Basic Mobility - Pasture Accessibility

Assistive Technology Notes – Pasture Accessibility

When animals were first domesticated, their primary source of feed came from grazing the land. As harvesting machines became available, many farmers and ranchers harvested forage as feed, and stored it to feed the animals when pastures did not produce sufficient forage. In the US, climate and seasonal precipitation determine forage availability. Some farmers eliminated pastures and created total confinement systems where all the animal feed is machine harvested or purchased. The animals consume all their feed within a building or confined area.

During the past ten to fifteen years, a new grazing system, intensive rotational grazing, developed. Intensive rotational grazing uses new management methods which have resulted in increases in the productivity of the pasture and livestock. As a result, some farmers and ranchers with mechanical harvesting have returned to pasturing with economic success. ⁵ Based on the 2002 USDA data, more than one third of US farmers utilize pastures on more than sixty million acres. ⁶

Pasturing systems differ, based on the number of acres per animal (stocking density) and the number of times the animals rotate through the pastures or paddocks. In areas where native grasses are grazed and production is limited due to soil and climate conditions, the stocking density may be twenty acres per animal using one large pasture throughout the growing season. For rotational grazing using planted alfalfa or grasses, the stocking density may be less than an acre per animal, and they are moved to a new pasture or paddock every one to three days. ^7,8 To obtain maximum productivity the farmer or rancher must balance optimum forage production with maximum animal production in terms of pounds of meat or milk per day by maintaining the proper stocking density.

The farmer or rancher, also referred to as a grazier, must complete numerous tasks to operate and manage a successful and profitable grazing program. The grazier must check on the animals while in the pasture and provide feed when pasture production drops, as well as repair and maintain the fences.

The grazier with limited mobility will find a pickup truck, utility vehicle, or ATV useful to check the animals. Pickup trucks are best for distances in excess of half a mile to the pasture. For shorter distances, the utility vehicle or ATV is appropriate if the road surface is unpaved. A comparison of utility vehicles is available on the AgrAbility Web site ⁹ and the Winter 2006 AgrAbility Quarterly contains additional information on assistive technology for limited mobility. ¹⁰

Since pastured animals must be fenced, gates should be selected to meet the needs of the grazier with a disability. Some selection criteria include ease of opening, opener power source (manual, electrical [12 volts or 115 volts] or solar), and cost. ¹¹ Examples of gates useful for people with limited mobility are drive-through and remote control. In rotational grazing using planted alfalfa or grasses, fences may need to be moved every one to three days and maintained. ¹² Poly-wires or tapes and plastic step-into-the ground posts provide light-weight fencing especially useful for people with limited lifting ability.

Supplemental feed will be needed when the pasture production is low or nonexistent. Dry baled hay or other feed can be provided in the pasture area. A description of the equipment for handling hay can be found in the Winter 2003 AgrAbility Quarterly. ¹¹ A round baler and an appropriately equipped tractor with front-end loader may be useful to a person with a disability.

The animals on pasture must have access to water without having to walk large distances. This can be provided by permanent or temporary systems using pipe or plastic hose. ¹²

With the correct assistive technology, graziers with disabilities can successfully manage their grazing system. Graziers should contact their local extension educator for the proper stocking density for their climate and situation and for other grazing related information.

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In This Issue
Section 1: Client Story Section 2: Focus Section 3: Assistive Technology Notes	Section 4: State Project Feature Section 5: References Section 6: Contacts