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Vegetation Along River, Stream Banks Source Of Winter Forage For Cattle
LITTLE ROCK, ARK.
With colder temperatures and shorter days, Arkansas farmers and ranchers will be turning to other sources to feed their cattle. Source ranchers may consider are riparian zones.
“A riparian zone or area is where a farmer’s land meets a river or stream,” said Dirk Philipp, an assistant professor of the Department of Animal Science for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. “What grows in this interface and along the banks of the waterway is known as riparian vegetation, and the cattle can graze that vegetation in the fall and winter.”
If hay, feed or other food for cattle is dwindling or less available, cattle can graze vegetation along the banks of the streams. These riparian zones can make up large parts of the forage supply, depending on upland pastures, and help offset costs of care throughout the colder months of the year.
“Forage growth in these zones may be higher than in the rest of the pasture due to soil sediment, higher organic material input, and restricted grazing during other parts of the year,” Philipp said. “If a rancher has these zones on his land, there are some things he or she can do to ensure the riparian vegetation is available when it’s needed most while protecting the overall integrity of the stream corridor.”
First, keep cattle from grazing in the areas during the spring and summer so all precipitation in these months can go toward the growth of vegetation. When the forage plants have plenty of good soil, sun and water, they will develop a strong root system, which holds in place the soil along the banks. This helps in two ways: to make plenty of forage for colder months and to keep the stream’s soil from eroding.
Next, keep an overall forage plan in mind by providing enough forage on pastures through stockpiling.
“Don’t rely on riparian zone grazing alone,” Philipp says. “In fact, developing a plan for cattle grazing throughout the year should be a part of an overall land-management strategy. For example, think about plotting buffer zones around streams, which are effective with grassy vegetation because they filter runoff. These areas don’t necessarily have to feature large percentages of woody vegetation except for a strip next to the stream to protect banks from collapsing.”
To maintain this resource for as long as possible throughout the fall and winter seasons, allow cattle to graze the vegetation no shorter than 6 inches as native plant species in these zones are more sensitive to close grazing than, for example, fescue. Also, provide water for cattle off-stream if possible, and limit time animals spend time in riparian zones so any damage to the area is reduced or eliminated.∆
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