohio State University study, goats eliminated 92% of the multiflora rose in 1 season, however it took up to 4 years for total elimination Dead multiflora rose 1 grazing season Dead buckbrush 1 grazing season
CONTROLLING SERICEA LESPEDEZA WITH GOATS Research and field experience in OK & KS Reduced seeds per stem from 960 to 3 No new seedling spread Reduction in stem count (25 – 30%) Research at Langston University in OK Stocked at 6-8 goats/ac year 1, 4 – 6/ac. year 2, 3 – 4/ac. year 3 End of 3rd year virtually no live sericea plants Left 1 goat/ac. thereafter to control germinating seedlings Weaned goats gained about .3 lb/hd/day during the summer on Sericea
SHEEP FOR WEED CONTROL Sheep naturally prefer forbs over grasses and grasses over shrubs, so they make good candidates for consuming weedy forbs in a weed-control context.
Preference in browse varies by breed In the West, sheep effectively control spotted knapweed (Centaurea maculosa), and other aggressive rangeland invaders that are displacing native plant species.
MATCH ANIMALS TO RESOURCES Sheep and goats are not miniature cows And they’re certainly not pigs or chickens
Many of the health problems with sheep and goats are directly related to not letting a goat be a goat or a sheep be a sheep! Use animals that fit your land and forage resources
SHEEP AND/OR GOATS? (VS. OTHER LIVESTOCK) What is your forage-base? Sheep prefer forbs (weeds) and are probably the most efficient grazers. Goats prefer to browse, but will graze. Cattle and especially horses eat mostly grass.
Goats are more selective grazers than sheep, who are more selective grazers than cattle. Diverse pastures favor small ruminants and multi-species grazing.
BE CAREFUL! Sheep and especially goats will destroy tree seedlings. Trees with larger diameters often die when goats remove bark. Goats and especially sheep will eat perennial grasses if there is no other preferred forage.
Browse Forb Grass Multi-Species Grazing Preferences Forbs Grass Goats Sheep Cattle However, there is regular crossover among the 3 types of feeders as diet preferences and food availability changes throughout the year.
WHAT’S THE BEST SHEEP OR GOAT TO RAISE? The one that fits your system, matches your resources, and makes you the most money.
There is as much difference within breeds as between breeds. Crossbreeding is the recommended breeding practice due to hybrid vigor and breed complementarity. The “best” sheep or goat is not necessarily the one that looks the best, it’s the one that produces the best. Record keeping !!!
HOW MANY SHEEP/GOATS CAN YOU RAISE? It depends upon your management system and resources. Each farm has a different set of resources to use to raise livestock. Land, labor, management and capital Carrying Capacity = Forage Production X Seasonal Utilization Rate Daily Intake X Length of the Grazing Season
STOCKING RATE GUIDELINES Pasture Type Cows Sheep Goats Cows + Goats Excellent Pasture 1 5 - 6 6 - 8 1 + 1 – 2 Brushy Pasture 1 6 - 7 9 - 11 1 + 2 - 4 Brush Eradication Sustainable browse mgmt. 8 – 12 / ac 1 – 3 / ac .5 + 6 – 8/ac Kennedy - 2002
ECONOMIC COMPARISON Cattle 1 cow/calf unit/3 ac 95% calf crop 500 lb.
weaning weight 475 lbs. weaned/ 3ac $1.35/lb. $641.25 gross/3 ac 158.33 lbs./ac $213.75 gross/ac Goats 8 goat/kid units/3 ac 150% kid crop 60 lb weaning weight 720 lbs. weaned/3 ac $1.75/lb. $1260.00 gross/3 ac 240 lbs./ac $420.00 gross/ac
ECONOMIC COMPARISON Sheep 6 ewe/lamb units / 3 ac. 150% lamb crop 120 lb. selling weight* 1080 lbs. produced/3 ac. $1.00/lb $1080.00 gross/3ac. 360 lbs. produce/ac $360.00 gross/ac *May require supplemental feed from weaning to selling
INCREASING INVENTORY/EQUITY REPRODUCTIVE EFFICIENCY Goats/Sheep Start with 1 doe Save all females for 5 years - sell all males 150% kid crop 50/50 doe/buck kids At the end of 5 years: 24 females in herd 24 males sold Cattle Start with 1 cow Save all females for 5 years - sell all males 95% calf crop 50/50 heifer/bull calves At the end of 5 years: 5 females in herd 5 males sold
PASTURE MANAGEMENT Proper stocking rates Pasture rotation (2 month rest period) Clean pastures Mixed species grazing Alternative forages Browsing decreases parasites except for deer worm (Meningeal worm).
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS…….. Fencing Predators Parasites Management
KEYS TO SUCCESS Define success Profit Enjoyment Land management Determine success Record keeping Evaluate Find the weak points in your production Be willing to make changes in management.
ONLINE RESOURCES: American Sheep Industry Association - http://www.sheepusa.org Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas (ATTRA) – http://www.attra.org Missouri Alternatives Center – www.agebb.missouri.edu/mac Boer and Meat Goat Information Center – www.boergoats.com Langston University Goat Research and Extension – www2.luresext.edu/goats/index.htm Maryland Small Ruminant Page – www.sheepandgoat.com Missouri Meat Goat Producers Association – www.meatgoatproducers.com North Carolina State University Meat Goat Research and Extension – www.cals.ncsu.edu/an_sci/extension/animal/meatgoat/
ONLINE RESOURCES (CON’T) Fort Valley State University Goat Center Publications – www.ag.fvsu.edu/html/publications/GoatCenter/Publications.htm Breeds of Livestock – OSU – www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/ Sheep & Goat markets - http://www.ams.usda.gov/lsmnpubs/GAuction.html Premier 1 Supplies: sheep and goat supplies, electric fencing – www.premier1supplies.com/ Gallagher Power Fencing – www.gallagherusa.com Kencove Fencing Supplies – www.kencove.com/ Tru Test – Speedrite/PEL Power Fencing, livestock scales, supplies – www.tru-test.com/
TOXIC PLANT WEBSITES http://cal.nbc.upenn.edu/poison/ http://vet.purdue.edu/depts/addl/toxic/cover1.html http://www.library.uiuc.edu/vex/toxic/scilist.html http://www.ansci.cornell.edu/plants/plants.html Also be sure to check with your veterinarian and extension agent about weed identification.
SPECIAL THANKS TO: Susan Schoenian (Shāy nē ŭn) Sheep & Goat Specialist Western Maryland Research & Education Center University of Maryland Cooperative Extension email@example.com – www.sheepandgoat.com Mark Kennedy State Grazinglands Specialist USDA-NRCS Missouri Meat Goat Producer firstname.lastname@example.org Bruce Lane University of Missouri Adair County Livestock Specialist LaneN@missouri.edu