Pasture
Management

Pasture is the predominant feed source for cattle, sheep, goats and horses in West Virginia. When pasture is managed correctly, it is one of the most profitable crops on the farm. However, pasture is often not well managed and its productivity is low and animal productivity off the pasture does not meet its potential. Pasture management includes understanding soil yield potential and soil fertility covered in the soil fertility fact sheets as well as forage species covered in the forage crop establishment fact sheets. The following fact sheets cover the harvest management of pasture forage using grazing livestock.

Just the basics

• An introduction to grazing management
• An introduction to grazing systems
• A Quick Guide to Pasture and Grazing Management
• Creep grazing for improved calf performance
• Grazing Stockpiled Tall Fescue
• High-tensile wire fencing for grazing management
• Planning fencing systems for grazing management
• Planning livestock watering systems
• Measuring pasture forage mass
• Extending the grazing season to reduce stored feed costs
• Understanding pasture stocking rate and carrying capacity

Grow your knowledge

• Using management-intense grazing (MiG)
• How many and what size should the paddocks be in a grazing system
• Managing pasture for optimum return
• Stepping up your grazing management
• An introduction to pasture ecology
• A falling plate meter for estimating pasture forage mass
• A visual reference guide for estimating legume content in pastures
• Calculating the cost of winter grazing
• Pasture improvement and management for Kentucky bluegrass pastures (Johnstone-Wallace)
• Point count system for measuring ground cover from digital photos
• Standard Falling Plate Meter

Master the subject

• Pasture ecology, managing for soil health
• Managing pasture as a crop (Darrell L. Emmick)
• Grazing and feeding management for lactating dairy cows
• Measuring legume content in pastures using digital photographs
• Crop Fertilizer Recommendations Part A
  
• Forage and Nutrient Utilization by Livestock Grazing Rotationally Stocked Pastures
  
• Pasture and Hay Production Potential in West Virginia
  

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