WERA1002: Managed Grazing Systems for the Intermountain West
(Multistate Research Coordinating Committee and Information Exchange Group)
Status: Inactive/Terminating
WERA1002: Managed Grazing Systems for the Intermountain West
Duration: 10/01/2002 to 09/30/2007
Administrative Advisor(s):
NIFA Reps:
Non-Technical Summary
Statement of Issues and Justification
Livestock production is a high-risk enterprise divided into economic risk and production risk. In recent years, the price of purchased inputs has rapidly escalated, eliminating many livestock operators and putting many more at risk of losing their businesses. Increased use of public land for recreation has brought operators into conflicts. Solving the problems of price and environmental risk involve learning to manage integrated livestock production systems for improved economic and ecological sustainability.
Using grazing animals to harvest forages efficiently and at a stage of plant growth that optimizes forage nutritive value and pasture plant regrowth dates to Voisin (21). The principles set out in the early literature have been applied to economically and environmentally sustainable livestock production systems, most extensively in New Zealand (13). In the USA, much of the work that has been done has originated in the eastern or mid-western states (2, 3, 5, 14, 20) and is useful but not directly applicable by producers in the Intermountain West, where irrigation must be addressed as a sustainability issue (11, 12). The response of grazing animals also varies regionally, so the applicability of general literature (4) needs be reviewed for producers, and local resources made available (1, 22).
Many livestock producers are successfully using grazing-based systems (10, 17) but producers still weighing their options will find detailed information useful in their decision-making process (8, 15, 16). The role of the committee will be to review and comment on the best resources from other regions as well as from the Intermountain West (6) and assist producers. While there are many reasons to adopt grazing-based livestock production systems, they must be built on timely access and sound economics (7, 9, 18, 19). The committee will be a clearing house for such information.
The economic and ecological sustainability of grazing-based livestock production systems through more intensive management of forage resources directed at improving productivity and reducing purchased inputs will be addressed
Members of this committee have the expertise to formulate research and outreach efforts that can assist livestock producers to intensify management resulting in reduced cost, improved production and grazing efficiency as well as greater ecological sustainability on integrated grazing livestock operations in the Intermountain West.
This committee will address the following agricultural research, and education priorities:
A. Increase the global competitiveness of the U.S. agricultural production system. In work already completed in the Intermountain West, high-quality forages have been used to profitably increase the rate of liveweight gain in beef cow-calf production systems, and reduce feed and veterinary costs in dairy production systems. Compared with season-long grazing, reducing the duration of grazing to one to two days at high stocking densities with intervening periods of pasture regrowth can more than double the harvest efficiency
B. Improve decision-making on public policy related to productivity and global competitiveness of the U.S. agricultural production system. Adoption of improved integrated livestock grazing management systems could improve the economic condition of livestock operators and their associated communities and land ecological conditions.
C. Develop, transfer, and promote the adoption of efficient and sustainable agricultural, forestry, and other resource conservation policies, programs, technologies, and practices that ensure ecosystems integrity and biodiversity. The committee includes research and professional outreach personnel involved in all aspects of managed grazing systems in the Intermountain West and the participation of stakeholders is expected.
Objectives
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1. To develop inventories of existing expertise and publications related to environmentally and economically sustainable integrated livestock grazing systems in the Intermountain West.
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2. To develop appropriate protocol(s) for regional use for selection and testing of grazing-related forage species or varieties for potential use in integrated livestock grazing systems in the Intermountain West.
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3. To provide and exchange information related to integrated livestock grazing systems to be disseminated through field days, workshops, web pages, publications, symposia, and other outlets.
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Procedures and Activities
Expected Outcomes and Impacts
- These inventories will be posted on the committee Web site, and may be published./The committee will analyze these inventories to identify gaps in existing knowledge, and identify appropriate personnel to address those gaps. The inventories will also provide an opportunity to identify colleagues with similar interests that may lead to development of regional collaborations. The publication and expertise inventories will also be a valuable resource to the public.
- Protocol(s) will provide guidelines for evaluating species and varieties of grazing forages across diverse Intermountain environments./The use of standard protocols will increase the effectiveness of identification of improved forage genetic resources for grazing.
- Better regional educational programs through enhanced field days, workshops, web pages, and other outlets./Better education and support for regional stakeholders.
Projected Participation
View Appendix E: ParticipationEducational Plan
Cooperators are currently operating extension and educational programs that distribute some grazing management information to operators and extension agents. These programs would be significantly enhanced by the more formalized sharing of teach methods, curricula, research and demonstration data between research and extension personal in various western states. Existing general public programs include field days, and workshops, such as the "Lost River Grazing Academy", a four-day hands-on workshop for grazers and consultants. In addition, there are numerous websites addressing grazing issues, but operators and extension agents would be well served by a "review" of sites and the development of a regional site where regional literature, reviews and current data from Intermountain trials and demonstrations could be posted. The public, researchers and extension personnel dealing with grazing would further benefit for symposia and the development of regional extension publications by sharing ideas and information leading to the reduction of duplication in research and extension publications.
