Quick Facts...
- Small acreage pastures are too small to be a significant source of
feed for grazing animals, but can provide a place for brief periods
of exercise.
- Allowing animals unlimited access to small, non-irrigated pastures
can severely damage vegetation.
- Turn animals onto small pastures only for short periods of time.
- Deny animals access to pasture when grass is 3 to 4 inches high (or
less), and do not allow them access until grass grows to 6 to 8 inches.
Maintaining the health of small acreage pastures can be challenging,
even in years with normal rainfall and snowpack. The semi-arid climate
of Colorado prevents dry-land pastures from achieving the same level of
productivity observed in states that receive greater precipitation. As
a result, small, non-irrigated pastures are sensitive to grazing and hoof
traffic.
Drought conditions further hamper pasture productivity. Lack of moisture
suppresses plant growth and retards root development. Without adequate
root structure, plants are unable to extract moisture and nutrients from
the soil, which further limits plant growth. In order to survive, plants
rely on the few leaves they have to capture solar energy and manufacture
sugars through the process of photosynthesis. These sugars, along with
small amounts of stored reserves, are used to support basic life functions.
Allowing animals unlimited access to pastures during drought can further
weaken plants. Grazing and hoof traffic removes leaves necessary for photosynthesis.
With growth already limited by drought, the plant is forced to utilize
more of its stored sugar to grow replacement leaves. Repeated use of the
pasture can eventually deplete the plant’s energy reserves, resulting
in death of the plant or severely reducing its chance for survival.
Minimizing Damage to Pastures During Drought
If pastures are managed properly during times of low moisture, the effects
of drought will be less severe and pastures will rebound faster when precipitation
is sufficient. In contrast, if pastures exit the drought in poor condition,
the road to recovery is much longer. It is worthy to note that management
practices that minimize damage to pastures during drought are also the
same for maintaining healthy pastures in a normal year.
Decrease your animal’s grazing or turnout time
 |
| Figure1. On average, allow plants to grow 6 to 8 inches
high before turning animals onto pasture. Remove animals and rest
pastures when grass has been grazed or trampled down to 3 to 4 inches. |
Most small acreage pastures in Colorado are overused. When animals are
allowed continuous access to small pastures, grazing and excessive wear
from hooves will destroy all vegetation, allowing weed invasions and erosion
of topsoil. In addition to being an eyesore, these conditions are unhealthy
for the environment, and the dust and mud churned up from bare ground
can pose health problems for your animals.
Because drought weakens plants and amplifies the effects of grazing,
the key to managing small pastures is to limit the time that animals spend
on pasture. Do not put animals out to pasture 24 hours a day. Instead,
restrict pasture access between 30 minutes and two hours a day. This is
more than enough time to give animals ample free exercise. Monitor the
vegetation in your pasture to determine if you need to reduce turnout
time further or completely eliminate pasture turnout altogether (Table
1).
| Table 1. Use plant height to determine when it is
acceptable for animals to have access to pasture and when animals
must be removed to give pasture a rest. |
| Plant Species |
Minimum Plant Height (inches)
|
|
Pasture turnout acceptable |
Remove animals and rest pasture
|
| Alfalfa |
6 – 10
|
3 – 4
|
| Brome, smooth |
5 – 8
|
3 – 4
|
| Fescue, Tall |
5 – 8
|
3 – 5
|
| Fescue, Creeping Meadow |
5 – 10
|
3 – 5
|
| Kentucky Bluegrass |
3 – 5
|
2 – 4
|
| Orchardgrass |
5 – 8
|
3 – 5
|
Orchardgrass
|
5 – 8
|
3 – 5
|
Sideoats, Grama
|
4 – 5
|
2 – 4
|
Switchgrass
|
12 – 18
|
8 – 10
|
Timothy
|
4 – 6
|
2 – 4
|
Wheatgrass, Crested
|
4 – 6
|
2 – 4
|
Wheatgrass, Intermediate
|
5 – 8
|
3 – 5
|
Wheatgrass, Pubescent
|
5 – 8
|
3 – 5
|
Wheatgrass, Western
|
5 – 8
|
3 – 5
|
| Wheatgrass, Tall |
8 – 12
|
5 – 8
|
Adapted from: Natural Resources Conservation
Service Standards and Specifications, TG Notice #125, April 1985.
|
Leave some leaf behind
Lack of adequate forage during drought causes animals to graze available
grasses down to the soil. To avoid overgrazing, remove animals from pastures
when grass is grazed down to an average of 3 to 4 inches (Table 1). Leave
plants with some leaf area for photosynthesis to help them rebound from
grazing. Leaves also shade the ground and reduce evaporation of precious
soil moisture.
Give pastures longer rest periods
Pasture plants need a rest from grazing and hoof traffic to restore their
energy reserves. Reduced plant growth during drought means rest periods
will be longer. As a guide, do not return animals to the pasture until
grass regrows to a height of 6 to 8 inches (Table 1).
House animals in a “sacrifice” area
Designate a small area of property as a “sacrifice area” to
house your animals when they cannot be on pasture. A sacrifice area can
be a small paddock, dry lot, corral, or run off of a stall where loss
of grass cover will not have a major impact. In effect, this area is “sacrificed”
to protect your pasture from over-use at critical times. A sacrifice area
allows flexibility to house your animals when pastures need a rest from
grazing. It is also an ideal location to provide supplemental hay and
grain and a centralized water source (Figure 2).
