Grazing Technologies to Enhance Integrated Crop Livestock Systems in the Northern Great Plains

Commodities

Practices

Cover crops have been gaining popularity as a practice implemented by producers in the Northern Great Plains to improve soil health, increase soil nutrients and soil microbial populations, reduce variability in crop yields, increase crop yields, reduce soil erosion, and increase forage options for livestock. In recent years, producers have expressed an increased interest in integrated crop livestock systems (ICLS) and best management practices for grazing these systems. Strip grazing is one of the best management practices being promoted to improve harvest efficiency and nutrient distribution. However, there is no research showing this practice improves harvest efficiency and soil health in ICLS. In addition, this practice requires a significant input of labor on the part of the producer. The objectives of this study are to evaluate strip grazing and grazing technologies on soil health, animal performance, animal behavior and economic feasibility within ICLSs. To evaluate the effects of strip grazing an annual forage will be subjected to 1) strip grazing and 2) continuous grazing. Additionally, three approaches to strip grazing will be evaluated 1) manual fence movement, 2) automated fence movement and 3) virtual fence. Project results will be disseminated through cafe talks, workshops, tours, bulletins, news articles, videos, and social media. This project will provide valuable information on the effects of different grazing management strategies and grazing technologies in ICLSs, assisting producers in making management decisions. 

Study objectives are to evaluate strip grazing and grazing technologies on soil health, animal performance and behavior, and economic feasibility within ICLSs. To evaluate strip grazing an annual forage will be 1) strip grazed and 2) continuous grazed. Three approaches to strip grazing will be evaluated 1) manual fence movement, 2) automated fence movement and 3) virtual fence. This project will provide valuable information on the effects of different grazing management strategies and technologies in ICLSs, assisting producers in making management decisions. Project results will be disseminated through cafe talks, workshops, tours, bulletins, news articles, videos, and social media.