MANAGEMENT OF GRASSLANDS

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MANAGEMENT OF GRASSLANDS

• PRM 504 (3 UNITS)
• COORDINATOR Prof. O. S . Onifade

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MANAGEMENT OF GRASSLAND

• FACTORS CAUSING LOW LEVEL OF ANIMAL PRODUCTION
• STOCKING RATE AND ANIMAL PRODUCTION
• MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES TO INCREASE PRODUCTION
  IMPROVEMENT OF SOIL FERTILITY, BUSH CONTROL,
  DIRECT RESEEDING, PROVISION OF WATER, PROVISION
  OF DRY SEASON FEEDS, FENCING,NOXIOUS PLANTS,
  DISEASES

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INTRODUCTION

• DEFINITION LAND USED PRINCIPALLY FOR EXTENSIVE
  GRAZING BY DOMESTIC WILD ANIMALS. VEGETATION
  ZONES SHRUB LAND, GRASSLANDS OPEN FORESTS
  LAND. USUALLY UNSUITABLE FOR ARABLE FARMING. TOO
  DRY, STEEP, SHALLOW, ROCKY, SANDY, SALINE, HIGH
  EVAPORATION
• AIM OF MANAGEMENT MANAGE LAND TO PRODUCE FORAGE
  TO PROMOTE/MAINTAIN

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INTRODUCTION cont.

• EFFICIENT PRODUCTION OF ANIMAL PRODUCTS.
• PREVENT DESTRUCTION OF NATURAL ECOSYSTEM- STABLE
  VEGETATION
• ENSURE CONTINUOUS VIGOR OF PALATABLE
  NUTRITIOUS SPP.
• PREVENT SIOL EROSION

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LOW LEVEL OF ANIMAL PRODUCTION FROM GRASSLAND,
WHY?

• LIMITATION IMPOSED BY THE ENVIRONMENT a. CLIMATE
  -RAINFALL USUALLY LOW . SEASONALLY DISTRIBUTED.
  LONG PERIOD OF DROUGHT LIMITED WATER SUPPLY.
• b. SOIL GENERALLY LOW IN FERTILITY -
  N,P,Ca
• c. UNSTABLE GRASSLAND COMMUNITY TENDENCY
  FOR INGRESS OF TREES SHRUBS.

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STOCKING RATE AND ANIMAL PRODUCTION

• APPLIES TO SOWN AND RANGE PASTURES
• MOTT (1961) EVOLVED THE RELATIONSHIP BASED ON A
  NO OF GRAZING TRIALS
• GRAZING PRESSURE THE NO OF ANIMAL/UNIT OF
  AVAILABLE FORAGE
• PRODUCT/ANIMAL DECREASES SLIGHTLY AS SR IS
  INCREASED FROM LENIENT RATE TO THE OPTIMUM RATE
  THAN DECREASES RAPIDLY AS THE OPTIMUN GRAZING
  RATE IS EXCEEDED.

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STOCKING RATE ANIMAL PRODUCTION cont.

• PRODUCT /HECTARE RISES VERY RAPIDLY AS SR IS
  INCREASED FROM THE UNDERGRAZED CONDITION TO THE
  OPT. GRAZING PRESSURE.
• MAXIMUM PRODUCT /HA WILL OCCUR AT A SR IN EXCESS
  OF THE OPTIMUM
• BEYOND THIS POINT, A VERY RAPID FALL IN
  PRODUCT/HA OCCURS

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RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN STOCKING RATE AND ANIMAL
PRODUCTION

• PRODUCTION/ANIMAL DECREASES FROM A VERY LENIENT
  RATE TO THE OPTIMUM RATE AND THEN DECREASES VERY
  RAPIDLY AS THE OPTIMUM GRAZING PRESSURE (OGP) IS
  EXCEEDED.
• PRODUCTION/HA RISES VERY RAPIDLY AS SR IS
  INCREASED FROM THE UNDERGRAZED CONDITION TO THE
  OGP. MAX OUTPUT/HA OCCURRED AT A SR IN EXCESS OF
  OPTIMUM SR. BEYOND THIS POINT A VERY RAPID FALL
  IN PRODUCTION/HA OCCURS.

