01May2017
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LivestockandStreams
(ReviewCh17sectionsonwaterquality)
LivestockandForests
(Readsections:12-1,12-2,and
12-4.5to4.7)
?Livestockneedwatertosurvive
–cow8-35gallons/day
–Moreinsummer
?Nottoopickywheretheygetit
–Oftentoleratelowqualityanddo
fine,butnitrateandsalinitycan
poseaproblem
–Ozarkwatergenerally“highquality”
Estimateddailywaterconsumption
fordairycows
30-50%dailywaterintakewithinanhaftermilking!
Estimateddailywaterconsumptionfora1500lblactatingcow
producing40to100poundsofmilkdailya.
5Source:NMSUGuideD-107(2002)orOSUANSI-4275
Waterchemistryaffectinggrowth/
productivityofcattle
?Hardness–noeffect
?Salinity–reducedgrowthrateincattledrinking
salinewater(TDS=6000ppm)thatwereunderheat
stressandonpoorfeedqualitycomparedtocattle
drinking“normal”water(TDS=1300ppm).Iffeda
gooddiet–TDShadnoeffect.
?Nitrate–wateranddietmustbeconsidered
together,OKinrangeof0-20ppmNO3-Nifdietis
balancedandlowinNO3
?Sulfate–testtodetermineformofsulfurif>500
ppmsulfate(sulfideformsmosttoxic).6
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Otherfactorsaffectingwaterquality
forlivestock
?Fecalcoliform(<10/100ml)andfecal
streptococci(<30/100ml)foradultcattle,less
forcalves
?Blue-greenalgae–discourageuseofpondswith
alotofalgae(occasionalprobleminfarmponds)
?pH–rangeof6to8ispreferredfordairy
?Temperature–littleeffect(butprefer63-82F)
7
?Streamsareopportunitiesforawater
source(ponds,springs)
?Why?
–plentiful
–fresh/highquality(usually?)
–Free
?nowaterbilltopay
?noelectricity
–Shade/coolingeffect
?Endophyte-infectedtallfescue
Whatstheproblem?
?Soilerosion:
–sensitiveareaalongstream,steepbank,silty
easilyerodedsoil.
–tramplingofbanksgettinginandout
?Waterqualityissue
–Sedimentfromtheerosionanddownstream
impact...
–Directmanure/urineloadinthestream
–Decreasedwoodyvegetationforshading
?Herdhealth
–leginjuriesclimbingin/out
–softhooves
–injuries/deathfallingthroughice,stuckinmud
–spread/pickupwaterbornediseases
?Dairy:mastitis
?LeptospirosisandFusobacterium(foot-rot)
?Publicperception
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?Notjusta“livestockinthestream”problem
contributingtopoorwaterquality!
?Manyothercontributors.
–Youcouldbeacontributor!
–Boating,camping,homessurroundingLakeofthe
Ozarks(SU2009)…
?Landownerrights
–Streamsmoreofanissue
?Whoownsthewater?(seesection15-3.1)
?NoMOlawagainstlivestockinastream
?Somerealizeitisaconcernbutdon’tknow
whattodoaboutit.
What’sthesolution?
1)Limitaccesspointstothestreamorpond.
–Onahighflowstream,hardtomaintain
(stream)
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2)Completelyexcludethelivestockwitha
fenceandprovideanalternativewater
source.
–Ifconcernedaboutfenceinthefloodplainofa
stream
?recommendsmoothelectricwire
–Barbedwirecatchestoomuchdebris,
wipedouteasily
?4wires,posts12’apart
–Electricwire
?1-2wires,posts50’apart
3)Nofence,justanalternativesupplyofwater
outsidethestreamarea.
Virginiaresearchusednofence,justawatertank!
?cattledrankfromtank
92%ofthetime,the
stream8%
?reduceduseofstream
(cooling,shade...)by58%
?fecalbacteriacutby51%,
nitrogenby54%,
phosphorusby81%(Sheffieldetal.1997)
4)Limitthetimetheyspendinthepasturewith
streamorpond.
–Developagrazingsystem
Pipeline
Watertank
Fence
Wherewouldyouputthetanks?
?8pastureoperation
–Rotation
–Ineach“stream”paddock1/8thofthetime(12.5%
each).Thus,87.5%rest.
VERSUS
100%opportunitywhennopasturesubdivisionsand
continuouslygrazed
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Cost
6600’electricfence=$1700
2tanks=$1200
1300’pipeline=$2200
total=$5100
Springs
?Developthemfor
use
–collectionsystem
–pipesystemto
storage(tank)
–overflow
–$500-$1500
Livestock&Forests
Readsections:12-1,12-2,and
12-4.5to4.7
Forests(woods/timber)
?Forest:oneofthebesterosioncontrolcovers
whenproperlymanaged
?LivestockandWoods(i.e.grazedforest)
–Notagoodcombination!
–62millionacresgrazedforestinUS
?Nonfederal
–Definedaswoods/forest/timber,not
shrubby/brushyfields.
61.6millionAin1997,downfrom66.3millionAin1982
Livestockandforests
Concernsanddamages
?Erosionandrunoff
–110Xerosionrate(heavilygrazedvsnongrazed)(MDC
publication:ForestGrazingHurts)
–Oftenonsteeplandscape,nexttoorcontaindrainages
(smallstreams)
–USDAForestServicecanoffertechnicalassistancethrough
EconomicActionPrograms(ForestProductsConservation
andRecycling)
?Livestocktrample/compactsoil
–Mixleaflitterinsoil-decomposesfaster,leavingbaresoil
–Candestroyrootsnearsurface
–Slowgrowth
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–Compactionfromhoovesclosesporesinsoil-
morerunoff/lessinfiltration
–Poorfruitandnutproduction
–Weakenstree,disease/insects/droughty
–Oakssensitive,otherslikehickorymoretolerant
?Canchangeforestcomposition
?Eatundergrowth
–Losenextgenerationoftrees
–Losecoverforwildlife
?Eatacorns:takeawayfromwildlife
Livestockandforests2
?Presenceoflivestockdrivesawaywildlife.
?Poisonousplants(e.g.poisonhemlock)
?Hardtofindlivestockinlargeforest
?Lownutritionalforagevalueinwoods
–20to40Aofgrazedwoods=1Aofgoodgrasspasture
Overall,reducesvalueofthetimberresource
Livestockandforests3
MDCweb-publication
http://mdc.mo.gov/for
est/health/ForestGrazi
ngHurts/
Soilerodedfrom
baseoftreeasa
consequenceof
livestockactivity.
Theimpactonthe
longevityofthe
tree,soil,andwater
qualityareobvious.
BottomLine
?Fencelivestockoutof(mostof)thewoods!
?ImportantBenefits
–Shadeinsummer
–Winterprotection
?Forshadeandwinterprotection,construct
fencestosacrificesmallareasofwoodland
toprovidenecessarycover
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