Cattle and Management Intensive Grazing

Angus X Senepol cattle take the heat of the area well.

Cattle and calves are the #1 farm commodity in Oklahoma; the state ranks fifth nationally. Raising cattle in Oklahoma is not confined to the open spaces of the western counties, but is common throughout the state on farms both small and large, including in LeFlore County where the Stewardship Ranch is located. Therefore, managing animals, pasture, and rangeland in a sustainable manner is of crucial interest to local farmers and to Oklahoma agriculture in general.

One way to build fertility, recycle nutrients and conserve energy on modern pastureland is through the practice of rotational grazing (also known as cell grazing, management intensive grazing or controlled grazing).

In this approach emphasis is placed on management rather than the system or its components. Rotational grazing is the process of moving a herd of livestock from one pasture to another and allowing each pasture a period of rest before it is grazed again.

This form of grazing management is gaining popularity because of the need to increase production efficiency to cover the high cost of land, labor, and operating expenses. Changing from continuous to controlled grazing allows livestock producers to (1) increase stocking rates, (2) extend the grazing season, (3) increase nutrient recycling, (4) decrease labor, and (5) improve animal health and potentially lower parasite loads.

The management of a rotational grazing system revolves around the period of rest plants receive during the growing season. During the rest period, plants are allowed to recover from grazing and produce new growth.

The length of rest varies with season and forage species and is based upon the amount of aboveground growth (residual dry matter) remaining in the pasture after the animals are removed. Pastures will recover faster and produce more usable forage when sufficient residual matter is left at the end of the grazing period.

The Kerr Center introduced rotational grazing to southeastern Oklahoma. The system works—soil fertility has been maintained at generally the same levels since 1986 without adding costly fertilizer.

Cattle on the Stewardship Ranch are of breeds adapted to the climactic conditions of southeastern Oklahoma. Center staff have developed a Senepol-Angus cross cow that combines the positive characteristics of both.

Pineywoods cattle graze near the Kerr Center office.

Another good example of adaptation is the Pineywoods cow. These speckled cattle grazing the Kerr Center pastures south of Poteau on highway 271 may look like Texas Longhorns, but they are something different, and unique—a heritage breed of cattle that are in need of protection.

The breed developed from the cattle brought to the New World in the 1500s by the Spanish, just as the Longhorn did. But they evolved their unique characteristics in the pinewoods of Mississippi (hence the name), by just a few families, and so are unique to the United States.

The nearly extinct Pineywoods cattle are listed on the "critical" list by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy (ALBC). The conservancy’s definition of critical is fewer than 200 North American annual registrations and an estimate of fewer than 2,000 global population. The Pineywoods registry has located fewer than 1000 head of pure stock.

About fifteen of the cattle have been brought to the Stewardship Ranch from the Overstreet-Kerr Historical Farm, ten miles south of Sallisaw. The Historical Farm has a larger herd and has long been active in preserving breeds of farm animals and types of poultry whose numbers are declining, but which have many important genetic characteristics which need to be preserved.

The Pineywoods cattle are noted for their ability to survive and reproduce under the often-harsh conditions of the South, withstanding internal and external parasites, high temperatures, high humidity, and low quality forage. They are very self-sufficient due to their varied foraging habits, low birth weights, gentle disposition and hardiness. The Carter strain of cattle kept on the ranch is noted for its excellent mammary system, reproduction, longevity, docility, self-sufficiency and calving ease.

Click for more information on:

• Management Intensive Grazing
• The Overstreet-Kerr Historical Farm
• Pineywoods cattle
• American Livestock Breeds Conservancy
• A portable watering tank system
• Grassfed Beef