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Pasture & Range: June 2004
Other Pasture & Range Articles

by Matt Mattox

All cars and trucks have a maintenance schedule that the manufacturer puts in the glove box when they come off the assembly line. Maintenance schedules list items that, if taken care of at the appropriate time, will normally result in better overall performance and prolonged vehicle life. I'd bet most of us conduct what we deem critical items, like changing the oil on time, monitoring transmission fluid, and changing the brakes when they start to squeal. We all know there are other "critical" items that we don't tend to on a regular basis, and sometimes we don’t hear the squeal, and we have a breakdown that can lead to an unscheduled outlay of cash to repair the problem.

Pasture maintenance is much the same as vehicle maintenance. If you want your pastures to be productive over an acceptable time frame, you must pay attention to details, just like you should with your vehicle. Ignoring critical pasture management items normally results in problems that could have been avoided with a little timely maintenance.

I have put together a general vehicle maintenance schedule and what I consider a general maintenance schedule for pasture management. After reading both, I think you will realize how similar these items are to performance of either a vehicle or a pasture. Remember the key word in both lists is "maintenance." A commercial ran a few years ago that ended with the phrase "pay me now, or pay me later." This is a very true statement. Nothing will manage itself. I hope this article will help you implement some of the critical management items to keep your pastures viable and productive — and maybe get a few more years out of your truck as well.

General Auto Maintenance		General Pasture Maintenance
Service Item	Interval/Purpose	Management Item	Interval/Purpose
Change anti-freeze	Climate will determine longevity of coolant and mixture	Forage variety selection	Choose varieties adapted to your climate. Pay attention to cold tolerance, moisture requirements and seed origin.
Change transmission fluid	Should be changed every 20-30K miles, on average. This will vary with driving style and towing loads.	Stocking rate	This is a critical element. Overstocking can result in many problems, such as weeds and poor animal performance. Match to long-term carrying capacity, Adjust as needed with stockers or hay excess.
Check drive belts	Normally needs to be changed every three years. If it fails, your vehicle shuts down.	Soil test	Needed on introduced forages at least every three years to maintain sufficient plant nutrient availability. If you don't soil test, "it's only a guess."
Change oil	Every 3,000 miles, or sooner if operating in heavy traffic situations or uneven terrain.	Fertilizer	Fertilize according to a reasonable yield goal in response to a fertility recommendation made by a qualified person.
Change spark plugs	Standard plugs — every 15K miles. Platinum plugs — every 60K miles.	Correct pH	Lime to adjust pH to acceptable range based on soil test recommendations. Frequency depends on soil texture (i.e. sand vs. clay).
Check timing belt	Normal life span is around 60K miles. Change belt according to manufacturer specifications.	Weed and brush management	Most every pasture will need some weed/brush management at times to maintain pasture productivity. Control mechanisms include fire, mechanical and chemical means. Always follow herbicide label specifications.
Change battery and ignition wires	A good battery and set of wires should last up to 5 years, normally. Routine battery maintenance will prolong its life.	Fence maintenance	Fences are the tools that facilitate grazing management. Routine maintenance protects the integrity of pastures. Longevity of fencing materials varies.
Check distributor cap and rotor	Normally, replace every 2 years or 30K miles. Good spark distribution results in smooth engine performance.	Monitor grazing patterns	Monitor grazing use of key plant species. Moving mineral/salt to under-utilized pasture areas can result in better grazing distribution and pasture utilization.
Change air filter, oil filter, fuel filter, PCV valve	Change oil filter with every oil change. Other filters and PCV valve at least once per year.	Monitor grazing use of pastures, target stubble heights, reserve herd days.	Most warm-season perennial pastures in the southern Great Plains will have made 75% of production by mid-July. Monitor and adjust grazing pressure as needed. Have drought management plan in place (i.e. culling policy, etc.).
Rotate tires	Every 6 months or 7,500 miles.	Rotate livestock	Frequency depends on forage type, livestock class and management objective. Properly managed rotational grazing systems allow for plant recovery and sometimes better utilization.