– Jeff McCutcheon, OSU Extension Ag & Natural Resources Educator, Knox County (originally published in Farm & Dairy, 6/15/06)
Over the years working with graziers, I have come to a realization. The most limiting factor in managed grazing systems is water. No, not rainfall, we can not control the weather. I am talking about water for livestock.
It is funny, one of the first things we teach children about raising animals is they need plenty of clean fresh water at all times. But as adults managing grazing, water is one of the last things we consider in the system.
Earlier this spring I visited with a young producer who wanted to mange his livestock grazing. He had many questions about what forages to plant, types of fencing and the schedule for moving the livestock. In a nutshell I suggested he manage what was there, use portable electric initially and to move based on forage growth.
Don’t forget it. Then I asked about water. From the conversation that ensued, I gathered he had not even thought about how to supply water to his livestock in pasture.
Water is important. It makes up 60 percent to 70 percent of an animal’s live weight. In the body, water performs many functions. A few that come to mind include:
– Water consumption will have an affect on dry matter intake. Dry matter intake is highly correlated with milk production or gain. Ruminants on a high forage diet produce enough saliva to fill the rumen each day. Water is needed for saliva production.
– Water is needed in milk production. Dairy producers have reported increases in milk production when cows have easy access to water. Typically two to five pounds of additional milk per cow, per day is observed.
Temperature regulation. Water is used in temperature regulation. Sometime this summer I will be asked about the need for shade in pasture. My first response will be to ask, do the livestock have plenty of clean fresh water?
For the animals’ temperature regulation, this is more important than shade. If the answer is yes, then we can talk about shade.
Water has a huge influence on where animals graze. Have you ever walked through a paddock where the livestock were just removed?
The next time, start at the watering point and walk away from it. You may notice the residual height of the forage gets taller the further you are from the water source. Pasture utilization can be greatly enhanced when animals do not have to travel far for water.
Research backs up this observation. One study from Wyoming showed cattle do 77 percent of their grazing within 1,200 feet of their water source. In this study, approximately 65 percent of the pasture was more than 2,400 feet from water, but supported only 12 percent of the grazing usage. Having water close greatly influenced where the cows grazed.
Get it closer. Researchers in Missouri concluded that for the humid, temperate zone, like Ohio, water sources should be closer than the rangeland conditions found in Wyoming. For optimal forage utilization, water should be within 600-800 feet of all grazed areas.
Their study on 160 acres showed pasture carrying capacity could be increased an additional 14 percent by simply keeping livestock within 800 feet of water.
Where animals spend their time also influences manure distribution. Grazing livestock return a high percentage of the nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium they eat to the pasture through manure and urine. If allowed, livestock will move those nutrients from the pasture to shaded areas or around water tanks.
Have you ever seen a grid map of soil test values from a crop field that had been a pasture field? If you have, it should not take long to pinpoint where the watering point was located. It is not unusual to see significantly higher phosphorus and potassium values in those areas.
Soil tells the story. Another study from Missouri tested phosphorus and potassium levels in relationship to water placement. Soil test levels were uniform in the paddocks when water was less than 500 feet from any part of the pasture. When stock had to travel 1,100 feet to water, changes in soil phosphorus and potassium were much greater nearer the water.
Water systems are expensive. Some quotes I have heard equal fence cost. Are they worth it? Let me share a recent example.
I have worked with a beef producer for several years who does a good job managing grazing. He has a herd of fall calving cows and weans the calves in the spring. Those weaned calves he treats as stockers and grazes them until fall or until the grass runs out.
This beef producer uses a 25 acre field to graze these 50 stockers. The field had two distant water sources away from either end of the field. On farm visits, this producer would ask what could be done to improve the operation.
Making the move. Over the years, several people suggested putting water in the paddocks with the calves. This field is on top of a hill. To get water there efficiently would mean drilling a well and piping it up to the field. Last year he finally did it. It cost around $6,000 for a well, pump, buried pipe and hydrants.
The Environmental Quality Incentives Program through Natural Resources Conservation Service cost-shared the project so his cost was less.
Last year, the farmer estimated it translated into 50 extra pounds per calf or 2,500 pounds for the group. Was it worth it? He thinks so. Providing water close to where you want the animals to graze can have a big influence on the success of the grazing system.
For assistance in setting up a water system contact your local extension office, soil and water conservation district or natural resources conservation service or check out the Ohio Integrated Forage Management Team’s Web site at http://forages.osu.edu.