Field scouting is a critical component of efficient farming practices. It’s less complicated to scout for pests and diseases when you don’t also have livestock. However, integrating livestock is beneficial for overall farm health and is another revenue stream.
The Scouting Process With Livestock on the Farm
Several diseases and pests affect both your crop and livestock. Livestock, especially cattle and other ruminants, trample vegetation so it’s sometimes more difficult to see what is happening.
Pay close attention to the vegetation around water sources. Signs of excess grazing damage indicate your paddock rotations may be too long. Plants that don’t have enough time to recover from grazing are susceptible to both pest and disease pressures.
Scouting with livestock also includes observation of the health of each individual in the herd or flock. Many of the tools needed are identical to field scouting without livestock. See this blog for a more in-depth discussion of tools.
Forage Quality Affects Livestock Health
The nutrient concentration in forages is affected by your overall soil health. Nutrient-rich soil provides essential elements for plant growth. These nutrients affect protein content, vitamins, and minerals.
Livestock get more nutrients when the forage has greater diversity. Different plant species have varying nutritional profiles. With a diverse plant species pasture, there’s less need for supplementation so your profit margin is greater.
Alfalfa is a favorite pasture forage, but it can have high insect pressure from alfalfa weevil and other insects. Some plant species can also suffer from bacterial wilt. Weed pressure can also inhibit quality forage growth.
To mitigate pest pressures, consider planting legumes in a mixed pasture species. Legumes enhance biological diversity and help break harmful pest cycles.
Field scouting in fields with livestock takes into account the needs of the plants and the livestock. Good soil health and proper management practices contribute to healthier forages and reduce pest pressure.
For guidance on field scouting, pest identification, and livestock nutritional needs contact our livestock management team at ST Biologicals. We’re here to help you succeed. When soil speaks, we listen.
#pasturemanagement #foragequality #fieldscouting
