By Michael Tonderai Ngwarayi
Quality livestock products demand quality feed be it manufactured feed or pasture fodder. With the ever rising feed cost and the fact that it constitutes over 75% of operation costs, pasture production and management comes as an alternative for reducing cost and increasing profits on the farm enterprises especially livestock.
Pasture however has several synonyms emanating from the various forms in which it is natured and made available to our different livestock. Some refer to it as fodder, veld, hay and silage. Whichever form pasture comes in, requires a great ideal of investment of time and planning in order to make the best of pasture and get the best out of the livestock enterprise.
What is livestock?
Livestock means cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, poultry (including egg-producing poultry) live fish and other aninmals that are part of a foundation herd or offsprings. The word was derived from the 1500s, meaning movable property of the farm, thus has a sense that means “supply for future use or “sum of money”. However, most farmers do not appreciate the value that their livestock possess since ancient day. Wealthy men even in Biblical ancestry, Abraham, Isaac and David where valued according to their livestock possessions. In ancient Zimbabwe, inheritance was in the form of livestock and we can relate with situations where parents sold cattle to fund their children’s education. Has the livestock of nowadays lost that value or it is just ignorance that livestock is a great measure of wealth.
What is pasture?
Pastures are those lands that are primarily used for the production of adapted, domesticated forage plants for livestock. Pasture seeds are carefully chosen to adapt, improve the soil structure and fertility and sustainable to curb soil erosion. Various pasture seeds have different nutritional values for instance grass have more roughage and better dry matter components, while legumes constitute a major protein source for livestock. Therefore combining various pastures ensures a more balanced diet for livestock. A good consideration of the herd composition (animal profile) also need careful planning, to meet specific quality and quantity of feed needs. Another important point to consider is the season and or availability of irrigation facilities to prolong the active vegetative growth of pastures, thus availing green forage throughout the year. If the irrigation infrastructure is not available then hay, silage would be options to consider well in time.
Why grow pasture or forage crops?
Establishment of pastures is a way, to ensure and guarantee the best conditions of our livestock all year round and secure the quality of livestock products all the time. Quality meat and livestock products including milk, eggs, hide and manure are all dependent on the quality of feed. Therefore, best quality in results in best quality out. So establishing pastures enhances our endeavour to achieve the livestock short term and long-term goals of the enterprise.
The introduction of improved pasture seeds into an already existing pasture such as in communal lands promotes the collective sufficiency of feed throughout the year. It improves the availability of dry matter which sustains livestock through the winter and dry season. The complete establishment of improved pasture ensures the availability of best forage for our livestock in right quantities and quality at the appropriate time. This also facilitates sustainable livestock production through cost reduction in terms of feed which in most circumstances is beyond 75% of the production costs/ working capital.
Good pastures provide forage for your animals, absorb rainfall, filter runoff, and reduce erosion, all of which protect streams. Even good pastures are susceptible to compaction during the rainy months and overgrazing year-round. Bare spots created by overgrazing encourage weed growth increased erosion, runoff, and dust and may cause poor animal health. Although it may seem out of reach, proper pasture management makes it feasible to have lush, green pastures, clean water and healthy animals.
Pasture management should be viewed as essential in livestock farming. Think of the grasses and legumes as your crops and using animals to harvest those crops. Creating a good crop requires recognizing the different environmental and infrastructure at the farmer’s disposal and the livestock enterprise goals. These goal are never the same for all farmers although there can be shared.
There are five steps you can follow to improve and better manage your pastures: conducting an inventory, creating a sacrifice area, implementing rotational grazing, mowing and harrowing, and proper fertilizing. I will share more details on the five steps to improve and manage pastures in my next article. Do not miss!
Michael Tonderai Ngwarayi
Mobile +263774488569
Email: mtngwarai@gmail.com