Organization/Governance
The recommended Standard Governance for multistate research activities include the election of a Chair, a Chair-elect, and a Secretary. All officers are to be elected for at least two-year terms to provide continuity. Administrative guidance will be provided by an assigned Administrative Advisor and a CSREES Representative.
Literature Cited
1. Adams, D. C., R. T. Clark, G. Carriker, and R. E. Sandberg. 2000. March vs. June Calving Systems. National Cattlemens Beef Association, Cattlemens College. Denver, CO.
2. Barnhart, S., D. Morrical, J. Russel, K. Moore, M. Miller, and C. Brummer. 1998. Pasture Management Guide for Livestock Producers, University Extension, Iowa State University, Pm-1713.
3. Bartlett, B. T. Cadwallader, J. Cockrell, D. Combs, D. Cosgrove, R. Klemme, L. Tranel, and D. Understander. 1997. Grazing Reference Materials Manual, Cooperative Extension Division of Wisconsin-Extension, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
4. Beef Improvement Federation. 1996. Guidelines for Uniform Beef Improvement Programs, Northwester Research Extension Center, Colby Kansas, 159 p.
5. Blaser, R.E., R.C. Hammes, Jr., J.P. Fontenot, H.T. Bryant, C.E. Polan, D.D. Wolf, F.S. McClaugherty, R.G. Cline, and J.S. Moore. 1986. Forage-Animal Management Systems, Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Bulletin 86-7.
6. Brummer, J.E. and C.H. Pearson. 2002. Proceedings of the Intermountain Forage Symposium. Tech. Bull. LTB 02-1, Colorado State University.
7. Castle, E. N., M. Becker, and A. G. Nelson. 1987. Farm Business Management: The Decision Making Process, Third Edition, Macmillan Publishing Company, New York.
8. Coburn, J. and S. Donaldson. 1995. Small Ranch Manual: A Guide to Management for Green Pastures and Clean Water, University of Nevada-Reno.
9. Ford, S.A. and W.N. Musser. 1998. Evaluating Profitability of Pasture Systems as found in Grazing in the Northeast: Assessing Current Technologies, Research Directions, and Education Needs. Northeast Regional Agricultural Engineering Service, NRAES-113. March 25-26, Camp Hill, Pennsylvania.
10. Harwood, E. D., E. A. Claypoole, M. A. Wright, C. A. Crispell. 1999. Back to Grass:Farming with Managed Intensive Grazing (video), Cornell Cooperative Extension.
11. Hill, R.W. 1994. Consumptive use of irrigated crops in Utah. Utah Agric. Exp. Stn. Res. Rep. 145.
12. Hill, R.W., M. Winger, and D. Worwood. 2000. Sprinklers, crop water use, and irrigation time. Carbon and Emery counties. Utah State University Extension electronic publication ENGR/BIE/WM/07.
13. Hodgson, J. 1990. Grazing Management: Science into Practice, John Wiley & Sons, New York, 203p.
14. Gerrish, J. and C. Roberts. 1999. Missouri Grazing Manual, Cooperative Extension, University of Missouri, Colombia.
Ingram, R. and P. David. 1998. California Grazing Academy, University of California, Cooperative Extension.
15. Kingsbery, B. 1989. How to Plan, Implement & Practice Controlled Grazing on Your Place, Kingsbery Communication, Woodinville, Washington, 57 p.
16. Loeffler, B., H. Murray, D. G. Johnson, Earl I Fuller. 1996. Knee Deep in Grass: A survery of twenty-nine grazing operations in Minnesota, Minnesota Extension Service, University of Minnesota, BU-6693-S.
17. Pruitt, R. J., W. B. Epperson, B. J. Johnson, D. Zalesky, R. Haigh, and D. Young. 1999. Effects of calving time and weaning time on cow and calf performance: Preliminary Report. South Dakota State Beef Report. Brookings, SD.
18. Schleicher, A. D., B. W. Hess, D. W. Koch, L. J. Held, J. W. Flake, and L. Brokaw. 2000. Windrow grazing versus feeding baled meadow hay to beef cows. Proc West. Soc. Amer. Soc. Anim. Sci. 51: 43-46.
19. Smith, B., P. S. Leung, and G. Love. 1986. Intensive Grazing Management: Forage, Animals, Men, Profits, Glazier Hui, Yu Luen Offset Printing Factory, Ltd. Hong Kong, 350p.
20. Voisin, A. 1959. Grass Productivity, Island Press, Covelo, California, 346 p.
21. Western Beef Resources Committee, Adams, Jerry, (editor). 2002. Cow-Calf Management Guide: Cattle Producers Library, University of Idaho Extension.