Final report for GNC22-347
Project Information
Restoration of native prairies and pastures have been ongoing actions prevalent within the Midwest region, including Missouri. The presence of the invasive species sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata), a non-native perennial legume, has hindered this progress and restoration efforts. Due to the plant adversely impacting native plants and animals, adaptability to proliferate, resistance to various pests and diseases, and evasion to many control and management strategies. Moreover, sericea lespedeza contains tannin properties that become unpalatable and indigestible, thus undesirable for grazing among large ruminants. Goats and sheep have shown the ability to tolerate these tanning properties, while benefiting parasite control and animal performance. Thus, suggesting small ruminants as a feasible method to control and manage sericea lespedeza for potential native warm season pasture restoration.
During late June 2021 this study began assessing the impact of goat grazing on native warm season pasture plant composition infested with sericea lesepedeza and evaluating the effect of grazing sericea lesepedeza on gastrointestinal parasite presence within goats. Between June – July 2024, three years post-grazing, a subsequent evaluation was conducted of the rotational plots for plant community composition and forage nutritive value. The line-point intersect method was utilized for plant community measurements. Additionally, forage samples were collected to assess nutritive value (dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, neutral detergent, and acid detergent fiber) and condensed tannins.
Subsequently, producer-focused workshops were hosted between August 2023-June 2024 to focus on information exchange between researchers and producers. These workshops were created to support the engagement of a producer advisory group, made up of five producers and landowners, to serve as the project advisory group to inform the development and progression of a previous project objective. The scope of these workshops spanned knowledge of woodland silvopasture management practices including woodland management, prescribed burning, and forage establishment.
Learning outcome (1): livestock producers and forested landowners will gain increased awareness and understanding of animal performance, forage productivity, and woodland management within the woodland silvopasture system. Learning outcome (2): livestock producers and forested landowners in the project advisory group will increase knowledge and application of sustainable practices through workshops. Learning outcome (3): livestock producers and forested landowners will comprehend the integration of woodland silvopasture as a component to rotational grazing systems for natural resource management and system resilience.
Action outcome (1): assess the impact of goat grazing at various stocking rates on native warm season pasture plant composition. Action outcome (2): evaluate the effect of grazing sericea lespedeza on gastrointestinal parasite presence within goats. Action outcome (3): collaborate with natural resource professionals to host workshops to support the dissemination of woodland silvopasture management practices including woodland management, prescribed burning, and forage establishment. Action outcome (4): develop a producer-focused guide on participation of producers and landowners in university research.
Cooperators
- (Educator and Researcher)
- (Educator)
- (Educator)
- (Educator)
Research
Objective 1: Evaluate the plant community composition and nutrient profile within warm season grass pastures post-grazing of Sericea Lespedeza by goats.
Within the summer of 2021, a project was established at the Land of the Osages Research Center in Gravois Mills, Missouri to determine how goat stocking rate in a rotational grazing system affects plant community composition in a native warm season grass dominated pasture infested with sericea lespedeza. Late June 2021 (Year 1), plant community composition was measured to understand the various patterns of plant community present prior to goat grazing, with a focus on sericea lespedeza. Following, leased (breed) goats were grazed within rotational pastures at various stocking rates high (14-head), medium (7-head), and low (4-head) for 13 weeks (about 3 months) between late July – mid October 2021. Additionally, grazing days, pre- and post- grazing fecal egg counts, and FAMCHA scores were collected. June 2022, plant community composition measurements were retaken to examine the effect of goat grazing on the vegetation species in Year 2.
To assess the potential of goats as a sustainable vegetation management tool, an evaluation of the rotational plots three years post-grazing will be conducted June – July 2024 for plant community composition and forage nutritive value. Initial data sets of pre- and post-grazing plant composition, grazing days, fecal egg counts, and FAMCHA scores will be organized and statistically analyzed; to evaluate the impact of grazing sericea lespedeza with goats on plant community composition, as well as the effect of sericea lespedeza on gastrointestinal parasite burden in goats. Prior to collection, the original experimental treatment plots will be identified per treatment of high (14-head), medium (7-head), and low (4-head) stocking rates and evaluated for long-term shift in plant community and pasture quality following grazing with goats. Plant community composition, forage nutritive value, and condensed tannins will be measured within the previous collection periods to estimate a change overtime among treatment pastures.
