Beef Cattle Management for Water Quality Protection

Dirk PhilippUniversity of Arkansas

Animal Science Department

October 2012

I. Introduction

II. Grazing Management

III. Heavy-Use Areas

a) Principles

b) Managing Specific Heavy-Use Areas

IV. Summary

I. Introduction – Why Protect Arkansas’ Waterways?

• Beef production is major part of the AR economy• About 1.8 million cattle and calves in the State of Arkansas• Substantial economic income – more than $400 million annually • Cattle produce large amounts of manure • Good manure management prevents water pollution, improve herd

health, and saves money

I. Introduction – Why Protect Arkansas’ Waterways?

• Water quality is a concern for all Arkansans• Large reservoirs (e.g., Beaver Lake) are used as drinking water source• Preventing manure being lost with runoff is key to protect water quality• Water quality protection possible through appropriate manure

management (see Table 1 for manure characteristics)

Table 1. Typical Beef Cattle Manure Characteristics (wet basis)

Animal Size, lbs lbs (produced/day) N (lbs/day) P2O5(lbs/day) K2O(lbs/day)

500 30 0.17 0.13 0.15

750 45 0.26 0.19 0.22

1000 60 0.34 0.25 0.3

1250 75 0.43 0.31 0.38

I. Introduction – Why Protect Arkansas’ Waterways?

Why is good manure management needed?• Improper management can result in manure accumulation and loss of

ground cover• Manure application may increase the risk of manure runoff that could

result in reduced water quality• Excess N and P can encourage excessive aquatic plant growth,

which may result in loss of other aquatic life• Manure can also be source of disease-causing organisms• Best management practices help producers manage cattle in an

economically and ecologically sustainable manner

II. Grazing – Ways to Improve Pasture Management

Causes for impaired water quality:• Overstocked pastures, resulting in compaction, low infiltration

rates• Overgrazing, resulting in short vegetation, shallow rooting depth,

higher runoff potential • Access of cattle to streams and ponds, resulting in eroding

streambanks and sediment loss

II. Grazing – Ways to Improve Pasture Management

Improving management:• Adjust stocking rates according to forage mass• Assess pasture carrying capacity, depending on soil nutrient status,

type of animal, species composition, and physical characteristics • Maintain sufficient sward height, preferably > 2 - 4 inches

II. Grazing – Ways to Improve Pasture Management

Riparian Areas:• Establish buffer areas to catch and filter runoff• Buffer zones can trap sediments and provide habitat for wildlife• Use combination of grasses and herbaceous plants• Good grazing management still important, since riparian zones cannot

hold unlimited amounts of nutrients• Build-up of P in buffer possible• Management of riparian zones is necessary

II. Grazing – Ways to Improve Pasture Management

Grazing of riparian zones:

• Allow thick vegetative turf to develop on streambanks

• Limit grazing periods in paddocks next to streams; 3 – 4 days for beef cattle

• Discourage animals from congregating close to streams

• Place minerals and shade at least 15 feet away from streams

• Graze riparian zones in spring or early summer

• Use floating fences and graveled areas for access to water

III. Heavy-Use Areas -- Principles

Definition:• Areas where livestock tend to congregate, such as feeding and

watering areas, shade, loafing areas, travel lanes, working facilities and holding pens, or any access to surface or ground water

• Characterized by lack of vegetative cover, compacted soil, and concentration of manure

Options for improving management in these areas: • Travel lanes should not be wider than necessary• Design working facilities efficiently; make maximum use of minimum

space

III. Heavy-Use Areas -- Principles

Location:• Choose sites with slightly higher elevation to reduce amount of

standing water • Avoid steep slopes that increase runoff risk• Berms or grassed waterways may be necessary to direct water away

from heavy-use area• Avoid areas such as creeks, ponds, wells, or sinkholes

III. Heavy-Use Areas -- Principles

Management of heavy-use areas:

• Little routine required to maintain heavy use areas

• Concrete, gravel, or geotextiles covered by gravel may be needed to prevent muddy conditions

• In most cases, scraping is not needed, but scraped manure can be used as excellent fertilizer

• 1 ton of manure may provide equivalent of 100 lbs 11-7-10 fertilizer

• Apply excess manure in accordance with nutrient management plan

III. Heavy-Use Areas -- Principles

Filter strips:

• Important tools for nutrient management

• Locate filter strips downstream from heavy-use areas

• Manage filter strip in same manner as pasture

% Slope Minimum Filter strip width, ft

0 – 3 30

3 – 8 50

Over 8 100

Critical Landscape feature 100

Table 2. Minimum width of filter strip at certain slopes.

III. Heavy-Use Areas – Managing Specific Areas

Feeding Areas:• Cattle tend to defecate around feeding areas and thus P

accumulates • Use feed bunks or troughs that can be moved• Move feeders and hay rings regularly to allow areas to

recover• Unrolling bales may help to spread feeding area

Watering Areas:• If possible, provide animals with water from troughs rather

allowing access to ponds or creeks• Proper distribution of water sources promotes even grazing

and discourages overgrazing near water sources

III. Heavy-Use Areas – Managing Specific Areas

Shade:• Important to cattle productivity• Move portable shade structures on regular basis• Place shade in areas that are less prone to water logging to avoid soil

compaction

Source: Noble Foundation, 2008

IV. Summary

Best Management Practices:

• A well managed grazing system is essential to good cattle health

• Use appropriate stocking rates

• Minimize size of heavy-use areas

• Avoid environmentally sensitive areas for heavy-use areas

• Maintain vegetative filter strips around those areas and if possible along streams as well

• Water cattle from troughs or tanks if possible

Thank you!

Animal Science Blog at:www.arkansas-forages.com