Sustainable Pasture Management Practices in Tajikistan

Sustainable Pasture Management Practices in Tajikistan

Glossary: Livestock unit (LU) Carrying capacity Summer pastures Intensive pastures Village pastures Sustainable pasture management Natural resources Sustainable development Environmental degradation The Livestock unit is a unit used to compare or aggregate numbers of animals of different species or categories. Equivalences based on the food requirements of the animals are defined. The maximum number of livestock units (animals) that a specific pasture area can support without causing deterioration or degradation of the pasture. Pastures located above 2400 m can only be used in summer. Pastures located between 1400 and 2400 m can be used as intensive pasture in spring, summer and autumn. Pastures located lower than 1400 m; can be used throughout the whole year. Sustainable pasture management: means balancing herd size, fodder production and pasture productivity. Natural Resources are subjects, processes and conditions of nature used by society for satisfaction of tangible and cultural wealth of people. Natural resources are classified into renewable and nonrenewable resources. Natural resources include: minerals, energy sources, soil, water ways and reservoirs, forests, wild plants, fauna of land and water areas, animals on lands and in water, gene fund of cultivated plants and domestic animals, beautiful landscapes, recreation zones etc. Natural Resources are part of the whole set of natural conditions that can be used to keep life. The basic types of natural resources are solar energy, interrestrial heat, water, land, mineral, resources, plants, animals etc. Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It contains within it two key concepts: the concept of "needs", in particular the essential needs of the world's poor, to which overriding priority should be given; and the idea of limitations imposed by the state of technology and social organization on the environment's ability to meet present and the future needs. (Brundtland Commission, 1987). Sustainable development is based on socio-cultural development, political stability and decorum, economic growth and ecosystem protection. The reduction of the capacity of the environment to meet social, economic and ecological objectives, and needs. Page 2

Pasture Management 1. Sustainable Pasture Management Sustainable Pasture Management: If pasture is grazed by animals but the quality of the pasture and the quality of the soil does not become worse or degraded. 3 - Pasture areas: village, intensive, summer pasture: Village Pasture : Pastures located below 1400 m a.s.l; can be used during the full year. Intensive Pasture: Pastures located between 1400 and 2400 m a.s.l.; can be used in spring, summer and autumn. Summer Pasture: Pastures located above 2400 m a.s.l.; can only be used in summer. Pasture Management Module Revision 2 Page 3

Grazing on pastures Grazing is the main source of livestock feed in spring, summer and autumn. By contrast, the potential for grazing is very limited in winter, and livestock has to be fed mainly with hay and fodder such as crop residues. The ability of the crop to feed animals within of the three pasture areas varies according to the season. Winter fodder During winter, grazing is only possible to a very limited degree, therefore every farm has to buy or produce enough hay to feed its livestock. In a normal winter 1200 kg of hay are required per livestock unit. Different Types of Fodder: Alfalfa Espercet Grass Shrub, Bush, Trees (goats) Problems with Pasture Management: Photos Page 4

2. Livestock Unit: LU A livestock unit is the amount of fodder an animal requires. This is compared to one cow which is the same as one Livestock Unit. Conversion coefficients: Type of animal coefficient 1 Livestock Unit =. Cow 1 1 cow Yak 1 1 yak Horse 1.2 0.84 horses Donkey 0.5 2 donkeys Sheep 0.2 5 sheep Goat 0.2 5 goats Calculation of Livestock Units: The number of livestock units has to be calculated for each type of animal separately using the following formula: Number of Animals = Coefficient x Livestock Unit Example: 8 sheep = 1.6 LU (8 * 0.2 = 1.6 LU) 4 camels = 6 LU (4 * 1.5 = 6 LU) 230 goats = 46 LU (230 * 0.2 = 46 LU) 46 cows = 46 LU (46 * 1 = 46 LU) As livestock units are related to fodder requirements of animals (see definition), it can be deduced that the same amount of fodder is necessary to feed 46 cows or 230 goats. Example: Type of animal Number of animals coefficient Cow 12 1 12 Yak 0 1 -- = Number of LU Horse 4 1.2 4.8 Donkey 3 0.5 1.5 Sheep 36 0.2 7.2 Goat 50 0.2 10 Pig 5 0.2 1 Total number of LU 36.5 LU Pasture Management Module Revision 2 Page 5

After you have completed the table you should be able to calculate the number of Livestock units you own. This then allows us to calculate the amount of pasture required for the entire livestock. Using the table below you can calculate your own livestock needs: Type of animal Number of animals coefficient = Number of LU Cow 1 Yak 1 Horse 1.2 Donkey 0.5 Sheep 0.2 Goat 0.2 Total number of LU Pasture Productivity: The productivity of a pasture area refers to the amount and quality of fodder (grazing, hay) produced on this pasture. Pasture productivity determines the carrying capacity of a pasture area. Carrying Capacity: The carrying capacity is the maximum number of livestock units (LU) that a specific pasture area can support without causing deterioration or degradation of the pasture. The measure for carrying capacity is LU / ha. The carrying capacity can depend upon many things. These include: Type of pasture (e.g. grass, alfalfa, espercet) Altitude of Pasture Soil Type Amount of Rainfall Steepness of the slope Wind Cover The carrying capacity of a specific pasture area is variable, i.e. it changes according to the season. Generally, it is est during the months of fast vegetation growth. Usually, carrying capacity is est during spring or summer, depending on the type of pasture (summer pasture, intensive pasture, or village / lowland pasture), i.e. on altitude. Below is an example of the carrying capacity of pasture (i.e. how many livestock units can graze in one hectare of land). This will be different for your village but you can compare your village to the results below. Carrying capacity Spring Summer Autumn Winter Page 6