Plant community composition will involve the determination of different levels of vegetation to include sericea lespedeza (SL), cool season grasses (CSG), warm season grasses (WSG), other forb species (OF), grass-like species (GL), shrubs (S), and trees (T). Late June 2024, Plant composition will be collected by using a line point intercept method with linear measurements of plant interception along the length of a stretched line. To determine plant species composition, multiple transects will be collected within each pasture, like the number of transects previously collected. Once vegetation species counts are collected, the counts with each level of vegetation will be totaled and averaged among the total number to calculate percentage of composition. July 2024, forage samples will be collected through destructive sampling per treatment to assess nutritive value (dry matter, crude protein, neutral detergent, and acid detergent fiber) and condensed tannins to develop a nutrient profile. Such samples will be collected before the previous date of initial grazing July 2021 to estimate the forage available. Samples will be prepared and analyzed in the ruminant nutrition and forage physiology lab in the Animal Science Research Center at the University of Missouri.
Objective 2: Establish and engage a participatory cohort of livestock producers and landowners as a project advisory group for collaborative learning for improved livestock and woodland management.
A participatory cohort made up of livestock producers and landowners (n = 5) was created to provide feedback and insight into the development, progression, and findings of the proposed woodland silvopasture research project. To recruit participants an advertisement was created in February to circulate through the Center for Agroforestry social media outlets. Promotion of the advisory group persisted until the targeted number of producers and landowners was obtained. The developed project advisory group was made up of five producers (4 males, 1 female) that engaged in livestock operations and owned and/or leased wooded acreage with diverse background in the agricultural or natural resource field. Following the development of the group, communication was established to acquire schedules and provide further details on the timeline, responsibilities of the group, and logistics for compensation. The initial project advisory group meeting was held Thursday, August 17th. Producers (n = 4), project researchers (n = 2), University of Missouri professor (n = 1), and farm manager (n = 1) attended the initial meeting at the Thompson Farm Research Center. Within a four-hour timeframe, the university professionals and producers were introduced, producers were given a tour of the property and research paddocks, discussed goals and objectives of the project, and hosted a woodland management workshop. The project discussions were held in a luncheon setting to ease communication. The conversation included background on silvopasture, overview of the proposed project, and insight into the producers’ feedback on the project and experience in establishing and managing woodland silvopasture. Following the discussion, a mini workshop was hosted to provide information on aspects of woodland management and cost-effective alternative techniques the producers could use to perform on their woods.
Objective 1: Establish and evaluate microclimate and livestock performance in a woodland silvopasture rotational grazing system compared to an open pasture rotational grazing system.
The Thompson Farm Research Center located within northern Missouri comprises around 1200-acres of land, in which for the project provided forested area of 82 acres and 112 acres of open pastures. The Natural Resources Conservation Service Ecological Site Description (ESD) indicated a Till Upland Savanna and Loess Upland Prairie soil types within the area. A forest inventory was performed on 82 acres with 1/5-acre plots to characterize the tree species. The predominate tree species identified were Shagbark Hickory (Carya ovata), Common Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis), Black Walnut (Juglans nigra), Red Elm (Ulmus rubra), White Oak (Quercus alba), Burr Oak (Quercus macrocarpa), White Ash (Fraxinus americana), and Honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos). Other tree species that were indicated within the forested area included: Eastern Cottonwood (Populus deltoides), Chinquapin Oak (Quercus muehlenbergii), Post Oak (Quercus stellata), Shingle Oak (Quercus imbricaria), Pin Oak (Quercus palustris), Black Cherry (Prunus serotina), American Basswood (Tilia americana), Ohio Buckeye (Aesculus glabra), Bitternut Hickory (Carya cordiformis), Pignut Hickory (Carya glabra), Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum), Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis), Mulberry Species (Morus spp.), White Mulberry (Morus alba), Red Oak, American Elm (Ulmus americana), Elm Species (Ulmus spp.), Eastern Redcedar (Juniperus virginiana).
