Best practices in pasture management: Pasture Improvement

Revitalize Your Pastures, Sustain Your Livestock

This technology aims to maintain the best species and support their productivity in managed tracts of land known as pastures. These areas receive intensive inputs like fertilizers, seeds, and irrigation, distinguishing them from less intensively managed rangelands. Various approaches are employed, including controlling weedy patches, partially disturbing the land, and sowing improved grasses and legumes. Additional methods encompass under sowing croplands with grazing plant species, establishing shrub hedgerows along pasture margins, and planting grasses with high productive capacity.

This technology is TAAT1 validated.

7•8

Scaling readiness: idea maturity 7/9; level of use 8/9

Cost: $$$ 400—600 USD

Pasture establishment with improved perennial grasses/ha

IP

Open source / open access

Problem

Overgrazing and degradation of pastures, leading to loss of nutritious plants and decreased productivity.
Limited availability and high cost of purchased feed for small ruminant producers, making pasture management crucial for enhancing production.
Weeds invading pastures over time, reducing productivity and requiring management practices such as re-seeding and selective herbicide application.
Need for appropriate pasture species selection based on climate and soil conditions to ensure successful establishment and productivity.
Various challenges in pasture establishment and management, including soil preparation, irrigation, fertilization, and weed control.
Importance of providing adequate access to salt licks and water for grazing animals to ensure their health and well-being.
Use of technology such as Brachiaria spp. grass to increase milk production and weight gain in livestock, offering drought tolerance and high biomass.
Consideration of different approaches to pasture establishment, such as broadcasting, sowing improved seed into existing pasture, and vegetative propagation.

Solution

Offers practical and cost-effective pasture establishment methods.
Enables producers to grow grasses and forbs, reducing the dependency on expensive purchased feed.
Equips producers with valuable skills and knowledge for effective pasture establishment and management.
Advises on suitable species, sowing methods, and management practices for optimal results.
Recommends specific pasture species based on the climate and agroecological zones of the region.
Tailors the establishment process to suit the environmental conditions of Africa South of Sahara.
Provides strategies such as selective herbicide application to effectively manage weed infestations and maintain productivity.
Offers cost-effective strategies and considerations for establishing pastures with improved perennial grasses.
Provides insights on budget allocation to make pasture establishment more accessible.
Disseminates knowledge about pasture improvement practices
Facilitates accessibility to best practices in pasture management, benefiting a wider community of producers.

Key points to design your business plan

The technology enhances pasture productivity, reducing users' dependency on expensive feed and decreasing operational costs. Nutrient-rich forage improves animal health and productivity, while sustainable management practices ensure soil health and biodiversity preservation. Equipping users with valuable skills creates economic opportunities and fosters long-term agricultural sustainability.

Consider the following cost breakdown:

Establishment Cost: New pasture establishment with improved perennial grasses ranges from USD 400 to 600 per hectare, covering land preparation (10%), weed control (13%), fertilizer (27%), and seed (50%), spread over several years.
Operating Costs: Approximately USD 40 per hectare per year.
Additional Feed Value: Pasture improvement can yield extra feed valued at USD 150 to 200 per year.
Seed and Fertilizer Rates: Typical input rates range from 10 to 25 kg per hectare for seeds and 50 kg per hectare for fertilizers, with smaller seed quantities needed.
Success Story: Brachiaria spp. pasture grass has proven successful in enhancing milk production and animal weight gain.

Partnerships with private seed companies, cooperatives, and seed growers are vital for successful implementation.

Adults 18 and over: Positive medium

The poor: Positive high

Under 18: Positive low

Women: Positive medium

Climate adaptability: Highly adaptable

Farmer climate change readiness: Significant improvement

Biodiversity: Positive impact on biodiversity

Carbon footprint: Much less carbon released

Environmental health: Greatly improves environmental health

Soil quality: Improves soil health and fertility

Water use: Much less water used

Countries with a green colour: Tested & adopted
Countries with a bright green colour: Adopted
Countries with a yellow colour: Tested

Countries where the technology has been tested and adopted
Country	Tested	Adopted
Burkina Faso	–Not tested	Adopted
Cameroon	–Not tested	Adopted
Ethiopia	–Not tested	Adopted
Kenya	–Not tested	Adopted
Mali	–Not tested	Adopted
Niger	–Not tested	Adopted
Nigeria	–Not tested	Adopted
Senegal	–Not tested	Adopted
South Sudan	–Not tested	Adopted
Tanzania	–Not tested	Adopted
Uganda	–Not tested	Adopted

This technology can be used in the colored agro-ecological zones. Any zones shown in white are not suitable for this technology.

Agro-ecological zones where this technology can be used
AEZ	Subtropic - warm	Subtropic - cool	Tropic - warm	Tropic - cool
Arid
Semiarid		–		–
Subhumid	–		–
Humid

Source: HarvestChoice/IFPRI 2009

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that are applicable to this technology.

Goal 1: no poverty

Goal 2: zero hunger

Goal 8: decent work and economic growth

Goal 13: climate action

Goal 15: life on land

Assessment and Planning: Evaluate the specific pasture conditions, considering factors like soil type, climate, and existing vegetation.
Input Application: Apply necessary inputs such as fertilizers, seeds, and irrigation, with consideration of the identified needs of the pasture.
Implementation of Improvement Techniques: Carry out techniques like controlling weedy patches, partial land disturbance, and sowing improved grasses and legumes. Additional methods may include under sowing croplands, establishing shrub hedgerows, and planting high-productivity grasses.
Monitoring and Management: Regularly monitor the progress of pasture improvement, assessing factors like plant growth, weed control, and overall productivity.
Implement management practices such as re-seeding, weeding, slashing, and controlled grazing to maintain optimal conditions.
Balanced Feeding and Grazing Management: Ensure that livestock have access to balanced nutrition from improved pastures, while avoiding overgrazing to prevent degradation.
Adaptation and Continuous Improvement: Adjust strategies based on feedback and changing environmental conditions, optimizing pasture productivity over time.