(90 days) (90 days) (90 days) (90 days) Village / lowland 20 LU 16 LU 12 LU 6 LU pasture (30 ha) Intensive pasture 52 LU 40 LU 32 LU --- (100 ha) Summer pasture --- 100 LU --- --- (200 ha) Total 72 LU 156 LU 44 LU 6 LU The use of a pasture area is sustainable as long as the number of livestock units which are grazing on the pasture does not exceed the carrying capacity of this pasture area. Once the number of LU exceeds the carrying capacity, the pasture area is overgrazed, and pasture use is unsustainable. Unsustainable pasture use leads to the degradation of a pasture area, and therefore to the reduction of its carrying capacity. In order to plan sustainable pasture management, all available grazing areas and pastures have to be considered with their seasonally changing carrying capacities. However, the carrying capacity of a pasture area can be increased by intensification measures such as: use of fertiliser, irrigation, weeding, etc.! You should estimate based upon your experience how many livestock units you can graze on one hectare of land in each of the seasons, without damaging the pasture, and soil etc.. Carrying capacity (LU / ha) Village pasture Spring Summer Autumn Winter Intensive pasture Summer pasture Pasture Management Module Revision 2 Page 7

4. Fodder Production: Feed requirements: Daily feed requirements per LU may vary according to the fodder quality. The lower the fodder quality, the er the quantity required! Fodder of inferior quality: lignified hay, grass, lucerne, etc. High-quality fodder: hay made of young grass, lucerne harvested before flowering, etc. Feed requirements are usually calculated in kg or tons / LU. Performance goals: Feed requirements also vary according to performance goals a farm is striving for. We differentiate: - Feeding for maintenance (= secure survival) - Feeding for performance, level 1: low milk production, gestation, low meat producing capacity, etc.) - Feeding for performance, level 2: milk and meat production - Feeding for performance, level 3: milk and meat production With 7.5 kg dry matter of -quality fodder the daily feeding for maintenance of 1 LU is covered, and even a slight feeding for performance included. Each additional level of performance requires 1-2 kg (dry matter) more feed, depending on the fodder quality. Example: A local breed of cow weight 250kg and need 60 Mega Joule of energy in one day It means: 15MJ for living 15MJ for Walking 30MJ Milk This is the same as 32-35kg of grass and 8kg forage (pasture) Or 5kg Straw, 5kg espercet/alfafa, 1kg feed, 0.5kg salt For winter feed you can increase the energy content by adding Carbonate i.e. 20kg straw, 5kg water, 1kg Carbonate Page 8

Fodder Crops: Type of fodder Yield (dry matter) Calculation of the available fodder basis Example: t/ha Hay from natural meadow 0.2-0.5 Lucerne, intensive production, 4 harvest / year 5-10 Straw from barley 1 1.5 Straw from wheat 1.5-2.0 Straw from maize 1.5 2.5 Oats 1.2 1.5 Type of fodder Hay from natural meadow Lucerne Intensive production, 4 harvest / year Straw from barley Straw from wheat Straw from maize Yield (dry matter) t/ha Cultivated area ha Yield t Daily feed requirements (dry matter) t/lu Number of days during which 1 LU can be fed days 0.2-0.5 75 15 32.5 2000-4300 5-10 10 25 50 3300-6600 0. 0075 1 1.5 5 5 7.5 660-1000 1.5-2.0 5 7.5-10 1000-1300 1.5 2.5 3 4.5 7.5 600-1000 Oats 1.2 1.5 2 2.4-3 320-400 Total days 7880 14 600 Number of LU that can be fed during winter (150 days) 53 97 LU Pasture Management Module Revision 2 Page 9

Evaluation of different intensification measures Measure Fencing pasture units and pasture rotation Investment and maintenance costs Surplus return Technical measures of intensification depends on availability of construction material Risks Risk of theft of fencing material Combating weeds low Cleaning pastures from stones Irrigation Fertilising with farm manure low low depends on length of water channels (main and distribution channels) and construction method costs for transport and spreading conflicts over water, landslides in case of inappropriate water routing and irrigation low Fertilising with mineral fertiliser Regular maintenance work (annual mowing, biannual combing to foster sward growth) Sowing Negotiation of pasture use quotas Capacity building / training of herders depends on price use of tractor or draught horses if seeds from own production if appropriate fertiliser used if appropriate mixture of seeds Rules and regulations for improved pasture management washing out low poor growth low low low How to Improve Pasture Management Practices: Livestock management Pasture management Fodder production Increase quality, reduce quantity of animals through selective breeding Reduce number of livestock by selling Regular meetings of all herd owners: discuss livestock management issues, agree on quotas according to available fodder basis Etc. Increase pasture productivity by weed control and cleaning pastures from stones (intensification) village and intensive pastures Apply mineral fertiliser intensive pasture Fencing and rotation of pastures village and intensive pasture Multifunctional use: jailoo tourism summer pasture Install watering points on intensive pastures Rent additional pastures Use remote summer pastures Elaborate a binding pasture management plan Etc. Use quality seeds for forage production Optimise moment and process of haymaking, and hay storage Increase surface area of lucerne production Irrigation of forage crops Etc. Page 10

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