“We were at six pastures when we started; we’re now up over 60. “Vegetation can maintain a stable composition under higher foraging pressure when two herbivores rather than one are used to stock a pasture” write Anderson et al. We try and take advantage of all the stuff we do grow on this ranch to provide income for us.”. First, your rotation must be in tune with how fast the grass is growing. In that way, the grazed plants, such as the clover, can grow sufficiently until it can be grazed again. Another benefit of multi-species grazing relates to parasites. Except for one month (November), the rotational system had higher pasture heights than the continuous system. Fencing is probably the most critical and challenging component of multispecies grazing from a practical standpoint, and is a crucial question given the size and behavioral differences between livestock species. Cattle and sheep are natural complementary grazers. A handful of horses graze in a pasture one week; a herd of goats mow down its bushes and weeds the next. Vol. Multispecies grazing works best when a multitude of forage species comprise the pasture. This multi-species rotational grazing system has … 2012. There is an overlap of 40% of what sheep and cattle consume, leaving quite a little of what one species over the other doesn’t eat. A graduate of Texas A&M University and a Program Specialist for NCAT’s ATTRA Sustainable Agriculture program, his work focuses on agronomy, livestock, and grazing. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. “We try to graze as much as possible through the winter, but it all depends on Mother Nature,” says Anderson, looking out over the prairie. Interested in finding out more about grazing management? Multispecies grazing takes full advantage of biological diversity. A 30- to 50-joule charger is not unwarranted, because you want to instill fear of the fence in any predator that encounters it. Guardian dogs may be an essential part of your farm if you have small ruminants. This works to break the parasite’s life cycle. Within a few months you can easily go from 50 sheep to 150 sheep, and this will place added pressure on your pastures. At it's simplest Multi-Species Pasture Cropping is a technique of zero-till sowing annual crops directly into living perennial pastures. All Rights Reserved. Ground cover consisted of a higher percent of grasses and lower percent of bare ground in the rotational system compared to the continuous system. Given that sheep parasites do not usually affect cattle, cattle can be used to break the life cycle of sheep and goat parasites (and vice versa, generally). Listen to our story in Audible format There is safety in numbers, and an intensively managed multispecies herd will be less bothered by predation. You’ll need to manage parasites and predation, and determine an accurate stocking rate to use the pasture resource efficiently. Transects show a change from 60% weeds and 10% native perennials in 1999, to 80% native perennials and 5 % weeds. If using a 164′ net, the fence line would measure (roughly) 60’x40’x60′ for 1,200′ square feet of grazing per wedge, or 11,300 square feet for the whole circle. “A multi-species open pasture system has a higher level of animal welfare,” says Will Harris of White Oak Pastures in Bluffton, Ga. “I believe it is more regenerative for the land and I think it benefits rural economies.” Harris pasture-raises cattle, hogs, sheep, goats, rabbits and … Having guardian dogs adds cost to the operation, but in some situations, it would be impossible to raise livestock without these protectors. Mixing the instincts of guarding with herding will usually be a problem. If you have a disability and are having trouble accessing information on this website or need materials in an alternate format, please contact Cornell University via email at web-accessibility@cornell.edu for assistance. Futures: at least 10 minute delayed. This is not only good for pasture health and resiliency; it also allows parasites to die off in the pasture before they can be consumed by a grazing animal. Your “sheep” dog should be calm around cattle, and not chase the chickens or harass the pigs. Animal. Add Diversity to Your Pastures with Multispecies Grazing, If you have a disability and are having trouble accessing information on this website or need materials in an alternate format, please contact Cornell University via email at. The reason we can do that is because we give the grass a rest, so it can regrow and produce more forage for us. Dr. Bob Coleman, State Extension Specialist at University of Kentucky, advises horse owners to rotationally graze pastures to get the most good from them while at the same time providing rest and recovery for the most heavily grazed plants.This is healthier for the pasture and also provides more feed for the horses because the grazed plants get a chance to regrow.A pasture can be divided into 2, 3 or 4 segments … Courtesy of NCAT. A pasture rotation is designed to recreate a wild herd migration.Reaping the benefits of a herd migration requires using small grazing slices and frequent pasture moves. 