Utilisation of grass at the correct stage for horses

Forage quality (energy and protein) is excellent coming out of winter (leafy stage) up to elongation stage. Then quality decreases quickly when the developing plant reaches seedhead or reproductive stage. At the tillering stage – leafy, the plant is essentially composed of extremely palatable leaves, high in soluble sugar and protein content.
In the following growth stages the stems grow longer and get harder (fiber and cellulose content increase) and the nutritional value decreases.

Grass cycles correspond to its utilisation, preceeded by growth time, i.e :

• A growth period : from the start of growth, following mowing or removal of the animals after grazing, up to the subsequent utilisation period.
• A utilisation period for a given plot, either through a grazing period (from the animals starting to graze to when they are removed), or through mowing.

Depending on the climate and the area, between 3 to 8 grass cycles can be utilised per season, though good management of grazing and mowing. If the heads are cut, a new cycle begins. On the other hand, when left to reach seeding heads, growth is halted.

Why maintain a leafy stage in a pasture to optimise growth of the pasture?

Maintaining a leafy stage in the pastures ensures a stable  homogenous food resource for horses throughout the grazing season.

To improve the quality of the forage, horses should be put out to graze early on, while keeping areas (around half) for mowing. These areas will then be grazed on over the summer.

How ?

Practice of early grazing

Pratiquer un premier pâturage au début du printemps puis retirer les animaux pour réserver ensuite la parcelle pour la fauche. Ainsi, la repousse sera plus dense, le stade des plantes sera retardé et donc de meilleur qualité nutritionnelle.

Practice rotational grazing

• Start grazing when the grass at the leafy stage has reached a height of 10-12cm (except for the first grazing period = grass height of 5cms). When the grass is over 15cm high, at the start of a grazing period by horses, it is trampled, flattened, and wasted.
• Remove the horses from the plot when the average height reaches 5cm. The grass should still be green.
• To avoid waste , rotational grazing can be implemented, by dividing a field into several small plots ( minimum 4 – 5 plots). In this way, they will be grazed on successively on a rotation basis : 1 week grazing , followed by 3 weeks rest – regrowth for each plot.

Adapt the grazing load to the grazing conditions

• When the grass is growing fast (spring), the grazing load will be high. E.g on average 0,4-0,45 ha/ LSU (approx 1 acre), i.e =approx 0,5 ha (1,25 acres) per mare with her foal.
• In summer this load will be decreased, either by increasing the available surface, or by reducing the number of animals. E.g 0,8- 0,9 ha/ LSU (approx 2,2 acres), that is 1 mare and foal to the ha (2,5 acres).

Avoid overgrazing

Avoid overgrazing: areas with grass less then 5cm high. For regrowth of leaves, the plant uses glucose reserves located at the base of the stems and stem-sheaths, and from the underground parts of the plant.

Resting the pasture is required. The rest time is 3-4 weeks in the tillering season, and from 4-6 weeks in summer and late season.

Manage the roughs

Cutting or shredding early in the season (beginning of June) eliminates uneaten headed plants. This will promote leafy regrowth in rough areas.

Mixed grazing, either alternate or simultaneous, allows for better control of the grass stages, by limiting appearnce of rough areas.