Pasture Diversity Meets Nutritional Needs
Keep your horses healthier by growing the correct grasses with non-toxic, organic fertilization
M
ineral deficiencies in pasture land are possible every year. Because your equine pasture, and hay
fields all across the country, should be regarded as high value crops, proper soil treatment is a must.
Animal behaviorist Mary Ann Simonds explains, “Commercialization of hay production, combined with chemical spraying and over-fertilization of soils, without adding needed soil microorganisms or allowing a diversity of plants, has caused the soil in many parts of the country to become depleted of nutrients and energy. Thus, the hay grown on these soils is also lacking. The result is animals are not receiving the necessary nutrients and energy from the hay they eat.”
If the soil is healthy, then the plants growing in it, and the animals grazing it, will be, too.
GO ORGANIC! Using organic and non-toxic fertilizers for weed control and pasture maintenance minimizes the levels of toxins your horses consume in their daily rations. The philosophy of Organic is to feed the soil properly, so that the soil will be able to provide the plants with the proper combinations of nutrients. This doesn’t mean you cannot fertilize your fields. Just avoid fertilizers that are overly processed or not approved by the certifying agencies.
“Certified Organic” is defined as food that is grown in accordance with the guidelines set forth by your local Department of Agriculture. Stringent restrictions include proof that the land or crops have not been subjected to any form of insecticides or
Minerals for Soil Supplementation
• Nitrogen – Look for sources of fish hydrolysate14, compost, or manures. Grass farms and most other livestock producers do not need added nitrogen when crop rotation, manure management, balanced soils and legumes are properly implemented. Calcium and phosphorus are important for adequate legume production. • Calcium – Most forms of mined calcium such as Calcitic and Dolomitic limestone, Gypsum and Rock phosphate are approved and a good choice. • Phosphorus and Potash – Both hard and soft rock phosphate are approved unless processed with a synthetic chemical. If short of phosphorus, rock phosphate can be added to winter manure packs or applied directly to pastures. The acids of manure will make phosphorus more available and capture a large portion of the volatile ammonia in manure. Manure and compost are good sources of phosphorus for organic production. Many certifying organizations are requiring manure from
pesticides for a period of at least seven years.
DIVERSIFY Grasses come in many shapes and flavors. Diversity is the answer to nutritional needs as well as to the seasonal changes the grasses have to endure. Some species do better during a warm dry spell, while others thrive during the wet season. Your county agricultural Extension Service can guide you on this.
Ideally, you’ll want grass with a good root structure that will come back after it is grazed and regenerate a strong plant. Legumes, such as clover and alfalfa, are higher in protein, calcium, dietary energy and most vitamins than virtually any type of grass forage. Because they produce
off-farm resources to be composted. If using large amounts of manure, monitor your potassium levels with a tissue test analysis. Potassium levels can quickly go beyond the optimal level for animal health. • Magnesium – Most grasses have low levels of magnesium. Many soils have adequate or high levels of this mineral, but mineral imbalance keeps plant uptake low. All spring grasses require magnesium supplementation in the North. Be sure to test before applying to pastures. • Others – Boron, copper, zinc, sodium, and manganese are all very important for animal and plant health. All of these are in the restricted category and must be tested to show need before applying. Also check the source of any of these, because some do have other prohibited additives and may contain heavy metal. [Excerpted from “Guidelines Given for Organic Grassland Production” by Douglas Gunnink]
their own nitrogen, they are, in a sense, “self-fertilizing” – improving the nutritive content of an entire pasture that may also include orchard grass and rye perennial, timothy, and Kentucky bluegrass.
BEWARE THE FESCUE Do not let the fescue grasses get out of hand. Tall fescue has an endophyte in the seed that is toxic to horses and cattle. The endophyte will cause vasoconstriction of the small arteries affecting the uterus and hooves. Ingestion of the endophyte can cause mares to abort their foals.
If you’re unsure of what’s growing in your pasture, enlist the services of your local extension agent.
continued on p. 24 „„
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Holistic Horse™ • August/September 2012 • Vol.19, Issue 80
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