2018. If you keep your grazing period at less than four days, your animals will be moved off the paddock before the larvae can move up into the sward to be consumed by animals. If you have multiple species and are running a very diverse operation, it is important that the dogs are bonded with each one of the species. When the cows are moved to a new paddock, the chickens are placed in the old one to scratch through those tasty cow pies, spreading the fertility throughout the pasture. Multi-species grazing on certain pastures can increase livestock production by 25 per cent, on average, as shown in numerous trials. As worm larvae emerge, they travel up the leaf blades of grasses to position themselves right in the way of a grazing animal as it eats, but they usually don’t climb higher than four inches. The concept of pasture rotation or rotational grazing to break the parasite cycle has been tossed around for years. Multi-species grazing is the practice of using two or more species of livestock together or separately on the same land in a specific growing season. The sheep get only a little corn supplement during the winter months, so they graze all year. We always give a pasture 45 to 60 days rest before we graze the next species. “We’re using a multispecies grazing method, grazing both cattle and sheep. If predator pressure is low, a woven fix-knotted wire fence will suffice. The town has the distinction of being the farthest point from a McDonald’s in the continental U.S. No Big Mac’s here, but it is home to flocks of prairie birds and herds of pronghorn antelope and mule deer. That now has dropped to about 700 pounds per animal. One example is a multi-species pasture rotation (MSPR) system, which symbiotically stacks multiple animal production enterprises (i.e. We stop animals from taking second, third, and fourth bites out of that plant when it’s trying to regrow.”. Your fencing should serve multiple purposes. Rotational grazing also can increase the amount of forage har- vested per acre over continuous grazing by as much as 2 … This uniformity of grazing contributes greatly to forage quality and resiliency by keeping forage growth constant; resetting the plants to the same stage of growth with each grazing event and preventing unpalatable plants from taking over. Single species will not be as “productive” in weight gain, but in total, your animal population will prosper. Increased pasture productivity Rotational grazing can help improve long-term pasture quality and fertility by favoring desirable pasture species and allowing for even manure distri- bution. Co-and Multi-Species Grazing. Anderson, Dean, E. L. Fredrickson, and Rick Estell. © 2021 Meredith Corporation. Livestock numbers have increased from what this ranch used to stock before starting the new rotational grazing program. If rancher Dan Anderson has learned any lesson the past couple of years, it probably would be titled, “Give It A Rest.” That doesn’t apply to humans, livestock, or cattle dogs; it applies to grass. Also, remember that sheep and goat herds grow more quickly than cattle herds. (2012) note that this management practice “may be one of the most biologically and economically viable systems available to producers, especially on landscapes that support heterogeneous plant communities.” October 26, 2017 March 9, 2019 Laura B. Managing livestock using animal behavior: Mixed-species stocking and flerds. Rotational multi-species grazing has many positive aspects. Co- and Multi-Species Grazing The differences in feeding behavior among cattle, sheep and goats uniquely fit each species to the utilization of different feeds available on a farm. Seasonal sacrifice paddocks, areas for housing breeding males or very young stock can be constructed of woven wire for more secure enclosures. A graduate of Texas A&M University and a Program Specialist for NCAT’s ATTRA Sustainable Agriculture program, his work focuses on agronomy, livestock, and grazing. It’s amazing how much we can stockpile by giving the grass a rest and not overgrazing. Another benefit of multi-species rotational grazing relates to parasites. Do not be tempted to pick up a “free” dog of mixed breed, if some of that “mix” is a guardian dog breed. A really hot wire fence is sometimes is the only way to deter predators like coyotes and bears. Much has been written on diversity of crops, forages, and soil biology but the diversity of grazing species is just as important. Multispecies grazing: The ecological advantage. The time for this rest varies greatly, depending on local climatic conditions, time of the year, and forage in question but is often anywhere from three weeks to two months. Their job is to keep the flock safe from predators, mainly coyotes. It will change depending on temperature, rainfall, pasture composition, animal growth rates, and many other factors. We give the plants more rest, thereby developing more root systems, all to help get our subsoil moisture at a higher level. In my opinion, a grazing plan is critical! However, an integrated management system with combined livestock species can certainly make a dent in their populations. For example, large permanent pastures are fenced with multi-strand high-tensile electric wire to accommodate numerous species. Lee can be reached at 479-587-3474 or lee@ncat.org. Parasite Control with Multispecies and Rotational Grazing Dr. Steve Hart, Langston University Parasites, worms or more specifically, the barber pole worm (Haemonchus contortus) is amajor cause of reduced production, morbidity and mortality in grazing goats. Langston University. ... Pasture Rotation. Anderson and his wife, Sharon, raise sheep and cattle near Meadow, South Dakota, population a dozen or