Forage biomass samples (n = 720) were retrieved over four sample collection periods within six open pastures. The overall average biomass for the pastures was 2.90 inches. Biomass production decreased over the collection period, beginning of July (2.99 in.) and end of September (2.80 in.), with an average forage dry matter of 31.4%. Among cows, the average age was 5 years which was uniform among the grazing groups. Initial body weights among cows were 1,206 lbs. with an average body condition score of 3.3. Average calf weights were reported as 353 lbs. At the end of the grazing season average cow weights decreased to 999 lbs. with a body score of 2.7, and calf weights increased by 190 lbs. at weaning for an average 543 lbs. Cow body weight and body condition score tended to be similar among the grazing groups, though one of the grazing groups final calf weights was the lowest at 416 lbs. The grazing group experienced a lower weaning weight due to lesser number of calves because of pre-project mortality.
Educational & Outreach Activities
Participation Summary:
We hosted our 1st Thompson Project Advisory Meeting at the Thompson Research Farm in Spickard, MO, Thursday, August 17th. Producers were provided a tour of the 1200-acre property with a focus on research sites, followed by a luncheon discussion of the topic silvopasture, their prior involvement and experience in management of livestock, forage, and trees. Also, we hosted a one-hour workshop on woodland management, led by Dr. Benjamin Knapp, Associate Professor in Forestry at the University of Missouri, and Interim Director in the Center for Agroforestry. The project was discussed during the Center for Agroforestry 15th Annual Agroforestry Symposium: Silvopasture in Practice on January 17th and Annual Review on January 18th by Dr. Ashley Conway, Assistant Professor in Silvopasture as an overview of the projects in the Silvopasture Lab.
Within the next few months, we are planning workshops for the producers in the areas of prescribed burning, native forage establishment in woods, and grazing management. As well, we are connecting with the Center for Agroforestry Communications and Outreach Team for inclusion in newsletters.
Project Outcomes
The first objective of our study was unable to continue after the initial year due to weather related damage, however, the second objective has shown the capacity to impact the social aspect of agricultural sustainability. Specifically with the integration of livestock and trees, there has been a consistent lack of limited resources and knowledge to support producers and landowners to implement the sustainable management of silvopasture. For the project, we included five producers as a project advisory group and provided an exchange of information in the areas of woodland, forage, and grazing management. To act on the exchange of information, we gained support from University of Missouri research professionals to lead producer-focused workshops. The term producer-focused means demonstrating techniques which can be used by the producers within their management, considering a limit of financial resources for equipment and labor. We found that the strategy created a smaller-casual setting which allowed the producers to ask a multitude of questions and obtain responses. Furthermore, the producers were able to connect with additional resources to learn more information such as literature articles and organizations. In the future, we will connect the producers with resources such as the Missouri Prescribed Burn Association and University Extension services. The economic and environmental benefits from the second objective aim to provide low-cost techniques for sustainable management and increase the awareness of sustainable practices that the producers can apply on their property in the future.
The project allowed me to increase my skill-building in project management and communication among a non-technical audience. The inclusion of producers as a project advisory group increased my knowledge of the techniques used by the producers in efforts to adapt sustainable agriculture and agroforestry practices such as silvopasture. This supported my optimistic attitude towards increasing the prevalence of producers within applied research projects to increase collaborative thinking and problem-solving, especially with the objective of promoting adoption among producers and landowners. Though, the project increased my awareness of the difficulties in working with producers’ schedules and individual objectives and goals. It is important to be aware of these objectives and maintain transparent communication to foster collaboration and understanding.