Livestock and Productive Pasture Land

Livestock are an integral part of the agricultural economy and a valued recreational asset. Utilizing some simple management practices can ensure healthy livestock and productive pastureland. These practices are also essential to maintaining healthy riparian areas on acreage with streams.

Healthy Livestock - Healthy Streams Livestock should be allowed access to creeks and streams only on a strictly controlled and limited rotational basis.

Livestock and stream Health - Livestock can cause serious damage to riparian areas by:

• Trampling banks, increasing the sediment load to the water.
• Damaging riparian vegetation, which increases water temperature, flooding and erosion problems.
• Urinating and defecating in or near the water, resulting in high levels of unhealthy nutrients and fecal coliform bacteria.
• Compacting soil, which decreases the amount of moisture that can be absorbed during floods and rainstorms.

Manure and mud - Manure and mud can have serious impacts on livestock health and water quality:

• They contain harmful nutrients and bacteria that can harm water quality.
• Livestock that stand in manure and mud are more susceptible to diseases, such as abscesses, rain scald or thrush.
• Manure and mud are breeding grounds for insects including flied and mosquitoes that can carry disease.
• Difficult working conditions and unpleasant odors can result from a build-up of manure.

Healthy Management Practices There are numerous operating techniques to benefit your livestock, your property and the environment.

Livestock Watering - Water for livestock should be provided away from streams and lakes. This will prevent erosion of banks and deposit of nutrients and bacteria in the water. Several options are available, including electric or solar powered pumps, gravity fed pumps, as well as nose pumps, to get water to the animals.

Grazing and Pasture Management - Proper grazing techniques and pasture management enhance the health of livestock and pastures, while protecting water quality. Techniques include:

• Leave at least 6 inches of grass stubble. This allows the grass to recover better and prevents runoff from entering waterways.
• Allow pastures to rest and rejuvenate by rotating animals on subdivided pastures. This allows the growth of a better root system that prevents soil erosion and increases grass production. Pasture rotation will prevent compacted soils and allow for adequate absorption of water to further aide pasture health.
• Fence livestock out of riparian areas. Where this is not possible, provide water, shade and salt in other areas to encourage livestock to graze and loiter away from riparian areas.

Managing Manure and Mud - Appropriate management practices protect livestock from potential impacts of manure and mud, and keep manure from polluting lakes and streams.

• Locate animal waste and compost piles on flat surfaces away from streams or drainage areas and cover them during wet periods to prevent runoff from polluting waterways.
• Create riparian buffers along streams and plant vegetation around pasture areas to absorb moisture and runoff.
• Utilize manure as fertilizer. Be careful to apply the appropriate amount, as excess manure will wash into nearby streams. Leave a buffer between areas where manure is applied and waterways to prevent runoff into the water.

For more information and assistance:

The Spokane County Conservation District can provide additional information on each of these practices, assist in determining the most appropriate practices for your property and help to identify potential funding sources to assist in project implementation.
(509) 535-7274

The Natural Resources Conservation Service provides a extensive resources, including information on handling animal waste and grazing and pasture techniques.

The Washington State Department of Agriculture's Livestock Nutrient Management Program provides information on rules and regulations affecting the keeping of livestock , permit requirements, and protecting water quality.

The Whatcom Conservation District has prepared several helpful publications. Topics include pasture improvement, pasture management, and composting livestock manure.

Washington State University's Center For Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources sponsors the Compost Connection, providing up to date composting information. The Cooperative Extension also provides information on livestock and pasture management.

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