Benefits of Rotational Grazing
Increase Plant Diversity: If cattle are allowed to graze the property freely they will eat their favourite species down to the ground , the plant must then spend stored energy to regrow its leaf’s . The new growth is very sweet and delicious akin to candy, encouraging the cattle to re-graze the plant before it has used its leaf to capture and store solar energy. The process of growing new leafs and having them grazed before energy is stored will eventually kill the plant. Resting your fields between grazing’s allows species (red clover, birds foots trefoil and alfalfa) to regrow and set seed — if your fields are always grazed down who is left to sow these seeds?
Increase Insect Biodiversity: If you increase plant diversity you increase the variety of habitat and food, thus increasing the types of insects that can survive. Also, allowing grass to rest and grow tall invites birds and spiders.
Increase Organic Matter: It is said what you lose on top you lose below; so when a cow grazes the grass above, the roots will shed the equivalent. The shed roots will provide organic matter to the soil. If your grass grows stronger, your roots will shed more and add more organic matter. As your organic matter improves your grass will grow better, and your plants will shed more root mass. More root mass means more organic matter, and more organic matter means better grass will grow… this cycle repeats itself in infinity.
Water Retention: Organic matter will act as sponge in the soil. The higher your organic matter the greater your water holding capacity. This will lead to pasture which has greater drought resilience.
Never Till: I believe turning the soil to be the greatest sin in agriculture. You destroy networks of fungi, worm tunnels and established forages, destroying towns, cities and countries. In a perennial pasture there is no need to turn the soil.
