Properly irrigated and fertilized grasses are not under stress and they are more palatable and digestible than natural pastures. As a result, per head average daily can be considerably higher than those normally seen on non-irrigated pastures.
The right combination of stocking rate, water and fertility can produce huge per acre gains. We have done some llama, cattle and horse ranches quite successfully using untreated ditch water.
WATER SOURCE
Before investing in any irrigation equipment, make sure you have an adequate reliable water source.
In general, you will need five to 20 gallons per minute from a well or stream or two to four acre-feet of water in a farm pond per acre irrigated. Low volume irrigators can help you conserve water and may use less total water as well.
You also need to test the quality of your irrigation water. Water high in salt or excess minerals can build up in your soil and tie up your soil fertility. Water high in sand or silt can reduce the life of your irrigation equipment.
Pasture Irrigation