Integrating Livestock & Cover Crops for Soil Health Gabe Brown Bismarck, NDRanch Goal Sustainability Through Soil HealthCool Season CocktailBefore Mob Grazing July 2010July, 2010After Mob Grazing July, 2010Cowpea & Sudan GrassWarm Season CocktailLivestock IntegrationLivestock Harvest Bare Ground?Extending the Grazing Season with Cover Crops1st Choice – Winter GrazingUnacceptable Bare GroundPlanning Winter Grazing AlternativesImplementing Winter Grazing AlternativesJuly 2, 2009Baled Grazed Concentrated AreaNon-Bale GrazedQuality & Quantity Comparison Bale Grazed  8573 lbs/ac  11.9% Crude Protein  59.4 TDN Non-Bale Grazed  2559 lbs/ac  7.9% Crude Protein  60.7 TDNRecovery ResponseResponse from Bale Grazing Non-Bale GrazedBenefits are ObviousUsing Cover Crops to Enhance Soil Health Ken Miller Fort Rice, NDBeforeAfterBefore Grazing Management “Season Long”Managed Grazing “Short Duration”Winter Triticale Pastures 2007 H-1 H-3 H-2May 9, 2007 60 headMay 11, 2007 60 Head 2 days grazing; 4 acresMay 16, 2007 90 head H-3May 19, 2007 after 90hd grazed 3 daysMay 19, 2007 pivot systemStock DensityAbby June 9, 2007June 9, 2007 135 head H-1H-2 June 18, 2007 after 135 hd grazed 4-daysCover Crop Cocktail Seeded August 2, 2007Cover Crop Cocktail Mix Cowpea 10 lbs.@ .60/Lb. =$6.00 Soybean 15 lbs. @ .35/Lb. =$5.25 Proso Millet 8 lbs. @ .28/Lb. =$2.24 Pasja Turnip 1 lb. @ 2.05/Lb.. =$2.05 Forage Radish 1 lb @ 2.40/Lb =$2.40 Sweet Clover 1 lb. @ .81/Lb . =$0.81 Sunflower 1 lb. @ .25/LB. =$ .25 Total Cost / Acre =$19.00Early SeptemberLate SeptemberSeptember 23, 2007Turnip and Radish Re-growth Nov.1, 2007Barley Crop 2008 North Field South FieldApril 18, 2008Harvest July 22, 2008Seeding July 26, 2008September 15, 2008October 4, 2008Corn 2009Hayed July 7,2010Regrowth SeptemberOctober 29, 2010November 15, 2009December 13, 2009Bale GrazingJanuary 2, 2010Electric Fence6 Days of FeedCarbon Left BehindJune 4, 2010Not Baled Grazed June 4, 2010Soil Health, Priceless… Depends on type of cows › Large frame and/or heavy milking › Small frame and/or easy fleshing  Depends on time of calving › January – March › April – June  Depends on how much snow  Depends on your thinking and your resolve Try to flash graze winter pasture once during the growing season  Try not to use same pasture in consecutive winters  Try not to overgraze in the winter › Maintain healthy mineral and water cycles  Allow adequate recovery time before summer grazing  Need to be flexible 2008 - 1100#  2009 - 5900# Dec. 2nd – Jan 1st 185 Hd. 5500 Cow Days/400 Ac = 13.9 CD/Ac 13.9 x $.85=$11.82 /Ac Fecals in March ’08 on native prairie  Salt and mineral  No supplement  Meeting protein but short on energy  Looking to supplement energy in very cold or very harsh conditions Reduce labor year around  Reduce machinery cost  Simplify  Get your cows working for you instead of you working for your