Grazing Management

Cover crops are used to protect soils from erosion, increase fertility and microbial activity, improve soil water retention, reduce fertilizer cost, and improve weed management. Many cover crop species can also be excellent forage crops and have been part of integrated row crop/grazing and pasture forage systems for livestock production for a long time.

For example, fall- or winter-planted cover crops are used following grain harvest to produce high quality forage for stocking fall-weaned cattle or for limit grazing non-pregnant cows.  Similarly, annual cover crops (grass and legume mixes) can be an ideal complement for traditional summer forage crops (i.e. corn silage) in dairy systems.  Many livestock producers will plant fall or winter cover crops in dormant warm season grass pastures to provide cool season grazing. Others, plant summer cover crops to provide grazing in the summer on dormant cool season grass pastures. These cover crops are used to extend the grazing season and reduce hay utilization in cow-calf operations. Cover crops can also be excellent forages for baling or ensiling. Thus, grazing/harvesting of cover crops is a potential tool for producers to increase revenue from crop acres, while capturing the soil benefits of cover crops.

Compaction

In integrated row crop/grazing systems, some producers and conservation managers have been reluctant to graze cover crops due the potential of reduced row crop yield due to compaction from cattle trampling. Typical weather conditions during late fall and early spring in the Southeastern United States (low temperature, short days, and rain) can be conducive to soil compaction. Studies conducted at University of Georgia and USDA Agricultural Research Service in Watkinsville, Georgia indicate that grazing cover crops cause some soil compaction, but this can be offset by the additional soil organic matter in a cover cropped production system (for more information see Other resources section). This suggests that producers can benefit from grazing cover crops without significant adverse effects in soil properties and yield, while capturing the soil benefits of cover crops. Good grazing management can help prevent compaction from occurring. Nevertheless, there could be site-specific soil compaction from grazing cover crops and each site should be evaluated on an individual basis.

Management

Proper management is fundamental to the success of the using cover crops for grazing. The producer needs to be aware of what cover crop species and/or varieties will meet their goals, of conditions when certain cover crop species can be toxic (additional information available on the Plant-based Livestock Disorders page), and how the cover crop species reacts to grazing pressure. For more information on cover crop selection, click here.

How cover crops are grazed will affect their productivity and the benefits they provide. Some species such as cereal rye tolerate repeated grazing.  Others can only be grazed once.  The Cover Crop Information Sheets give information for specific species.

Stocking density and stocking rate determine the efficiency of forage utilization and economic returns in terms of animal productivity. There are several grazing methods that can be used to control the grazing pressure on a pasture. These vary from simple to complex, and the best method will depend on the specific cover crops planted and the grazing livestock species. Grazing methods have a huge impact on both forage quality and quantity. Regardless of which grazing system is adopted, accurate assessment of the forage biomass available at a specific time is critical to prevent under- or overgrazing and to match forage quality/nutritive value to the animal’s nutrient requirements (link to Forage Quality landing page).

The information below will give more details on how to develop a grazing system using cover crops and how to assess the available forage biomass in your pasture. In particular, the Grazing cover crops: A how-to guide includes detailed material on planting methods, fencing, and water systems for grazing systems.

Information and tips on grazing methods most common questions:

• Grazing cover crops: A how-to guide
• Developing a Grazing System
• Adding Cover Crops to Crop Production and Grazing Systems
• Estimating Herbage Mass on Pastures to Adjust stocking rate

Additional Resources:

• Won’t Soil be Damaged if Cattle Graze Cover Crops?

Contributors:

Dr. Matias Aguerre, Assistant Professor, Clemson University; Dr. Lisa Baxter, Assistant Professor and Forage Extension Specialist, University of Georgia; Philip Brown, Grazinglands Specialist, Georgia Natural Resource Conservation Service, Julia Gaskin, Sustainable Agriculture Coordinator – retired, University of Georgia