{"id":16262,"date":"2019-09-07T15:37:50","date_gmt":"2019-09-07T22:37:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/clark\/?page_id=16262"},"modified":"2020-10-25T05:24:30","modified_gmt":"2020-10-25T12:24:30","slug":"pasture-sacrifice-areas","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/clark\/naturalresources\/smallacreageprogram\/pasture-sacrifice-areas\/","title":{"rendered":"Pasture Sacrifice Areas"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"cpb-row  pad-bottom gutter side-right\" style=\"\"><div class=\"cpb-row-inner\"><div class=\"cpb-column  one\" style=\"\"><div class=\"cpb-textblock cpb-item \"><p><\/p>\n<h5>Reduce Mud &amp; Keep Water Clean<\/h5>\n<p>Maintaining good quality pasture and reducing mud on your property requires limiting livestock grazing during the wet, winter months (November to March). This can be done by utilizing a small enclosure such as a paddock, corral, or pen meant to be your livestock\u2019s outdoor living quarters. Called a sacri\ufb01ce area because it is a small portion of pasture sacri\ufb01ced for the bene\ufb01t of the remaining pasture, animals should be con\ufb01ned to the sacri\ufb01ce area during the <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-16594\" src=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-extension\/uploads\/sites\/2079\/2019\/12\/SacrificeAreas_LivestockOffPasture.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"228\" height=\"275\" \/>winter when soils are saturated and early spring before your pastures become overgrazed (below 3\u201d). A sacri\ufb01ce area can also be used to care for sick or injured animals or to separate animals. You should wait to create the paddock or sacri\ufb01ce area until after the ground has dried and \ufb01rmed. Any materials added to a muddy sacri\ufb01ce area will only make muddy footing materials!<\/p>\n<h6>Location &amp; Size<\/h6>\n<p>Locate the sacri\ufb01ce area on high ground to improve drainage and prevent ponding. Locate the sacri\ufb01ce area near the barn and manure storage to facilitate maintenance and caring for your livestock. To avoid contaminating nearby water sources, avoid locating the sacri\ufb01ce area near wetlands, streams, ditches, and wells. Planting a vegetated (grass) buffer strip around the sacri\ufb01ce area will \ufb01lter sediment particles, manure, nutrients, and bacteria from runoff leaving the sacri\ufb01ce area.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignright wp-image-16597\" src=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-extension\/uploads\/sites\/2079\/2019\/12\/Sacrife-Areas_HowWideGrassBuffer.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"275\" \/>The size of the sacri\ufb01ce area may vary from a small 20\u2019 by 20\u2019 area for one animal to a long, narrow paddock (e.g., 20\u2019 by 100\u2019) where several animals can exercise. Large areas provide active livestock room to move freely and reduce the chances of injury. The amount of land available and the types and number of livestock will determine the size of the sacri\ufb01ce.<\/p>\n<h6>Footing<\/h6>\n<p>Footing is the crucial feature in designing and installing a well-drained, all-weather sacri\ufb01ce area. Footing material builds up the surface and allows stormwater to drain through, thereby decreasing the amount of mud. Considerations when selecting footing material include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Is it a suitable surface for my animals and property?<\/li>\n<li>Is it a safe surface for my animals to run, stand, and lay down on?<\/li>\n<li>Can I easily pick manure from the footing material?<\/li>\n<li>What is the availability and cost?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Each type of footing has advantages and disadvantages as outlined in Table 1. It pays to spend some time researching and selecting what works best for your situation. Many livestock owners \ufb01nd that combinations of the footings work best, often with gravel and\/or sand covered by hogfuel.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Economical: <\/strong><\/em>Hogfuel &#8211; Typically comprised of bark pieces from evergreen tress such as Douglas \ufb01r, pine or cedar, hogfuel packs down and decomposes over time. This requires periodic replacement. Hogfuel locks up some of the nitrogen and urea in manure. As it decomposes, microorganisms breakdown the hogfuel and in the process, convert the nitrogen and other nutrients into a more stable form that releases over a longer period of time than straight manure. Inspect hogfuel before you purchase since there can be a lot of variation in what constitutes hogfuel. Material with mostly small pieces will break down quickly, while larger pieces will make it dif\ufb01cult to remove manure. Installing 12 \u2013 24\u201d of hogfuel with \ufb02akes of straw or hay underneath and regularly removing manure will extend the life of the material. Any incidental pieces of wood that are removed with manure can be composted. Hogfuel can be a relatively inexpensive footing for sacri\ufb01ce areas and other heavy use areas such as feeding and watering areas, gates, and paths.