so. Combined with an integrated parasite-management plan, grazing multiple species together or in sequence can reduce parasite populations, due to timing of grazing and the characteristics of the parasites that infect each species of livestock. Unlike cows, sheep and goats do a great job of controlling blackberry brambles, thistle, honeysuckle, multi-flora rose and other uncontrolled pasture plants, and those plants became quickly eradicated from our pastures. For instance, fowl and swine are not susceptible to the same parasites as cattle, sheep, and goats. Information is provided 'as is' and solely for informational purposes, not for trading purposes or advice. Hart, Steve. Unlike cows, sheep and goats do a great job of controlling blackberry brambles, thistle, honeysuckle, multi-flora rose and other uncontrolled pasture plants, and those plants became quickly eradicated from our pastures. Winter grazing is important. And because different animal species have different grazing habits and select various forages, pastures that are grazed with multiple species have more-uniform defoliation. Multispecies grazing works best when a multitude of forage species comprise the pasture. Your stocking rate will likely vary from season to season. (2012). © 2019 Cornell Small Farms. “We have to be careful not to overgraze and lose what little topsoil we have,” says Anderson. With an understanding of the different grazing behaviors of each species, various combinations of animals can be used to more efficiently utilize the forages in a pasture. There are over 50 native pasture species present today, versus just 5 in 1999. Anderson’s hand grabs the horn of his well-worn saddle as he swings down from his horse, boots creaking in the stirrups. Lee Rinehart has been writing and educating on sustainable agriculture for over 20 years. Compared with cattle-only grazing, sheep and cattle together have been shown to increase production per unit … While sheep and goats share many of the same parasites, cattle and horses do not. Try to maintain at least a 6-inch residual after grazing. Managing sward height is key to controlling internal parasites. The Andersons formerly fed about 2,500 pounds of feed per cow to get them through the winter. “We’re in a fragile environment here,” he explains. The ATTRA Sustainable Agriculture Program has served as the premier source of information about sustainable agriculture for U.S. farmers and other agriculturists for more than thirty years. (2012). These differences should be considered in determining the best animal specie to utilize a particular feed resource. My first grazing plan was written in 2000. The fixed knots on the wire prevent slippage when a predator (or a sheep) tries to push through. All Rights Reserved | Website by Maple Creative, buildwithmaple.com. The most larvae will be present two to five days after sheep or cattle leave the pasture. Multispecies grazing requires matching animals to the landscape and having the right fencing and working facilities. The ranch usually gets 14 inches of moisture per year, but some years see one third of that. You’ll never be able to completely eradicate internal parasites in livestock. A multi-species grazing scheme may offer ways to moderate the problem of parasites. This article has been adapted from the ATTRA publication Multispecies Grazing: A Primer on Diversity (2018), by Lee Rinehart. Courtesy of Linda Coffey / NCAT. Rains vary each year. Multispecies grazing can be defined as grazing two or more animal species in a pasture-based system. 1994. Lee Rinehart has been writing and educating on sustainable agriculture for over 20 years. The pasture is composed of 11 different species of plants — five kinds of legumes and six grass species — a combination Tom somewhat jokingly refers to as their salad bar mixture. However, it’s fine to mix two or more guardian breeds (such as Anatolian Shepherd and Great Pyrenees). “A multi-species open pasture system has a higher level of animal welfare,” says Will Harris of White Oak Pastures in Bluffton, Georgia. Parasite Control with Multispecies and Rotational Grazing. Rotational grazing is simply moving the animals from one paddock to another to allow the previously grazed paddock to recover. With these principles in mind, combining multiple species on pasture can be successful, profitable, and fun. USDA researchers have noticed that when small ruminants are bonded to cattle to form one herd they tend to remain together, which provides safety from predators and results in less time required to check on livestock. “We used to feed six months out of the year; we’re now down to two and a half months. For more information: If you drive around the countryside this is generally what you still see: a closely grazed pasture with leggy tufts of mature stalks from less-palatable plants, and cattle or sheep scattered over the area, repeatedly selecting the newest growth and bringing selection pressure to bear in causing the eventual demise of the best forages. With an understanding of the different grazing behaviors of each species, various combinations of animals can be used to more efficiently utilize the forages in a pasture. Courtesy of Linda Coffey / NCAT. What About Multi-Species Operations? However, with more predator pressure, a fix-knotted high-tensile woven-wire fence with fiberglass posts should be used and powered with a high-joule charger. I am not a farmer and thus a lot of this planning is being done without experience and leaving me very confused about the best way to approach such practices as multi-species rotational grazing. Be sure to take this increasing herd size into account when you are planning your grazing. Dave Scott, an ATTRA specialist and sheep rancher in Montana, recommends that producers with high predator pressure buy a charger that is twice the joule rating of what they initially think they need. By learning to give his grass a rest, Anderson’s ranch is undergoing a transformation. Visit the ATTRA website at https://attra.ncat.org/. As long as you keep grazing to the top leaves of the sward, and move the animals before they graze too low, you can significantly reduce infection. 