Multispecies grazing: the ecological advantage
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Authors: J. W. Walker
Date: 1994
Journal: Sheep Research Journal
Volume: Special Issue
Number:
Pages: 52-64
Summary of Methods: This is a synthesis of 60 scientific papers examining multiple species grazing, its ecological benefits, and to illustrate this relatively unaccepted practice is one of the most sound.
Article Summary / Main Points: • The strongest ecological argument for multispecies grazing is that there is less competition between different species of animals than between individuals of the same species. • Grass consumption is highest for cattle and sheep select for forbs (especially in the spring) more than cattle or goats; while the diet of goats is dominated by shrubs. • Even though sheep and cattle consume a lot of grass they select and consume grass and grass parts from different levels of the sword. • When goats are grazed with cattle or sheep they consume a different forage resource until grazing pressure forces them to consume forages preferred by cattle and sheep. • Grazing cows and sheep together yields increased performance of each species than when each species grazing alone as long as resources are not limited; when resources are limited sheep can negatively impact the performance of cattle. • Multispecies grazing results in increased total animal production per unit of land for cattle and usually results in increased sheep production as well. • Grazing ratios, management strategies and specific economic returns are difficult to determine, or predict and are still relatively uncertain.
Vegetation Types: All Vegetation Types
MLRA Ecoregions: Not Applicable
Agrovoc Control Words: Grazing Weeds Rangelands
Article Review Type: Refereed
Article Type: Scientific Synthesis
Keywords: sheep, cattle, goats, diet selection, diet overlap, foraging behavior, sustainable agriculture, targeted grazing
Annotation: This scientific synthesis paper summarized the research about multispecies grazing. At the end of the paper the obstacles to multispecies grazing were addressed, with the idea that the ecological benefits far outweigh the challenges to implementation and should be promoted as such. The one benefit that was not touched on in this summary was the use of multispecies grazing as part of a weed management plan as eluted to by Mosley (1996, Sheep and Goat Research Journal 12:74-81) also available in the RSIS database.
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