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Intermediate:<\/em><\/strong> Gravel and Sand. When properly installed and maintained, gravel and sand last longer than hogfuel, but are more expensive. Types and sizes of sand and gravel vary. Footing material most often used is an 812\u201d layer of 3\/8\u201d minus to 5\/8\u201d minus crushed gravel. Additional gravel needs to be added over time if it is applied directly to soil. Laying down geotextile fabric will keep the gravel for subsiding, but signi\ufb01cantly increases costs. Gravel forms a \ufb01rm footing for high traf\ufb01c areas, such as entrances, gateways and walkways, while hogfuel can be used in less traf\ufb01cked areas.<\/p>\n<p>Using coarse sand facilitates better drainage. Since feeding animals on sand may cause digestive tract problems, animals should be fed elsewhere. Careful manure removal from sand and gravel footings is extremely important as manure particles will form a barrier to water percolation over time.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Deluxe:<\/strong><\/em> Geotextile Fabric with gravel, sand and\/or hogfuel. Geotextile fabric can be used with any of the above footings to improve drainage, separate layers and prevent materials from migrating into the soil. Made of woven plastic and often used in road and other construction projects, the fabric allows water to pass through, but not sand or silt. For best performance, use this fabric on a level surface and covered with a minimum of 6 inches of footing, such as gravel. Applying footing material over the fabric at a greater depth will ensure the animals do not dig down to the fabric and tear it up. All edges must overlap at least 6\u201d and outer edges of the fabric should be well covered. One common footing material combination covers the fabric with 6\u201d of gravel, followed by 6\u201d of sand, and topped with a layer of hogfuel. Landscape fabric may substitute for geotextile fabric, but deteriorates faster and may need to be replaced.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-16270 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-extension\/uploads\/sites\/2079\/2019\/09\/ReduceMud_Table1_FootingMaterials.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"682\" height=\"537\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-extension\/uploads\/sites\/2079\/2019\/09\/ReduceMud_Table1_FootingMaterials.jpg 682w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-extension\/uploads\/sites\/2079\/2019\/09\/ReduceMud_Table1_FootingMaterials-396x312.jpg 396w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 682px) 100vw, 682px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h6><\/h6>\n<h6><\/h6>\n<h6><\/h6>\n<h6><\/h6>\n<h6><\/h6>\n<h6>Fencing<\/h6>\n<p>Livestock can be hard on fences, so it is important to select a sturdy safe fencing for your sacri\ufb01ce area. Be sure there are no protruding objects that could harm livestock, such as bolt ends or nails. Low building overhangs and roof corners may also pose a danger to livestock. Gates need to be large enough to accommodate farm equipment and deliveries of footing materials, feed, and hay.<\/p>\n<h6>Runoff<\/h6>\n<p>Minimizing water runoff through the sacri\ufb01ce area is important to prolong the <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-16602\" src=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-extension\/uploads\/sites\/2079\/2019\/12\/Barn.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"250\" height=\"199\" \/>life of footing materials and keep manure out of the runoff. Install gutters on barns or sheds to divert rainwater away from the sacri\ufb01ce area. To ensure adequate drainage, slightly slope the sacrifice area. To reduce the amount of contamination to runoff from the sacri\ufb01ce area itself, place a vegetated \ufb01lter strip or swale along the downhill side to collect and \ufb01lter runoff. French drains, swales, and berms can be utilized to divert upslope runoff around sacri\ufb01ce areas.<\/p>\n<p>Your new sacri\ufb01ce area will be an integral part of any pasture management plan. Use it during the grazing season to allow pasture to recover and prevent overgrazing. During the winter, keep your animals off saturated pasture soils by using this area as your animals\u2019 outdoor living area. This will limit compaction and maintain healthy pastures.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-extension\/uploads\/sites\/2079\/2019\/12\/How-to-Design-a-Riparian-Buffer-for-Agricultural-Land-.pdf\">How to Design a Riparian Buffer for Agricultural Land<\/a><\/p>\n<p><em>Extension programs are available to all without discrimination. Report evidence of noncompliance to your local Extension office.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"cpb-textblock cpb-item \"><p><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><em>Our pages provide links to external sites for the convenience of users. WSU Extension does not manage these external sites, nor does Extension review, control, or take responsibility for the content of these sites. These external sites do not implicitly or explicitly represent official positions and policies of WSU Extension.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"cpb-column  two\" style=\"\"><div class=\"cpb-textblock cpb-item \"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-extension\/uploads\/sites\/2079\/2014\/02\/sacrifice-areas.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-16592\" src=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-extension\/uploads\/sites\/2079\/2019\/12\/SacrificeAreas_ReduceMud_CleanWater_pdf.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"188\" height=\"248\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-extension\/uploads\/sites\/2079\/2014\/02\/sacrifice-areas.