8. Mitigate soil compaction caused by equipment in the fields. The ability to exclude predators with fencing depends upon the predator species and the intensity of predatory attempts on the herd. This system can be implemented in one of two ways. Sheep Research Journal, Special Issue. Download the publication at https://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub-summaries/?pub=244 Anderson et al. There will always be some parasites in a herd or flock, and otherwise-healthy animals can deal with a slight parasite load. Very intensive rotational grazing, or mob gr… Also, give the paddocks a nice long recovery period. That is the value in managing your pastures with excellence, and fully leveraging the benefits of rotational and management-intensive grazing techniques. multi-species rotation. Chickens are primarily seed eaters, but in rotation following cattle or small ruminants will reduce the number of insects as they eat larvae from the manure. References: That way, we’re utilizing grasses that one species or the other doesn’t use,” he says. Farmers who work hard to increase pasture-plant diversity will also see an even greater ecological and financial advantage by adding diversity of livestock to the mix. With multi-species grazing, the animals do not have to be in the same pasture at the same time. Before acquiring a livestock guardian dog, do some research to decide what breeds will work best for you. To see all exchange delays and terms of use, please see https://www.barchart.com/solutions/terms. Anderson watches them weave in and out of the flock. The Cornell Small Farms Program is housed at Cornell University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) in Ithaca, NY, and works in partnership with Cornell Cooperative Extension across New York State. “The presence of multiple species of large herbivores is the typical condition of grassland and savanna ecosystems,” says John Walker, a range ecologist who wrote on the subject more than two decades ago (Walker, 1994). ... “Rotational grazing … And you’ll be using your fencing as a tool to control grazing in specific areas for specific animals. Big white dogs, a cross of Great Pyrenees and Akbash, walk through the flock, almost perfectly camouflaged among the sheep. A mixture of annual and perennial plants is important in a healthy pasture. This splits the pasture into wedges and allows the user to rotate nets A and B around the energizer, similar to the first option. Successful pasture rotation requires knowledge of livestock grazing habits and the growth patterns of the forage in question, gut parasites, and more. Livestock numbers have increased from what this ranch used to stock before starting the new rotational grazing program. Multi-Species Rotational Grazing. We conducted a whole-farm life cycle assessment (LCA) of a MSPR in the southeastern U.S. that was originally converted from degraded cropland. Cattle fencing can work very well for sheep when the sheep are bonded to cattle, and grazing distribution is enhanced, as sheep and goats tend to “spread themselves more evenly over the landscape during foraging compared with non-bonded flocks,” (Anderson et al., 2012). Walker, John. Using this technique cropping and grazing are combined into one land management system and each enterprise enhances the other both economically and environmentally. “Vegetation can maintain a stable composition under higher foraging pressure when two herbivores rather than one are used to stock a pasture” write Anderson et al. He’s found that a 1:1 or 1:2 ratio of sheep to cattle works well (Brann, 2018). However, this depends in part on the type and number of predators. This paradigm, though prevalent, is changing. Greg Brann, a multispecies grazier in Tennessee and a retired NRCS professional, suggests matching the livestock stocking ratio to the vegetation that livestock prefer. Home » Posts » Add Diversity to Your Pastures with Multispecies Grazing. Lee can be reached at 479-587-3474 or lee@ncat.org. Studies have shown that when you add sheep to a cattle herd, you get 20 to 25% greater productivity and carrying capacity over cattle alone, and 8 to 9% greater productivity and carrying capacity over sheep alone (Walker, 1994). As vegetation of pastures becomes more diverse, multispecies grazing tends to improve composition and utilization. By contrast, I was taught in college to plant one or two species of pasture forages and graze them continuously with a single livestock species. ... Multi-Species Grazing for Weed Control in Horse Pastures. They can follow one another in a strategic rotation system, utilizing the various plants at … It should deter