Pasture Grasses
Cool and warm season grasses being grazed in our pastures include ryegrass, bromes (rescue and cheat grass), Bermuda, Old World Bluestems, Little Bluestem, some Johnson grass, some three awn, switchgrass, and crabgrass. This diversity changes each year due to our rotational grazing methods. Our pastures also include legumes (vetch and some clover) and various forbs, which include Indian paintbrush. Our cows love this diversity and it shows. Our slick haired cattle have “happy” lines and some also have dappling that look somewhat like giraffe hair patterns. Happy lines are an indicator of good rumen pH, health and nutrition. I think the “giraffe dapples” must also be an indicator of good nutrition.
Management Practices
Within our permanently fenced pastures, we utilize poly wire fence and step-in posts to create smaller paddocks in order to create a higher density of cattle grazing in a smaller space. This type of rotational grazing helps to build soil nutrients and plant diversity. We move our herd each day or two during the growing season and they love to move!
In winter, we provide horse quality Bermuda hay, and to ensure our cows get enough protein, we supplement them with small amounts of alfalfa and cotton seed fed in troughs. We evaluate their manure and adjust protein levels if needed.
Most of our pastures have trees for shade or sheds/barn for shelter. During winter, we move two portable sheds for protecting our animals. Also, wooded areas provide wind breaks. If inclement weather seems to be really severe, we move our herd to the corral area where they have access to water, hay, a large barn and a three sided shed.
We provide loose, free choice minerals, as well as salt blocks. Instead of supplying a liquid supplement containing phosphoric acid, protein, molasses, and other minerals that cows may overconsume, we let the cow decide which mineral she needs. The grasses may not provide all the nutrients needed to sustain optimal animal health. Usually in summer, our cows will consume a greater amount of phosphorus (for bone formulation, fat and carbohydrate metabolism) and iodine (controls thyroid to regulate metabolism). Some graziers recommend iodine to assist in preventing pink eye.
According to the Noble Research Institute, “Water quality and quantity affect feed intake and animal health since poor water quality usually leads to reduction in water, and subsequently a decrease in feed consumption.” We fence out our cattle from the ponds located on our property to minimize any bacterial contamination and exposure to toxic blue-green algae. Installed underground pipelines deliver clean water from our well to livestock tanks placed throughout the pastures.
Wildlife and Beneficial Insects
Because of wooded areas in and surrounding our pastures and numerous water sources, we have a diversity of wildlife. White-tail deer, raccoons, opossums, coyotes, and occasionally rabbits migrate through the pastures. We’ve observed a mountain lion and feral hogs on our wildlife cameras. Scary! We’ve also encountered many bird species, such as turkey, scissortails, bluebirds, swallows, finches, buzzards, and hawks. Ducks, geese, and cranes periodically rest on our ponds during their migratory flights.
Dung beetles (dwellers and tunnelers) and earthworms actively help build soils and reduce horn flies. Dragonflies and damselflies are seen darting around our ponds. They help with mosquito control. Bees, butterflies, moths help with pollination. Lightning bugs brighten some summer evenings for us. They are just fun to watch.
During the growing seasons, we rotate our cattle on a daily basis to a new strip of pasture. Click on the image to display additional photos.
Our pastures benefit from grazing cattle and beneficial insects breaking down manure.