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Reduce Mud and Keep Water Clean \u2013 Sacrifice Areas<\/a> (PDF)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/clark\/naturalresources\/smallacreageprogram\/\"><strong>Small Acreage Program<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/clark\/naturalresources\/smallacreageprogram\/#LOL\">Living on the Land<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/clark\/naturalresources\/smallacreageprogram\/#Harvest\">Harvest Celebration<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/clark\/naturalresources\/smallacreageprogram\/#Workshops\">Workshops and Training<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/clark\/naturalresources\/smallacreageprogram\/#Septic\">Well and Septic Workshops<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/clark\/naturalresources\/smallacreageprogram\/#Expo\">Small Acreage Expo<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/clark\/naturalresources\/smallacreageprogram\/#Farm-Tours\">Small Farm Tours<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/clark\/naturalresources\/smallacreageprogram\/#Model\">Model Property Assessments<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/clark\/naturalresources\/smallacreageprogram\/#Business\">Agriculture Business Planning<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/clark\/naturalresources\/smallacreageprogram\/bmpvideos\/\">Small Acreage Program Videos<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/clark\/naturalresources\/smallacreageprogram\/small-acreage-living-on-the-land\/\">Small Acreage &#8211; Living on the Land<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/clark\/naturalresources\/smallacreageprogram\/#annualreport\">Small Acreage Annual Reports<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><strong><a href=\"mailto:smallacreage@clark.wa.gov?subject=Listserv_20Sign-Up\">~ Small Acreage Program Listserv ~<\/a><\/strong><br \/>\n<em>Receive emails about upcoming classes and events.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h5>Contact Us<\/h5>\n<p><strong>Terry Koper<\/strong><br \/>\n<em><strong>WSU Small Acreage Coordinator &#8211; Clark County<\/strong><\/em><br \/>\n1919 NE 78th St Vancouver, WA 98665-9752<br \/>\n564-397-5729<br \/>\n<a href=\"mailto:smallacreage@clark.wa.gov\">smallacreage@clark.wa.gov<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Justin O\u2019Dea<\/strong><br \/>\n<em><strong>Regional Agricultural Specialist Faculty \u2013 WSU Clark County Extension<\/strong><\/em><br \/>\n1919 NE 78th St Vancouver, WA 98665-9752<br \/>\n(564) 397-5701<br \/>\n<a href=\"mailto:justin.odea@wsu.edu\">justin.odea@wsu.edu<\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>TIPS<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em>Some horses are allergic to cedar and show skin sensitivity.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><em>Beware of construction materials which may contain metal, nails or other sharp objects. Yard debris sold as hogfuel may contain ornamental plants poisonous to livestock.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><em>Put down twice as much footing as you have mud in the winter. For example, if you have three inches of mud, you would install footing at least six inches deep.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Reduce Mud &amp;amp; Keep Water Clean Maintaining good quality pasture and reducing mud on your property requires limiting livestock grazing during the wet, winter months (November to March). This can be done by utilizing a&amp;hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8963,"featured_media":0,"parent":1294,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"categories":[],"tags":[],"wsuwp_university_location":[],"wsuwp_university_org":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/clark\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/16262"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/clark\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/clark\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/clark\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8963"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/clark\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16262"}],"version-history":[{"count":37,"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/clark\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/16262\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18284,"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/clark\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/16262\/revisions\/18284"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/clark\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1294"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/clark\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16262"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/clark\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16262"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/clark\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16262"},{"taxonomy":"wsuwp_university_location","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/clark\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wsuwp_university_location?post=16262"},{"taxonomy":"wsuwp_university_org","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/clark\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wsuwp_university_org?post=16262"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}