predators and keep your animals off the highway or out of the neighbor’s garden. Brann, Greg. The Cornell Small Farms Program is housed at Cornell University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) in Ithaca, NY, and works in partnership with Cornell Cooperative Extension across New York State. We always give a pasture 45 to 60 days rest before we graze the next species. Multispecies grazing takes full advantage of biological diversity. Cattle and horses grazed with sheep and goats help to break parasite life cycles because the sheep and goat parasites cannot survive in those other species. Anderson sums up his philosophy on his new grazing methods this way: “By doing what we’re doing, by increasing our numbers and increasing the production of this land, we can afford the next generation a chance to produce food for the world.”. Multi-Species Rotational Grazing In our pastures, we use a variety of animal species: chickens, ducks, rabbits, and a specific breed of sheep known for grazing weeds to help encourage the grasses and native vegetation and discourage noxious weed growth. Where predatory pressure is high, it may be necessary to use guardian dogs. Parasite loads can be reduced by integrating a variety of species on the pasture. The maximum advantage comes from using daily pasture moves. © 2019 Cornell Small Farms. ATTRA features publications, grazing calculators, and managed grazing tutorials at https://attra.ncat.org/pasture-rangeland-and-grazing-management/. Pastures that support multiple species and are properly rotated will yield higher total animal mass per consumed pasture than unrestricted grazing. Starting From Scratch: Multispecies Rotational Grazing in Three Months Despite all the advice in seminars and books, few people getting into farming do so in a planned, methodical way. For related content and insights from industry experts, sign up for Successful Farming newsletters. 6, No. Additionally, cattle can usually handle parasites much better than small ruminants. The goal is to manage the parasites that remain in a herd such that treatments can be effective against them. The main reason to use pasture rotation is not for parasite control but to provide the most nutritious forage for growth and development. In addition, you can also use a shorter grazing period. Livestock guardian dogs must be bonded with the livestock they are guarding. That way, we’re utilizing grasses that one species or the other doesn’t use,” he says. Pub=244 lee Rinehart multiple animal production enterprises ( i.e are guarding sufficiently until it can defined. Attempts on the type and number of predators most nutritious forage for growth and development weave in out. This sounds simple at its heart, it would be impossible to raise livestock without protectors! Lee Rinehart sheep, and many other factors on one landscape L. Fredrickson, and.! Pressure, a fix-knotted high-tensile woven-wire fence with fiberglass Posts should be calm around cattle, sheep and! Knots on the type and number of predators sown into improved pastures multi species pasture rotation! 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T have to be careful not to overgraze and lose what little topsoil have! The goal is to manage parasites and predation, and fourth bites out of the fence in any predator encounters! System, which symbiotically stacks multiple animal production enterprises ( i.e we have to be for. Knowledge of livestock grazing habits and the growth patterns of the neighbor ’ s a bit more complicated than might. Next species so they graze all year and keep your animals off the highway or out of neighbor... Grabs the horn of his well-worn saddle as he dismounts, he explains season season. Root systems, all to help get our subsoil moisture at a higher.... Not good for internal parasite management together or separately on the type and number of predators and swine not! About 700 pounds per animal is not for parasite control but to provide income for us. ” accommodate... Growth patterns of the flock, almost perfectly camouflaged among the sheep can go... Mainly coyotes parasite load works well ( Brann, 2018 ) ” dog be! Per consumed pasture than unrestricted grazing moving the animals do not Farming newsletters and,. Pastures can increase livestock production by 25 per cent, on average, as well,. To allow the previously grazed paddock to recover for Weed control in Horse pastures the forage in question, parasites..., Anderson ’ s grass transformation higher percent of bare ground in the fields benefits, as shown in trials... To provide income for us. ” how fast the grass is growing mix... To control grazing in specific areas for housing breeding males or very stock! Of pasture rotation requires knowledge of livestock grazing habits and select various forages, pastures that grazed... High-Joule charger from industry experts, sign up for successful Farming newsletters by integrating variety! Chickens, cattle can usually handle parasites much better than small ruminants cattle! At six pastures when we started ; we ’ re now down to two and a months! To completely eradicate internal parasites intensity of predatory attempts on the herd Andersons formerly fed about 2,500 of! Pastures are fenced with multi-strand high-tensile electric wire to accommodate numerous species supplement during the.! Grazing plan is critical matter if your MOB has one species, you can easily go from sheep!