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GRAZING PRESSURE, STOCKING RATE CARRYING
CAPACITY

• GP- THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN NUMBER OF ANIMALS
  PER UNIT OF AVAILABLE FORAGE.
• SR- NUMBER OF ANIMAL PER UNIT AREA Eg. 20
  BULLS/HA
• CC THE AREA OF RANGELAND REQUIRED TO CARRY ONE
  MATURE ANIMAL (MAINTENANCE AND SOME PRODUCTION)
  THROUGH OUT THE YEAR. AREA SHOULD BE MANAGED TO
  PREVENT ANY ADVERSE EFFECT ON THE LAND. Eg. 1 Ha/
  MATURE BEAST IN FOREST ZONE , 3-5 MATURE BEAST
  IN SUBHUMID SAVANNAH

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PURPOSES OF PROPER STOCKING

• TO MAINTAIN EFFICIENT GREEN LEAVES AND SHOOTS
  FOR PHOTOSYNTHESIS
• PROVIDE AND PRESERVE THE FOOD DESERVES STORED BY
  THE PLANT FOR USE IN MAKING QUICK REGROWTH
• PERMIT SEED PRODUCTION FOR THE MAINTAINED OF
  PLAST STAND
• TO PROTECT YOUNG SEEDLINGS TILL THEY CANT DERATE
  GRAZING

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PURPOSES OF PROPER STOCKING Cont.

• TO INCREASE THE BETTER PLANTS WHICH KEEP OUT
  WEEDS AND POOR ANNUAL GRASSES
• TO PROTECT THE SOIL FROM WIND AND WATER EROSION
• TO LEAVE A VEGETATIVE COVER WHICH ACTS AS A MULCH
  AND RESULTS IN INCREASED HZ0 ABSORPTION AND
  STORAGE IN THE SOIL.
• TO PREVENT EXTREMES IN SOIL TEMPERATURES BY
  ACTING AS AN INSULATOR.

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MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES

• BUSH CONTROL
• DIRECT RESEEDING
• RANGE USE AND PROVISION OF WATER
• FENCING
• PROVISION OF DRY SEASON FEED
• GRAZING MANAGEMENT

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BUSH CONTROL

• REDUCTION IN DENSITY OF UNDESIRABLE PLANTS BY
  MANUAL,MECHANICAL, CHEMICAL , BIOLOGICAL OR OTHER
  MEANS.
• CLASSES OF UNDESIRABLE PLANTS
• WEEDY COMPETES FOR SPACE NUTRIENTS WITH
  FORAGE SPP THUS REDUCING YIELD AND UTILIZATION.
  Eg Isoberlinia doka, Cassia tora.

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BUSH CONTROL Cont.

• PHYSIOLOGICAL PROCESSES IN ANIMAL. Eg.
  Crotalaria retusa, Ricinus communis.
• OBJECTIVES OF BUSH CONTROL
• REMOVAL OF UNDESIRABLE PLANTS REDUCE COMPETITION
  FOR NUTRIENTS WATER TO FORAGE SPP.
• REDUCTION OF SHRUBS- PROVIDE LARGE SURFACE AREA
  FOR SEEDING, SEEDLING ESTABLISHMENT

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WEED CONTROL CONT.

• MECHANICALLY INJURIOUS PLANTS WITH
  PROJECTING APPENDAGES ( SPINES, STIPLES, BURRS)
  THAT CAN PUNCTURE SKIN OF ANIMAL, EXPOSURE TO
  INSECTS DISEASES.
• Eg. Acacia spp, Cenchrus biflorus
• POISONOUS PLANTSCONTAINING TOXIC CHEMICAL
  COMPOUNDS WITHIN TISSUES. WHEN INGESTED
  DIGESTED RELEASES TOXIC BY- PRODUCTS. INTERFERES
  WITH

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• 3.REMOVAL OF OBSTRUCTIVE SHRUBS- PROVIDE PASTURE
  ACCESS,HANDLING OF LIVESTOCK.
• 4. REMOVAL OF SHRUBS FACILITATE WATER DRAINAGE
  EROSION CONTROL.
• 5. REMOVAL OF SHRUBS REDUCE FUEL MATERIAL FOR
  RANGE FIRE.
• 6. ELIMINATION OF POISONOUS PLANTS WITH DIRECT
  EFFECT ON GRAZING ANIMALS.

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BUSH CONTROL METHODS

• BIOLOGICAL, MECHANICAL, CHEMICAL BURNING.
• BEST METHODS DEPEND ON
• KIND OF PLANT,DAMAGE TO EXISTING DESIRA- BLE
  SPP, CHARACTER OF THE TOPOGRAPHY SOIL, NEED FOR
  SEEDBED PREPARATION, EFFECTIVENESS SPEED OF THE
  TREATMENT, AVAILABILITY OF EQUIPMENT MATERIALS
  (HERBICIDES),.

