SILVOPASTURE IN SOUTHEAST

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SILVOPASTURE IN SOUTHEAST
Presented by Joshua Idassi, Ph.D. Extension
Forester Tennessee State University Cooperative
Extension Program

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SILVOPASTURE

• Integrates trees, forage and livestock
• Environmental issues, i.e., biodiversity,
  watershed and scenic beauty are critical

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SILVOPASTURE

• Grazing goats make beneficial use of a
  vegetation resource
• Tool to manage forest trees and their understory

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In Silvopasture

• Tree are combined
• Improved pasture
• Forming an integrated
• Intensive animal husbandry

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Why Silvopasture?

• A tool designed to improve income opportunities
  on farms and ranches
• Timber, pasture and livestock are managed as an
  integrated system

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Planning Considerations

• Explore economic and environmental issues
• Explore local land use, zoning, cost-share and
  tax regulations
• Other implications

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Plant Considerations

• Potential markets
• Explore soil types
• Climatic conditions
• Species compatibility

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Plant Considerations

• Select and use trees and planting/harvesting
  patterns
• Suitable for the site
• Provide desired economic and environmental
  returns

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Livestock Selection

• Cattle, sheep, goats, horses, turkeys,
  chickens, ostriches, emus, rhea, deer, elk, lamas
  etc.
• Be careful with browsing animals
• Broadleaf trees are more prone

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A silvopasture practice diversifies farm income
can minimize the need for chemical or mechanical
vegetation control and can reduce hay and
feeding costs for livestock.
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BENEFITS

• Trees are managed for high-value sawlogs
• Trees provide shade and shelter and forage
• Based on spacing

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Cattle fertilize these pecan trees with nitrogen
and it causes the grass to grow. By grazing,
cattle gives extra profit from the beef. Helps
where we don't have to mow as much.
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• Tree species selected for a silvopastoral
  practice should be marketable, including
• Wood and other products such as nuts or fruits,
  offering another source of income in addition to
  livestock.

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ROTATIONAL GRAZING
In a rotational grazing system, a successful
silvopastoral practice requires understanding
forage growth and managing the timing and
duration of grazing to avoid browsing of young
tree seedlings or the elongating shoots.
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Cattle are rotationally grazed among single,
double and triple rows of pitch pine / loblolly
pine hybrids and black walnut trees. The pines,
planted on either side of the black walnut trees,
help train the black walnut trees to grow
straight for high-quality lumber production.
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GRAZING COSTS

• UMC- Center for Agroforestry is working to
  reduce hay costs and extend the livestock grazing
  season through silvopasture practices.
• Winter hay costs for feeding one steer can
  reach 91 the managed grazing practice of
  silvopasture can reduce this amount
  significantly.
• Well managed silvopastures can reduce winter
  feed costs by approximately 20.

http//www.centerforagroforestry.org/practices/sp.
asp
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MANAGEMENT TOOLS

1. Tree harvesting, thinning and pruning
2. Fertilization
3. Planting legumes for N fixation
4. Rotational Grazing/burning
5. Water resources
6. Fencing and others

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A BUNDLE OF BENEFITS

1. Provide income from Livestock sales
2. Selective sale of trees and timber products
3. Forage enhance livestock growth and production
4. Other secondary products

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ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS

1. Wildlife diversity and water quality
2. Enhance soil fertility
3. Enhance park-like setting
4. Less concerns of odors, dust, noise and diseases
   in contrast to concentrated livestock operations

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DRAWBACKS

• Fencing costs can be very high
• Crooked high quality hardwoods
• 3. May involve intensive pruning

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REFERENCES

• Photos from Dr. An Peischel collections
• http//www.centerforagroforestry.org/
• practices/sp.as
• 3. Handout references