Future Pastures

Planning for New Livestock Additions

This year, we introduced sheep to our livestock in addition to goats, and now we're excited to complete our vision by adding cattle. Like goats and sheep, cattle are ruminants that offer significant grazing benefits, helping us advance our regenerative practices and enhance the sustainability of our farm.

Our journey of learning the land and different approaches to managing it over the last three years has led us to learn more about having cattle on the land and other ways to introduce them to our space. In this process, we have learned and understood that there are a few different options to introduce these ruminants and gain the benefits without necessarily owning them for our first year. We are not in the position to house them over the winter, as cattle need a warming structure, and we are still in the process of getting proper fencing around the property (a story for another day - so much barbed wire removal). But - we are anxious to get these grazers out and roaming as they will aid our prairie and add fertility to the land.

This year, we hired a livestock specialist, our pack shed manager, Amos. He is walking us through our options for introducing livestock. One option is housing other farmer’s cattle to graze on our land - they gain weight and our prairie grasses and fertility system benefit. This supports our mission while taking a lot of responsibility off of us. Another option is to bring 'stockers' on. Stockers are young, lightweight calves, steers, or heifers that are weaned and raised on forage-based diets to gain weight and prepare them for the beef production phase. This whole process takes about 14-20 months and requires a bigger up front financial investment.

Introducing livestock is a big step for any farm; it is essential to understand all the factors that this will affect and the cost and maintenance to provide for the animal properly. Aside from the work that comes with having a space for the cattle to roam, there are a lot of long-term benefits this will have to increase the health of our soil and our biodiversity as a whole.

Cattle are more than just livestock; they play a pivotal role in sustainable agriculture and environmental stewardship. By grazing, cattle naturally aerate the soil, enhance nutrient cycling, and control invasive plant species, all contributing to improved soil quality and land productivity. Their unique digestive system allows them to convert otherwise inedible forages into high-quality protein for human consumption, a process known as upcycling. Additionally, well-managed grazing practices can help sequester carbon in grasslands, aiding in climate change mitigation. In essence, cattle are vital contributors to maintaining healthy ecosystems and promoting sustainable food production, reassuring us about the future of food.

Cows are crucial in our journey towards a regenerative system where the land thrives naturally. We manually manage different land areas and use cover crops to prepare the soil. By introducing cows, we can harness their natural grazing and fertilizing behaviors to enhance soil health and biodiversity, reducing manual intervention and allowing the land to sustain itself more effectively. This shift towards a regenerative system, where cattle play a significant role, is a testament to their importance in our farm's sustainability.

As we expand our regenerative efforts, we eagerly anticipate this next step. This marks a new chapter in land management, where we increasingly rely on animals' natural behaviors to maintain and improve our ecosystem. The addition of cattle is not just a practical decision but also a source of excitement and optimism for the future of our farm.