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BUSH CONTROL METHODS

• BIOLOGICAL- INTRODUCTION OF NATURAL ENEMIES OF
  THE UNDESIRABLE PLANTS. - ANIPULATING
  GRAZING eg MIXED GRAZING.
• MECHANICAL HAND GRUBBING, HAND CHOPPING
  SAWING. BULLDOZING.- CHAINING. SURFACE
  TILLAGE (PLOUGING,DISCING, HARROWING).- MOWING
  SHREDDING.
• HERBICIDAL- CONTACT, SYSTEMIC

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BURNING

• USE OF FIRE IN MANAGING PASTURES
• BURN OFF UNPALATABLE GROWTH FROM PREVIOUS SEASON.
  STIMULATE GROWTH DURING SEASON OF LITTLE GREEN
  MATERIALS
• DESTROY PARASITES. CONTROL INGRESS OF
  UNDESIRABLE PLANTS. PREPARE A SEEDBED FOR
  PASTURE. PROMOTE UNIFORM DISTRIBUTION OF USEFUL
  HERBAGE BETTER DISTRIBUTION OF ANIMALS IN
  PASTURES.

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Burning cont.

• STIMULATE GRASSES TO PRODUCE SEEDS. ENCOURAGE
  GROWTH OF NATURAL LEGUMES FOR SOIL IMPROVEMENT.
• HARMFUL EFFECTS MAY LEAD TO DEPLETION OF ROOT
  RESERVES OF PALATABLE SPP PROGRESSIVVE
  REDUCTION IN VIGOR COMPETITIVE ABILITY. INVASION
  OF UNDESIRABLE SPP EROSION HAZARDS INCREASED.

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DIRECT RESEEDING

• INTRODUCTION OF MORE DESIRABLE HERBAGE SPP INTO
  EXISTING RANGELAND VEGETATION
• ADOPTION OF SUITABLE MANAGEMENT TO ENABLE THEM
  COMPETE SUCCESSFULLY
• TECHNIQUES
• (1) BROADCASTING BY HAND OR AERIALLY LEGUME
  SEED SPP
• (2) PLOUGHING WIDELY SPACED FURROWS SEED IS
  SOWN IN SUCH STRIPS, SPREAD INTO THE RANG THROUGH
  WIND, ANIMALS ETC

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DIRECT RESEEDING cont.

• (3) OVER DRILLING (SOD SEEDING) PLANTING SEED
  DIRECTLY INTO EXISTING SWARD, NO PLOUGHING, USE
  OF DISCS, PLANTERS (PARTIAL DISTURBANCE)
• (4) USE OF GRAZING ANIMALS. STYLO SORGHUM MEAL
  FED TO CATTLE, SEEDS IN FAECES TO RANGELAND.
• BEST AT THE END OF DRY SEASON BURNING TO
  BROADCAST STYLO SPP

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RANGE USE AND PROVISION OF WATER

• SOURCES OF WATER PERENNIAL STREAMS, DAMS,
  SURFACE PONDS, WELLS AND BOREHOLES.
• LIVERFLUKE INFESTATION AND TSETSE FLY HABITAT
  (EXCEPT BOREHOLE)
• BOREHOLE PASTURE MORE UNIFORMLY USED OVER THE
  RANGE DISEASE TRANSMISSION IS LOW
• CONCENTRATION AT WATER POINT IS REDUCED
• HIGH COST OF MAINTENANCE AND WASTAGE OF WATER
• DAILY WATERING GIVES HIGHER LWG THAN EVERY 2ND
  AND 3RD DAY.

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RANGE USE PROVISION OF WATER cont.

• 300 KG ANIMAL REQUIRE 8-10 L/DAY RAINY SEASON
• 16 20 L/DAY REQUIRED DURING DRY SEASON.
• ZONES OF PASTURE USE CLEARLY DEFINED AROUND WATER
  POINTS IN CONCENTRIC CIRCLES
• GRAZING DISTANCES FROM WATER SUPPLY NOT TO
  EXCEED 5KM (SHEEP), 10-16 KM (CATTLE).
• LONG DISTANCES, LOW PRODUCTIVITY
• USE OF TROUGHS (CONCRETE) FOR LARGE HERD

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RANGE USE AND PROVISION OF WATER cont.

