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Show April 2004 Farm & Ranch 9 Healthy Rangelands: Animal Health and Nutrition At the recent range school held in Moab, one of the topics was the health of the animals and rangeland monitoring. One of the most effective tools for monitoring is the use of a camera said Floyd Reed, retired forest service range officer. He encouraged all school attendees to carry a camera. Pictures recording the beginning of the grazing season, conditions after grazing and the end of the season should all be recorded. Pictures are an accu rate representation of the the digestibility. It pays to A prolonged drought decondition of the land. Photos put interest in a plant to de- creases plants energy stores are valuable to back up the velop more root volume, graz- and results in fewer tillers and permittees case should graz- ing accomplishes this; a plant less root mass. Drought also left ungrazed has skinnier results in shorter growing ing come under fire. decileaves and less root growth. periods. Plant species on Grazing management sions can alter availability of In exclosures where grazing poor rangeland are less dinutrients from a rangeland hasnt been allowed for long gestible than plant species on situation. Grazing systems periods of time, the plants good condition range which may reduce or improve for- shrink up. Plants with larger can reduce total forage intake age nutritive value. Forbs are root mass are more drought by livestock. The animals either cant or wont eat generally more nutritious resistant, said LeValley. than shrubs in terms of proNutrition is potentially the enough. The amount of root tein and phosphorus. As a most critical factor affecting mass is directly related to the plant matures the protein in reproduction. In most man- carbohydrates stored in the the plant decreases as does agement systems, it also rep- stored roots and the above resents the most common limiting factor. Nutrition plays a ground volume is determined by the carbohydrates stored in the leaves and stems. The amount of root mass is determined by the time and timing of grazing. Animals respond to decreased nutrition in various ways, but when nutrition is limited, reproduction is the first to go. Smaller calf weights, lower conception rates and delayed rebreeding are all factors in lowered nutrition. Lower levels of forage eon t i n ued on page 1 1 significant role in the immune system. Nutrition plays a role in the absorption of minerals, said LeValley. LeValley recommended cutting cows that have bad habits such as bottom dwellers and sending them to Wendys where they cant teach the rest of the herd bad habits. During a drought, forage quality also declines because livestock selectively graze the highest quality forage first. The amount of total energy This historic photo shows a depletion of the grasses. over the landscape decreases. Compare ALLIEDS comprehensive program for your farm. Youll discover ALLIED gives you the best protection and the best value. Liquid 54 Main, Price, lend Fertilizer Organic Humic helps the Alfcali Soils 4 00 S. 5 7-0- 0 0 16, 6mer'(, Utah (435) Roy Nikas, CIC Agent 637-33- tl Soil Analysis Soil Conditioners Dq Products 100 Price Insurance Agency 'ft'' The pasture shows much improvement over time with pasture rotation and time and timina of arazina. Specialty Allied Insurance W. - 1 Visit our website: wwvt.livearth.com S452-2-- |