Project Overview
Commodities
- Animals: bovine
Practices
- Animal Production: grazing management, grazing - rotational
- Education and Training: extension
- Production Systems: agroecosystems
Abstract:
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.
Project objectives:
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.