• LONG DISTANCES, LOW PRODUCTIVITY
• USE OF TROUGHS (CONCRETE) FOR LARGE HERDS
• PROVISION OF SHADE AND MINERAL LICKS (NaCl,
  CaCO3, S P COMPOUNDS) FOR BETTER RANGE USE.
• ADD SOLUBLE MINERALS TO DRINKING WATER MORE
  PRACTICAL THAN THROUGH HERBAGE (FERTILIZER)

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PROVISION OF DRY SEASON FEEDS

• TO MINIMIZE/PREVENT LOSS OF WEIGHT
• PASTURE LEGUMES (FODDER BANK)
• GROWING OF PASTURE LEGUMES FIELDS/STRIPS FOR
  RATION GRAZING
• ADJACENT TO THE RANGELAND (SUPPLEMENT)
• S. guianensis, S. hamata WITH ABOUT 9-10 CP,
  GRAZED AT NIGHT, LOSSES IN WEIGHTS WERE NOT
  RECORDED
• HIGHER YIELDS IN SECOND YEAR
• PROTECTION FROM DRY SEASON FIRE IS ESSENTIAL.

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PROVISION OF DRY SEASON FEEDS

• LEGUME HAY
• PROVISION OF HAY MADE FROM GROUNDNUT, MUCUNA,
  COWPEA, LABLAB, SOYBEAN ETC FROM SUITABLE SITES.
• MORE COSTLY THAN PASTURE LEGUMES
• USED FOR GROWING ANIMALS/FATTENING MAINLY

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USE OF ARABLE BY-PRODUCTS

• CROP RESIDUES SORGHUM, MILLET, CORN RICE.
  NEED TO ADD PROTEIN RICH SUPPLEMENTS- GROUNDNUT
  HAULMS, STYLO, ETC FOR WEIGHT GAINS IN THE DRY
  SEASON.
• TREATMENT WITH UREA TO INCREASE N INTAKE.
• IS IT WORTH SACRIFICING STANDING HAY FOR SMALLER
  QUANTITY OR BETTER QUALITY FEED?
• BUSH BURNING VS PROTECTION IN SEMI ARID ZONES?

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Roughage Concentrate (Kg/day) Stall fed Grazing
Roughage Concentrate (Kg/day) LWG (Kg/day) LWG (Kg/day)
Sorghum residue 0.90 (every 2 days) 0.12 0.42
Grass hay savanna 0.90 0.06 0.09
Maize silage 0.45 -0.09 0.03
Elephant grass silage 0.45 -0.07 -
stylo 0.45 - 0.43
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USE OF BROWSE PLANT

• RICH IN PROTEIN MINERALS WHEN GRASSES ARE
  DEFICIENT IN THESE ATTRIBUTES
• PODS, TWIGS LEAVES ARE VERY IMPORTANT
• C. cajan, L. leucocephala, G. sepium (SOWN)
• USE OF COTTON SEED AND GROUNDNUT CAKES
• FED IN ADDITION TO RANGE GRAZING ?WEIGHT GAINS
• AMOUNT/HD VARIES WITH PRODUCTION EXPECTED

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STIMULATING GROWTH AND UTILIZATION OF REGROWTH.

• CONTROLLED BURNING LATE DRY SEASON
• REMOVE DRY UNPALATABLE OLD VEGETATION
• STIMULATE REGROWTH OF HERBAGE WITH 1ST RAINS
• Acacia spp Gmelina arborea, Piliostigma spp,
  Khaya senegalensis (mahogany)
• WHEN CLEARING LAND, SOME SHOULD BE RETAINED

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• FADAMA GRAZING
• AVAILABLE IN DRY SEASON WHEN FLOOD PLAINS ARE
• EXPOSED DUE TO LOW LEVELS OF RIVER/STREAMS
• YIELD QUANTITY OF FEED CAN BE IMPROVED
• THROUGH SPP INTRODUCTION
• AREAS CAN ALSO BE SET ASIDE FOR IRRIGATING
• FORAGE CROPS.
• IRRIGATION
• FOUND IN LAKE CHAD, TIGA DAM, KADAWA
• INCLUSION OF FORAGE SPP IN CROPPING SCHEMES
• WILL ENHANCE FINISHING OF ANIMALS FROM
• RANGE TO THE MARKET.

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• d. INCIDENCE OF DISEASES INSECTS UNDER
  UTILIZATION OF GRAZING LAND AS A RESULT OF TSETSE
  FLY INFESTATION. PRODUCTION QUALITY OF GRASS
  ARE LOW UNEVENLY DISTRIBUTED WITHIN THE YEAR
  LEADING TO SEASONAL VARIATION IN CARRYING
  CAPACITY.
• 2. SOCIOLOGICAL CAUSES.
• a. NOMADISM -