Pasture Evaluation Program releases trends, tips

The University of Kentucky's Horse Pasture Evaluation Program has begun to

wrap up its third year of serving Central Kentucky horse farms, and released

some pasture trends noted over the past three years. They also released some

recommendations farm managers can take now to ensure healthy pastures next year.

"The UK forage extension team has been extremely pleased with the success of

the Horse Pasture Evaluation Program," said Ray Smith, UK forage extension

specialist. "We have thoroughly enjoyed working with the farms that enrolled in

the program and have been very impressed with the professional animal care and

handling that we have observed on all farms. The majority of farms are to be

commended for the good job they are doing in their pasture management programs."

Over the past three years, Smith and his team have uncovered some common

trends. Currently, close to one-third of the pastureland evaluated is

nonproductive, meaning it is covered by weeds or bare soil instead of grass. The

other two-thirds of evaluated area pastures break down to 26 percent bluegrass,

24 percent tall fescue, 12 percent orchard grass and 8 percent white clover.

A high percentage of tall fescue could be a problem to many area horse farms

with broodmares. Ergovaline, commonly found in tall fescue, is toxic and can

cause foal loss in pregnant mares. According to Smith, the percentage of tall

fescue found on many farms has been high enough to warrant control methods such

as herbicide treatments or even total replanting.

The research team also noted some trends specific to 2007. The freeze in

April slowed pasture growth, and was closely followed by a severe drought in

late spring and into the summer, as well as hotter than normal temperatures in

August. All of these factors limited pasture growth throughout the summer across

Kentucky and much of the Southeast, and caused the bluegrass to go dormant early

this year. Tall fescue and summer annual grasses handled the dry weather better,

as did weeds.

To combat the stresses of this year and to get pastures in shape for next

year, Smith recommended that farms take steps now, as fall is the optimal time

to improve a pasture's health. A few tips offered include taking soil samples

and working with the local county extension agent to determine fertilizer

requirements; seed pastures with bare areas now through late September, using a

no-till drill if at all possible, and once the seedlings germinate try to keep

animals off of the area until the grass has had time to establish; avoid

damaging pastures during the winter and early spring by rotating hay feeding

areas and limiting vehicle traffic on wet soils; and rotate horses between

pastures to enhance stand recovery, interrupt parasite cycles, help grasses

out-compete weeds and increase grass growth and carrying capacity.

Farms may still sign up with the Horse Pasture Evaluation Program, and

because of the positive response generated during its first two years, this

year's program has expanded its services to include increased acreage (up to an

entire farm if requested), a fecal egg count pilot study, a grazing distribution

map and follow-up measurements of ergovaline.

The program is generally available to horse farms in Fayette, Bourbon,

Woodford, Scott, Jessamine and Clark counties, but can be opened up on a limited

basis to counties outside these five Central Bluegrass counties. Participation

in the program is on a first-come, first-served basis, and the cost is $750.

Farms interested in enrolling in the Pasture Evaluation Program should

contact Tom Keene at 859-257-3144, tom.keene@uky.edu, or Smith at 859-257-3358,

raysmith1@uky.edu. The team will then make an initial visit to explain program

details.

More information may be found at www.uky.edu/Ag/Forage.