Recommendations On Pasture Management


 By Ahmed Hegab
 Research Agronomist
 C.V.I. Agricultural Experiment Station

 A profitable and stable system of livestock production
depends upon producing and using an abundance of good grazing
as the major source of feed. A farmer should grow and use those
grazing crops best suited to his particular soils, locality and live-
stock program.

 Permanent pastures supply the most economical sources of
grazing. They do not require cultivation or frequent reseeding, and
they also conserve soils, fertility, and moisture. A system of year-
round grazing is both possible and practical under St. Croix soil
and climate conditions. Good permanent pastures are required as
a basis for a profitable grazing system.

 In addition to permanent pastures, farmers will find that
annual grazing crops, particularly forage sorghum or forage millet
have a definite place in a good grazing system. The successful
livestock farmer will have an adequate reserve of stored feed -- hay,
silage, or both.

 PASTURE RECOMMENDATIONS

 The basic recommendations for establishing and maintaining
good pasture are summarized in the following:
 1. Wise land use Maintain as much permanent type grazing
as possible, using those pasture plants best suited to the soils found
on the farm.
 2. Adequate seasonal forage Balance the number of live-
stock with the potential forage production on the farm. Provide
for an abundance of nutritious grazing at all times. Make full use
of supplementary grazing crops.
 3. Effective use of plant food Apply adequate amounts of
sulfur and complete fertilizer to produce more grazing hay, and
silage of high quality. Top dress with sufficient nitrogen fertilizers
to maintain vigorous and nutritious growth.
 4. Quality pasture, hay, and silage Use recommended
grasses and legumes. Recommended pasture plants produce better
quality and higher yields.
 5. Good grassland management Provide adequate shade,
water, and rest areas, maintain good boundary and cross fences;
practice rotational grazing; use surplus grazing for hay, silage, and
reserve pastures.

Permanent Pastures
 Although many varieties of native grasses have been grown
in the Virgin Islands, generally, coastal Bermuda grass or Tifton
Bermuda grass is the highest yielding, most widely adapted, most
drought-resistant, and best basic grass for permanent pastures
which can be utilized in the islands.

Annual Grazing
 Sorghum and millet forages are especially recommended for
annual grazing for milking cows.


 PASTURE MANAGEMENT

 The essential of good pasture management can be summar-
 ized in the following recommendations:


 1. Provide adequate shade (clumps of trees rather than single
trees), clean water, and rest areas.
 2. Maintain good boundaries and sufficient cross-fencing
to facilitate rotational grazing.
 3. Plan a pasture program to suit the possibilities of the farm
and the desire of the operator.
 4. Follow recommendations closely in establishing pasture
and legumes (Experiment Station scientists and Extension Service
professionals will provide such recommendations when needed).
 5. Plan and follow a regular fertilization program. Never
"skimp" on sulfur and fertilizer.
 6. Practice rotational grazing. The ideal way to graze is to
use a sufficient number of animals to graze the pasture down in
one day and then move the animals to a new area the next day.
In practice, this is not usually possible, but approach this ideal
as closely as possible. Good rotational grazing alone can produce
approximately a 50 percent increase in the total amount of grazing
secured from the pasture.
 7. Use the available grazing. Undergrazing causes rank,
uneven growth which is less nutritious and less palatable. If there
are insufficient cattle to keep the pasture properly grazed, use the
excess for hay or silage.
 8. Never overgraze. Overgrazing will materially reduce the
total amount of grazing the pasture is capable of producing in the
future.
 9. Plan and follow a weed control program using the recom-
mended material and equipment for spraying regularly and thor-
oughly. With the presently available control methods, there is no
excuse for unwanted pasture weeds. Use the mowing machine to
clip any weeds by sprays and to clip ungrazed areas.
 10. Use the surplus grazing for hay, silage or reserve grazing.
Surplus grazing from well-fertilized pastures makes excellent hay
or silage. Reserve pastures supply a cheap source of good feed
during the drought season.

 A good grazing system under soil and climatic conditions
 found in the Virgin Islands, can provide adequate amounts of
 green fast-growing grazing during most months in the year. It is
 well to remember that if there is to be sufficient grazing all of the
 time, there will be a surplus of grazing part of the time.

 PLANTING THE PASTURE
 Bermuda grass has the potential of an excellent pasture grass
 in the Virgin Islands. This grass may be established at any time
 during the rainy season.

 Coastal Bermuda grass is a very productive hybrid that is
 superior to common Bermuda grass and other pasture grass in
 many characteristics: namely, yields of high quality pasturage,
 hay, and silage; drought resistance; disease resistance; root depth
 and distribution; rate of establishment; portion and total digestible
 nutrients; ability to maintain a weed free sod. Also Coastal Ber-
 muda grass does not produce viable seed which can be spread to
 cultivated areas.

 Coastal Bermuda grass can be established and has been
 established in many different ways. Almost any method of planting
 will be successful if the following principles are followed:
 a. Plant only when the soil is moist
 b. Plant live, freshly dug sprigs