Farm's Busy Zones
On your farm with livestock, there are specific spots where animals spend a lot of time. Think of them as high-traffic zones for your animals. While these spots are a natural part of farm life, they can cause problems for your land when they're not managed well. This article explains what these areas are, how they can hurt your pastures and the environment, and, most importantly, what conservation practices can help keep your farm healthy.
Animal concentration areas (ACAs)
Animal concentration areas, sometimes called animal heavy use areas, are places on your farm where livestock often gather. Generally, ACAs are regulated above 5,000 square feet. ACAs could be barnyards, feedlots, exercise lots, loafing areas, or just places where animals naturally tend to go, such as shady spots under a tree. These areas are typically brown and incapable of producing forage, featuring compacted soils and a heavy concentration of nutrients.
The constant livestock traffic packs down the soil, making it tough for water to soak in. On top of that, manure quickly piles up in these small spaces. While manure is a great fertilizer when spread out, in these ACAs, it can quickly become too much. This means extra nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, can easily be washed away into nearby waterways through runoff. Another harm is to your pasture itself. When the soil gets packed down and plants are trampled, bare spots appear. These spots then become hard and less productive to support your animals on the farm.
Sacrifice areas
Sacrifice areas, also known as sacrifice paddocks or lots, are short-term areas where livestock are kept specifically to protect main pastures during wet, muddy, or drought conditions. These areas are used temporarily and are restored to their original condition once the need passes. When choosing or designing a sacrifice area, it's important to select a spot that is well-drained or engineered to manage mud and manure runoff effectively. Such areas should also be located away from surface waters to prevent water pollution and remain close enough to provide animals with easy access to water and shelter. In addition, sacrifice areas should be fenced off from regular pasture areas to ensure the protection of those areas.
Using sacrifice areas offers several key benefits for pasture management. They prevent overgrazing, especially during periods when grass regrowth is slow, such as early spring or late fall. By confining livestock to a sacrifice area, a farm can help maintain healthy vegetative cover on its more productive pastures. This also allows for valuable time for other paddocks to be reseeded, fertilized, or simply to rest and recover.
Heavy use areas (HUA) and heavy use area protection
A heavy use area often refers to your farm area that sees intense activity from farm equipment and animals. When it comes to animal use, this term is essentially interchangeable with animal concentration areas if the area is larger than 5,000 square feet. Heavy use area protection is an agricultural conservation practice. This practice involves creating a stabilized and permanent sacrifice area. Such areas are engineered with durable materials such as fabric, gravel, or concrete to withstand constant animal traffic and prevent soil degradation. A key aspect of the protected heavy use areas is that surface water runoff is controlled and/or treated to prevent pollutants from leaving the site, thus safeguarding water quality. Designed heavy use areas can provide a great place to manage animals over winter when removing them from pasture areas is recommended. Well-managed heavy use areas allow for better animal health and efficiencies, make management easier, and protect the environment.
It's important to remember that any areas where animals concentrate, even those with heavy use area protection, can still lead to problems if not managed well. Concentrated manure, for example, can create strong odors and attract many flies, which can be a nuisance for farm residents and their neighbors. Therefore, regular management of these areas is essential to prevent such health issues and maintain a healthier farm environment.
Prepared by Weiyun Hua, Assistant teaching professor, Jacob Tomlinson, Extension Educator, Penn State.
Reviewed by Robert Meinen, Director, Pennsylvania Nutrient Management Education Program, Assistant Research Professor, Penn State; Chris Canfield, Extension Educator, Penn State.
