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Using the animal unit month (AUM) effectively

Description

The concept of the animal unit month (AUM) is useful to help range and pasture managers calculate suitable stocking rates for pastures under a wide variety of conditions. This fact sheet defines... More ≫

Description

The concept of the animal unit month (AUM) is useful to help range and pasture managers calculate suitable stocking rates for pastures under a wide variety of conditions. This fact sheet defines the animal unit month and describes how to determine this number.

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Nutrient management on intensively managed pastures

Description

Pastures are unique to agricultural production systems in that only a very small portion of the nutrients required for crop production are removed from the system. Up to 90 per cent of the... More ≫

Description

Pastures are unique to agricultural production systems in that only a very small portion of the nutrients required for crop production are removed from the system. Up to 90 per cent of the nutrients ingested by grazing animals are returned to the land in manure (excreta), which is comprised of urine and dung. The rest is utilized in animal maintenance and growth or milk production. Nutrient cycling is faster on grazed than ungrazed grassland because most of the nutrients in manure have been converted from organic (plant material) to inorganic, plant-available forms during the digestive process.

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Range and pasture management when dealing with drought

Description

Every district or ranch has poor production years because of drought. One of the risks in farming or ranching is based on whether drought occurs often or as infrequently as once every 20 years.... More ≫

Description

Every district or ranch has poor production years because of drought. One of the risks in farming or ranching is based on whether drought occurs often or as infrequently as once every 20 years. Good range and pasture management will minimize the effects of drought when it occurs.

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Agronomic management of stockpiled pastures

Description

Stockpiling pasture is a form of deferred grazing. The producer stockpiles the forage grown during the spring and summer for use when the pasture is in short supply or when cows need fall or... More ≫

Description

Stockpiling pasture is a form of deferred grazing. The producer stockpiles the forage grown during the spring and summer for use when the pasture is in short supply or when cows need fall or winter feed. This practice can mean savings for the producer: harvesting, hauling and feeding costs associated with conserved feed are eliminated; and manure does not need to be removed from feeding areas. Winter grazing on native range is common on the southern prairies. Depth of snow cover frequently limits winter grazing of standing forage in the Parkland and Boreal forest regions. However, the grazing season may be extended by several weeks by using stockpiled forage in late fall and early spring.

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Agronomic management of swath grazed pastures

Description

Feed, feeding, cow management and manure disposal can account for up to two-thirds of the total cost of production in a cow-calf operation. Systems that can extend the grazing season and reduce... More ≫

Description

Feed, feeding, cow management and manure disposal can account for up to two-thirds of the total cost of production in a cow-calf operation. Systems that can extend the grazing season and reduce these costs are of great interest to cow-calf producers. One of these systems is swath grazing.

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Improving pasture productivity : working with the weather

Description

Forage yield and variability are closely tied to weather and climate. Although you can’t control the weather, you can manage your pastures to deal with the challenges of your local conditions. By... More ≫

Description

Forage yield and variability are closely tied to weather and climate. Although you can’t control the weather, you can manage your pastures to deal with the challenges of your local conditions. By working with the weather, you can improve pasture productivity and reduce drought risk, while also contributing to a healthy environment by reducing soil erosion, improving water quality and maintaining wildlife habitat.

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Alberta tame pasture scorecard

Description

The Tame Pasture Scorecard is a simple, non-technical method to visually assess pastures. It uses farm level indicators and descriptions to describe pasture health and productivity. Healthy,... More ≫

Description

The Tame Pasture Scorecard is a simple, non-technical method to visually assess pastures. It uses farm level indicators and descriptions to describe pasture health and productivity. Healthy, productive pastures maintain and protect soil and water resources, provide sustainable grazing, and require fewer inputs. The Tame Pasture Scorecard allows tame pastures to be assessed without the use of technical equipment. It is a tool to raise awareness of pasture management and increase the working knowledge of pastures.

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Aerial herbicide application for brush control information fact sheet

Description

An important economic consideration in the management of Alberta's tame pastures is controlling the amount of woody plants such as trees and shrubs (also called brush encroachment). In low cover... More ≫

Description

An important economic consideration in the management of Alberta's tame pastures is controlling the amount of woody plants such as trees and shrubs (also called brush encroachment). In low cover amounts, woody plants on tame pastures can provide complimentary livestock forage, provide shade, act as a snow trap, and provide benefits to wildlife. However, in higher amounts (increased density, diameter, height and cover), woody plants often become competitive and reduce the forage productivity of the tame pasture. In turn, this result can reduce grazing benefits and increase pasture management costs. In situations where woody regrowth is competitive with grazing interests, a number of management control options are available, such as biological (e.g., federally registered brush control herbicides).

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