Pasture Perfect

For both increased forage production and protection of soil and ground water, the following are considered best management practices in pasture care:

• rotational grazing--moving grazers every week through a series (often three in number) of pasture lots, giving each lot several weeks of rest during to cycle, to limit plant damage and allow time for regrowth.
• manure management--ideally, removing manure weekly or, where parasites are well controlled, dragging manure to distribute nutrients and increase plant palatability.
• mowing--clipping ungrazed plants and weeds before they mature and go to seed.
• soil testing and fertilizing--supplying optimum soil nutrients by first identifying the deficiencies.
• reseeding--maintaining healthy turf and reducing weed infestation by replanting bare areas in appropriate species.

This article is from EQUUS Magazine, Issue 270 (April 2000), copyright 2000 by PRIMEDIA Enthusiast Publications, Inc.

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