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Publication Date

1981

Description

The semitropical environment of south Florida is favorable for coordinated management of a wide variety of native grass species and improved pasture forages. The decade of the 1980s will emphasize change from forage programs of high energy utilization to those with a low requirement of fossil fuels. For 4 decades, grassland management in south Florida has been primarily pasture establishment created from the rangeland resource. The establishment and management required substantial inputs of fossil fuel. Use and management of rangeland was largely neglected. Ecological concepts as a basis for managing semitropical ranges were not accepted. In recent years practical programs have been developed combining rancher experience with range management, animal science, and agronomy. These programs coordinate the use of both rangeland resources and pasture forages. The physiological requirements of commercial cow-calf herds are likewise programmed into the yearly operation. Implementation of a coordinated forage- and herd-management program that will result in a low input of fossil fuel requires planning to include (1) inventory of all available grassland resources, (2) growth processes of the major grass species, (3) cow and

calf nutritional requirements and physiology and herd management as related to seasonal forage production, (4) range­management and pasture-conservation practices, and (5) grazing plans. Forage inventories that include all forageB available on the ranching unit are made. These forages usually include pasture species of pangolagrass (Digitaria decumbens Stent.), bahiagrasses (Paspalum spp. ), and Coastal bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon var.). Major range sites include flatwoods with species of bluestem (Schirochyrium) and Andropogon, Paspalum, and Panicum. Marsh range species include maidencane (Panicum hemitomon) and cutgrass (Leersia spp.). Grazing systems are developed around the growth cycles and nutritional values of forage species and the physiological re­quirement& of the cow-calf he:rd. Controlled breeding, calving periods, supplementation, and maintenance of cow weight ai:e major animal husbandry considerations a5 an integral part of a combination range-pasture program. Major :range-management practices include brush (namely saw palmetto [Serenoa repens] control, a planned deferred or rotation deferred grazing, and proper utilitization of the key species. Commercial cow-calf operations have successfully managed to achieve over 90% calf crops, 60-90-day breeding season, and maintenance of 205-215 kg of calf/cow unit. Significant reduction in amount of fossil fuel materially contributes to a low-energy grassland program.

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Combination Range-Pasture Management in South Florida for a Low-Energy Grassland Program

The semitropical environment of south Florida is favorable for coordinated management of a wide variety of native grass species and improved pasture forages. The decade of the 1980s will emphasize change from forage programs of high energy utilization to those with a low requirement of fossil fuels. For 4 decades, grassland management in south Florida has been primarily pasture establishment created from the rangeland resource. The establishment and management required substantial inputs of fossil fuel. Use and management of rangeland was largely neglected. Ecological concepts as a basis for managing semitropical ranges were not accepted. In recent years practical programs have been developed combining rancher experience with range management, animal science, and agronomy. These programs coordinate the use of both rangeland resources and pasture forages. The physiological requirements of commercial cow-calf herds are likewise programmed into the yearly operation. Implementation of a coordinated forage- and herd-management program that will result in a low input of fossil fuel requires planning to include (1) inventory of all available grassland resources, (2) growth processes of the major grass species, (3) cow and

calf nutritional requirements and physiology and herd management as related to seasonal forage production, (4) range­management and pasture-conservation practices, and (5) grazing plans. Forage inventories that include all forageB available on the ranching unit are made. These forages usually include pasture species of pangolagrass (Digitaria decumbens Stent.), bahiagrasses (Paspalum spp. ), and Coastal bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon var.). Major range sites include flatwoods with species of bluestem (Schirochyrium) and Andropogon, Paspalum, and Panicum. Marsh range species include maidencane (Panicum hemitomon) and cutgrass (Leersia spp.). Grazing systems are developed around the growth cycles and nutritional values of forage species and the physiological re­quirement& of the cow-calf he:rd. Controlled breeding, calving periods, supplementation, and maintenance of cow weight ai:e major animal husbandry considerations a5 an integral part of a combination range-pasture program. Major :range-management practices include brush (namely saw palmetto [Serenoa repens] control, a planned deferred or rotation deferred grazing, and proper utilitization of the key species. Commercial cow-calf operations have successfully managed to achieve over 90% calf crops, 60-90-day breeding season, and maintenance of 205-215 kg of calf/cow unit. Significant reduction in amount of fossil fuel materially contributes to a low-energy grassland program.