Vines And Ovines: Benefits of Target Grazing to Sheep and Vineyard Industries

Vines and Ovines: Benefits of target grazing to sheep and vineyard industries was designed to initiate scientific research that supports the symbiotic relationship between vineyards and sheep management. The project investigated the environmental and economic impacts of target sheep grazing as a sustainable agricultural practice in vineyard management. The project looked specifically at soil health and vineyard floor management. A main concern for many vineyard managers was soil compaction. We have found that sheep have little to no influence on soil compaction.

Kaos Sheep Outfit is one of the first companies in the United States to commercially graze sheep in vineyards. We own 1000 breeding ewes and run about 3,000 feeder lambs, in the fall and winter months, in vineyards and other agricultural lands. We have proven to be competitive with tractors, but would like to add to our sustainability as a company by providing valid research highlighting what sheep are or aren’t doing on the lands they are grazing. Our preliminary research has determined that there was little to no positive or negative impact to grazing sheep in vineyards. We would like to continue the research for another two-five years to be able to come to a more conclusive conclusion.

Introduction

We divided the 9.69 acre research plot at the Bonterra McNab Ranch into eight plots, four grazed and four un-grazed. We used a stocking density of 38 sheep an acre in the plots that were grazed. The soil analysis looked at Organic matter, Phosphorus, Potassium, Magnesium, Calcium, Sodium, pH, Hydrogen, Cation Exchange Capacity and percent cation saturation. We looked at bulk density, forage yields and soil porosity to see what impacts the sheep had on vineyard floor management. Pruning weights before and after the sheep grazed were cut and weighed to see if there was a difference in vine health and performance.