Factors for Managing Native Grasslands with Grazing
Factors for Managing Native Grasslands with Grazing
Even though there is still snow on the ground and mother nature has sent us multiple reminders that winter isn’t over yet, it’s never too early to start planning or thinking about your grazing strategy for the upcoming year. Many ranchers implement the use of native prairie landscapes as a grazing resource. Unless managed correctly this landscape can quickly deplete to bald prairie.
Many factors and conditions come into play for proper native grass management. We are able to control a few aspects that ultimately affect the overall health of that native prairie. These factors would be timing, frequency, duration and intensity of grazing, all of which impact how that land can be grazed in the future. Weather is always a factor for plant health but unfortunately, we cannot control that, so let’s talk about what we can control!
Intensity refers to the number of grazing animals on an area of pasture over a certain time period. Intensive grazing systems generally have a high number of animals that have access to a small area for a short period of time. These systems aren’t widely used on native grasslands but can be used to manage certain grass types if needed, although, native grass species are more sensitive to overgrazing than tame grasses. Any grasslands under intensive grazing need to be closely monitored for range health changes. Quick action may be needed if range health begins to decline. Intensive grazing systems can also come with the need for additional fencing that can create a barrier for wildlife to move from habitat to habitat. Decreasing overall habitat connectivity for some species at risk which can be detrimental to their populations. On the other hand, using lighter stocking densities enables cattle to graze some plants down while leaving others and that creates a unique opportunity for birds and insects to find their ideal habitat from a combination of taller and shorter grass heights. This can allow for some grasslands that may have been grazed too extensively to have a chance to rest and regrow without excessive disturbance.
The time of year that native grass is grazed also impacts the health and vigor of the plants. Native grasses are incredibly sensitive to grazing in the spring during their growing period. Typically, ranchers leave their native grass to be grazed later in the year to allow for the plants to grow and mature. This has become more difficult given the recent drought conditions and lack of native prairie regrowing to an appropriate grazable stage. Deferring grazing to later in the year also allows grassland birds to nest and mate without disruption. For some species at risk, like the Greater Sage Grouse, they need quiet environments to gather and mate so being able to push grazing until early summer or even later into the fall ensures they have the needed conditions to sustain and hopefully increase their populations.
Duration refers to the length of time that livestock are grazing within specific areas of the pasture. Recognizing when to move cattle off native grasslands can determine the ability to graze that land in the coming years. If grazed for too long, it can lead to increased soil erosion, reduced water filtration, decreased soil nutrients and increased risk of invasive plant species taking over disturbed areas. This impacts the entire ecosystem. Some grassland species at risk are known to completely leave an environment if over grazed due to reduced nesting habitat, inability to hide from predators and reduced foraging. Strategic placement of salt or water sources can promote a variety of grass heights within pastures.
Frequency of grazing refers to how often grazing animals have access to a particular part of your pasture. Another way to look at it would be “How much rest does my grass get before they are grazed again?” We must remember that a grazed plant is not a dead plant, but if a plant is continually being grazed down without any rest or time to regrow then we run into problems. Re-grazing too soon can decrease the energy reserves of the plant, resulting in poor root systems. This leads to poor plant vigor and decreased resilience in times of drought. Native grasses need more time to recover after grazing than tame grasses, and best practice would be to graze native grasses only once per grazing season. If this is not possible across your whole ranch, it may be possible to choose certain paddocks to rest each year, and cycle through so that each paddock gets longer periods of rest over many years.
Grasslands are an ever-changing landscape and our management plans reflect that. The Saskatchewan Stock Growers Foundation has a variety of habitat management programs for ranchers to utilize to improve and maintain grassland health while providing habitat for species at risk. We can go and assess the rangeland health and work with landowners to find sustainable solutions they can implement. Our management plans can help to identify issues like invasive weeds or plant species and then we work with the land owner to create a long-term solution along with both financial and technical support. We also understand that grazing plans may have to be changed quickly depending on the condition of land and constantly evolving factors. There are countless ways to manage grasslands and we will work to find one that’s suitable for each rancher’s operation and adjust as needed. Our habitat agreements provide the resources for producers to monitor, improve and maintain their pasture and ensure healthy grazing resources are available for years to come. If you have any questions about rangeland services we offer or habitat agreements you can reach us here.
Author:
Mindy Hockley and Marika Sherman