113 Southern awareness and implementation of pasture best management practices

Abstract

Proper pasture management is an important consideration for equine owners to prevent negative environmental effects and promote equine health. When best management practices (BMPs) are not implemented, issues such as soil erosion, decreased pasture persistence, and nutrient runoff can occur. Understanding a person's current level of awareness and implementation of pasture BMPs is essential to further increase educational resources and identify target areas of educational outreach. We hypothesized that owners who keep their horses and other equids at home [HOH] and equine facility owners/managers [EFOM] will have similar awareness and implementation of pasture BMPs compared with owners that board [HOB]. An online survey (Qualtrics) was distributed via social media and email to Southern United States residents over the age of 18 (n = 328). The survey was open for 6-weeks and was distributed through social media and email. Demographics, information sources, current pasture management practices, along with awareness and implementation of BMPs were assessed. Statistical analysis was performed in SAS 9.4 (Cary, NC); frequency procedures and multinomial logistic regression was used to determine the effect of management connection to awareness and implementation of pasture BMPs (a = 0.05). Management connection played a significant role in respondents’ awareness and implementation of pasture BMPs for rotational grazing (aware, P = 0.009; implementation, P = 0.003); however, there was no significant difference for stocking rates (awareness, P = 0.07; implementation, P = 0.25). Participants, independent of management connection, who were aware of rotational grazing, when compared with not being aware, were only 4 times more likely to implement rotational grazing (OR = 4.115; 95% CI: 2.18, 27.78). However, respondents who were aware of appropriate stocking rates, when compared with not being aware, were 48 times more likely to implement an appropriate density of animals on pasture (OR = 47.62; 95% CI: 21.74–100.00). Understanding a person's connection and level of awareness is essential to help create educational materials and outreach programs to increase implementation of pasture BMPs and improve environmental stewardship at equine facilities.