Subdivide pastures into smaller units
 |
| Figure 2: Incorporate a “sacrifice area” and/or subdivide your pasture
into smaller, more manageable units to better control your animals’
impact on your pasture. |
Animals often waste a considerable amount of pasture forage by trampling,
grazing the best tasting plants, and avoiding areas fouled by manure.
Splitting pastures into smaller areas will help control grazing by forcing
animals to be less selective (Figure 2). Portable electric fences make
subdividing pastures cost-effective.
Dividing pastures into three or four smaller units also makes it convenient
to practice rotational grazing. While animals occupy one unit, other units
can rest and recuperate. When grass has been grazed to an average of 3
to 4 inches, rotate animals into another unit. Rest units for a minimum
of 21 to 30 days between grazings, and allow grass to regrow to a height
of 6 to 8 inches before allowing animals back in the unit
Stay on top of weed invasions
Weeds are exceptionally hardy, so it’s not surprising they thrive
in drought conditions. Weeds steal sunlight, soil nutrients and water
away from desirable pasture plants. They have little nutritional value
and some weeds are poisonous if grazed. Ensure your animals have adequate
forage or supplemental feed available so they avoid the temptation of
sampling harmful plants. For more information on weed identification and
control, contact your Colorado State University Extension
county office and see “Additional Resources” at the end of this
fact sheet.
Be prepared to provide supplemental feed
Colorado’s dry climate does not permit small, non-irrigated pastures
to produce enough forage to meet the nutritional needs of most grazing animals.
This is especially true in a drought when pastures are less productive.
You will need to feed hay and/or grain. To avoid excessive wear on pastures,
provide feed in a sacrifice area rather than directly on pasture. See “Additional
Resources” for information on drought feeding alternatives.
Managing Small Pastures Coming Out of a Drought
How pastures are used coming out of a drought is just as critical as management
during the drought. Precipitation levels may rebound but plants require
time to recover.
Assess what has survived
When the drought breaks, assess your pastures for damage. Carefully identify
plants and make sure they are truly forages and not weeds. Some pastures
will recover with rest, restricted grazing, and appropriate fertilization.
Other pastures may require complete renovation to be productive again.
Resist the urge to graze immediately
It can be tempting to start grazing as soon as additional moisture greens
up your pastures. However, grazing too soon on drought-weakened pastures
can cause plants to further decline, prolong recovery time or even kill
the plants.
Moisture alone does not overcome drought stress. Plants draw from their
energy stores to survive drought and need a period of recovery to replenish
these reserves and establish new root growth.
Complete rest is the most effective and fastest way for pastures to recover.
Ideally, pastures should rest for an entire growing season. You may have
to postpone grazing for more than one season following severe drought.
Delay grazing until plants become established
If you must permit grazing in the season following a drought, plants should
be at least 6 to 8 inches high before animals have access to pasture.
Avoid overgrazing and re-stressing the pasture by removing animals when
plants have grazed down to 3 to 4 inches (Table 1).
Apply fertilizer if appropriate
In general, pastures are more productive with proper fertilization. Resist
applying anything without knowing what is needed. Perform a soil test
first to identify what nutrients your pasture is lacking (see “Additional
Resources”).
Control weeds
Following a drought, pastures are weak and less able to compete with
vigorous weeds (especially annual species). Be prepared for several years
of vigilance and identify any unknown weeds that might be harmful to animals.
Reseeding and renovating drought-damaged pastures
Pastures with a low potential for recovery may have to be reseeded or
renovated. Depending on the extent of the damage, some pastures may benefit
from overseeding bare areas or introducing a legume species to improve
pasture quality. Pastures hit hard by drought may only become productive
after complete renovation, which can be expensive and require that the
land be taken out of production for one to three years. Unless you have
the experience and equipment to renovate a pasture, hire an agricultural
professional. For additional information on reseeding and pasture renovation,
consult with your Extension county office or the Natural Resources
Conservation Service.
Continue proper pasture management
To avoid the negative effects of future droughts and get the most out
of your pastures, give pastures adequate rest by restricting turnout time
and confining animals to a sacrifice area during critical times. See “Additional
Resources” for more information on managing small acreage pastures.
Tips for Maintaining Healthy Small Acreage Pastures:
- Avoid overgrazing
- Graze at 6 to 8 inches, rest at 3 to 4
inches
- Restrict turnout time
- Give pastures adequate rest
- Create a sacrifice area to confine
animals away from pasture
- Apply fertilizer when necessary
- Control weeds
Additional Resources
- Stretching Your Horse’s Hay Supply During Drought, Fact sheet 1.625, Colorado
State University Extension.
- Alternative Feeds for Cattle During Drought, Fact sheet 1.626, Colorado
State University Extension.
- Pasture Management for Horses on Small Acreage, Fact sheet 1.627, Colorado
State University Extension.
- ABC’s of Small Acreage Ownership video, XCM-214, Colorado State University
Extension.
- Pasture: Your Most Valuable Resource video, XCM- 215, Colorado State University
Extension.
- Weeds of Colorado, Bulletin 521A, Colorado State University Extension.
- Weed Management for Small Rural Acreages, Fact Sheet 3.106, Colorado State
University Extension
- Colorado Weed Management Guide, XCM-205, Colorado State University Extension.
- Soil Sampling, Fact Sheet 0.500, Colorado State University Cooperative
Extension.
- Fertilizing Alfalfa and Grasses, Fact sheet 0.537, Colorado State University
Extension.
- Production Agriculture: Putting Knowledge to Work CD-ROM, XCD-12, Colorado
State University Extension.
For more information, contact your Colorado State University Extension county office. |
