Manage ‘last resort’ winter option carefully

Manage ‘last resort’ winter option carefully

Bala Tikkisetty

So-called sacrifice paddocks are a last resort option for protecting wet pasture from the effects of stock trampling in winter.

It’s far better to use a dedicated and specially constructed pad to feed out supplements or to stop stock constantly wandering all over the farm and damaging pasture along the way.

However, the reality is that use of sacrifice paddocks is better than no winter stock management at all to protect pasture.

So a number of practices are recommended for minimizing the negative impacts of using sacrifice paddocks if they have to be used.

Before going into those practices in detail, it’s worth recapping on why winter stock management to protect pasture is so important.

Winter grazing can have a major impact on the late winter and early spring feed supply from pasture, damage soil health and result in the health of waterways being undermined.

With soil health, every effort must be made to keep soils in good physical and biological health as they are the farm’s most valuable resource.

Moist and wet soils are less able to support the weight of grazing stock than dry soils and are susceptible to compaction and pugging. Treading on moist soils can lead to compaction and grazing on wet soils can lead to pugging damage.

The resulting damage to pastures influences their current and future use.

Compaction and pugging influence the supply of air, water and nutrients to the roots, which significantly impacts pasture productivity. It also creates the potential for sediment and nutrients to affect the health of waterways and groundwater.

Research data indicates that spring pasture production may be reduced by approximately 10 per cent for every 10 per cent of the paddock that is pugged.

As I’ve indicated, treading damage and compaction can be minimised by confining stock to stand-off pads or feed pads at times of greatest risk. That’s the best bet for minimising pasture and general environmental damage.

For those who don’t have this ability, selecting a sacrifice paddock to stand stock off other pasture or to feed out is the last resort option.

Usually a paddock with run down pasture is selected. Ideally, there should be enough shelter available that stock can be continuously housed in these paddocks without undue stress.

As part of ‘on-off’ grazing, stock are moved between normal pasture and the sacrifice paddock. If used in this way for more than a few days, the sacrifice paddock will likely be severely damaged and require a full pasture renovation.

Aside from that severe damage, other disadvantages of sacrifice paddock use include damage leading to improper drainage, more runoff and a higher risk of sediment, effluent and nutrients getting in waterways and groundwater. There’s also an increased risk of mastitis and lameness in muddy conditions, and animals may not get their full daily feed requirements. A further risk is that soil potassium levels can get too high, as a result of potassium being excreted in stock urine, which can predispose calving cows to metabolic problems.

Some of these risks can be lessened by a range of techniques.

Don’t spread feed in the same area all the time. Use different spots around the paddock.

Drag a set of light harrows around the paddock occasionally to help break up excreta. This ensures good exposure to sunlight that will kill any pathogens and parasites that could otherwise build up in the paddock.

Avoid use of sacrifice paddocks closer to waterways, property boundaries and significant ecological features such as wetlands, caves and geothermal features.

Direct any run-off in the paddock on to flat ground with rank grass.

When use of a sacrifice paddock finishes, re-sowing should be done after a light cultivation. With any renovation it is important not to leave it too long before the first grazing. A simple way to check when pasture is ready is to grab some grass between thumb and forefinger and gently pull upwards. If roots come up, wait a bit longer. If not, it is ready for its first quick light grazing.

While there are no specific regional council rules and regulations for sacrifice paddocks in Waikato, there are for the discharge of farm animal effluent generally. There must be no run-off or discharge of effluent from any paddock into water bodies so special care should be taken when managing this risk if sacrifice paddocks are used.

ENDS

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