From rayburn@WVNVAXA.WVNET.EDU Fri Jan 23 20:28:31 1998 Date: Fri, 23 Jan 1998 14:31:13 -0500 From: Ed Rayburn To: forage-mg@darkstar.oes.orst.edu Subject: Reporting back on Pasture research and educational needs A few weeks ago I requested input on a pasture research and educational needs survey. I want to thank all of you that participated in the survey. I am sending this summary to the list for general information and as feedback to those who participated in the survey. I hope I have done justice in summarizing the thoughts and opinions shared in the responses. Thanks again Ed ------------------------------------ Education and Research Needs The following list of education and research needs was developed from a survey of livestock producers, extension specialist, and researchers. Education Needs Forage management to optimize production, quality, utilization, and animal performance. Simple, effective guidelines for managing the timing and intensity of grazing to optimize forage production and quality for different forage mixes and livestock enterprises, with special interest in managing pastures for dairy cattle. Quick, easy, accurate measurement of pasture forage mass for feed budgeting and simple guidelines for pasture allocation and budgeting. Supplemental feeding and economics for different livestock classes on high quality pastures with emphasis on energy and minerals. How to optimize animal nutrition and manage for high milk protein and fat production on pasture (per head vs. per acre). Managing for high conception rate on pasture. Body condition long term effects on feed intake, production, breeding, and economics. Effects of distance traveled on energy and supplement requirements and milk production. Impact of shade on different breeds and classes of livestock in different environments. Improved forage production and utilization. How to optimize plant nutrition and budgeting the economic response of pasture fertilization and liming. How to identify forage species, varieties, and mixtures best suited to specific environment and management sites and livestock types. How to extend the grazing season (spring and fall). How to optimize the use of rotational and continuous stocking of pastures. Farm management How to market livestock products in cooperative pools. How to get people to develop and work for a common vision. How to estimate up front the economic effect of different management options. How to manage risk in forage-livestock systems. The economic value of Jersey versus Holstein cattle on pasture. Agricultural Engineering on pastures. How to properly ground fencers. The economics of alternative watering systems How to freeze proof a watering system for cold weather use. Improved information systems for pasture management. There is a need for a grazing handbook for the region. How do we improve getting information to the people who need or want it. Research Needs Defoliation management What is the effect of grazing management defined by initial forage mass (IFM) and residual forage mass (RFM) on botanical composition, forage quality, and animal performance for different classes of livestock and different pasture species, mixtures, and varieties? (For grass mixed with red clover or alfalfa management defined by legume growth stage with IFM and RFM measured.) What are the weather and season effects on optimum defoliation management of pasture mixtures? Quantify value of 1- versus, 3-, 7-, or 14- day stay on a pasture in terms of forage growth, utilization, botanical composition, and animal performance. How does this differ between different species or variety mixes? Uniform method for measuring pasture forage mass. Uniform method for measuring the pasture growth rate for different species and mixtures over the region. Models to predict forage growth rate by species to play "what if" for farm planning and to compare actual to predicted to trouble shoot problems. Under what animal, plant or environmental conditions are there interactions between grazing method (continuous vs. rotational) and stocking rate on animal production per head and per acre? Plant material development and evaluation Continued developing forage varieties for improve pasture production, quality, and persistence. Varieties need to be evaluated over more soil, climatic, and management environments looking at productivity, quality, and tolerance to heat, drought, poor drainage, low fertility, and high acidity and aluminum. What are the effects and interactions of forage species or variety mixtures across microenvironments and management and how can sites be classified for recommending the best species and variety mixes. Is management of native pasture as profitable as reseeding to improved varieties. What is the effect of management and time on the productivity and botanical composition native, renovated, and seeded pastures and are there economic benefits to renovating for different livestock enterprises? Forage species and mixtures for the Northeast under global warming. Animal nutrition and Health Uniform method for predicting dry matter intake of grazing animals. What is the effect of animal potential intake (measured by body condition, rate of gain, or milk production) on pasture dry matter intake (DMI) and how are these affected by pasture legume content, IFM, and RFM? What is the affect of supplemental feeding on pasture intake? Is this a simple affect or are there interactions with IFM and RFM of the pasture? Does it differ between continuous and rotational grazing? Evaluate forage varieties affect on dry matter intake and meat or milk quality. Why do lambs and dairy cattle seem to drop off in production in the fall on what appears to be high quality pasture (animal nutrition, day length, weather, worms, plant dormancy metabolites)? What are the affects of plant metabolites on herbage intake, palatability, and animal health over the grazing season? What is the affect of forage potassium on animal health? What is the affect of water availability on animal performance for dairy, yearlings, and beef cow? What is the affect of pasture versus confinement feeding on animal health (somatic cell count, breeding, leg health, longevity, DAs) and nutritional value of animal products for human nutrition (vitamin E, omega-3-fatty acids, carotenoids, and flavinoids). Methods to assess pasture quality of pasture protein, net energy and minerals. Environmental issues Understanding nutrient cycling on pasture especially nitrogen from urine spots. What are the effects of long term disposal of confinement wastes on pasture plant and animal health? What is the value of mechanical soil aeration of heavy soils and how does it compare to managing earthworm populations for soil aeration? What pasture management practices are beneficial or detrimental to earthworm populations? Can soil additives such as CaSO4 be used to improve soil structure and water holding capacity to improve pasture growth? Agricultural Engineering There is a need for a uniform standard for comparing electric fence chargers. -------------------------------------- Edward B. Rayburn Extension Forage Agronomist 1078 Ag. Science Building West Virginia University P.O. Box 6108 Morgantown WV 26506-6108 304-293-5229 --------------------------------------