Multi-Species Pasturing Discussion

[elevan]

This is a topic that interests me greatly.

I'd like to hear your input - good or bad.

Please share your experiences and keep the tone non-critical of others.

1. Do you run multiple species in the same field / pen?
2. What are the species?
3. What experiences have you had with parasites?
4. How long have you been (or how long did you) running a diverse field?

 

[Snowhunter]

We run chickens in with the goats and chickens in with the cows.

The chickens in the cow pastures do a good job of picking through the manure, spreading it out plus all the nutrition the chickens get from the grass and bugs. Haven't noticed a problem other then the cows sticking thier heads in the chicken tractors to get thier food and water (solution, cut smaller chicken only doors, LOL!) We had a HUGE problem with worms last year and the cows. I don't know if the chickens are helping by pecking through the manure much yet, but none of our cows are wormy looking so far. We've only had them together for 3 months.

We also run chickens in with our goats. Now both goat pens are 1000yds from eachother, and the chickens don't intermingle between them (fencing the chickens can't get through helps!) We've been doing this for a month or so, and it seems to be working well.

Honestly, our biggest issue here is WILD birds. They're ALL over, and its easy for them to stop off in one pen, peck around and fly off to another area and spread things that way. We've basically come to the conclusion that the best way to work with things is to keep a very close eye on all the animals. We also bleach all feed and water containers weekly (aside from the permanent 700gal stock tanks for the cattle) to help keep nasties from getting much of a chance to grow.

 

[elevan]

Snowhunter - will you be doing fecals to determine what kind of difference this plan is having or are you going to go by looks / symptoms? (on the cows)

 

[Snowhunter]

At this point, we're going by looks/symptoms, simply because the fecals would be at our expense (the cows belong to the landowner) and right now, things are tight. Though I do scratch through poops when walkin through the pasture. With 50-60 cattle, we'd be hard pressed to know what poop came from what cow, We give everyone a good lookin over when we run em through the workin pen. Compared from this summer to last summer, there is a big improvement. Only a couple slightly potbelly lookin older calves (seemingly more of a confirmational issue, looking at thier Mamas) and the few we had to worm a little while ago. And I've not seen any tapeworms either, thank goodness. They put a hurtin on the herd last fall.

I'm hoping things work as well through the wetter season, when parasites tend to thrive.

 

[patandchickens]

I rotate the sheep thru some parts of the horse pastures, but they are never in there at the same *time* as the horses, dunno if that counts for what you're interested in.

No obvious discernible effect on parasite load (tho I'm sure the sheep have less than if they were not rotated over such a large area, and having horses grazing it in between may help too, who knows).

But it sure does GREAT for the pasture itself. I wish I had enough electronet to rotate the sheep thru a larger percentage of it. The sheep clean up a lot of stuff the horses don't touch (tall-growing broadleaf weeds like goldenrod, and the 'roughs' where the horses deposit most of their manure and then won't graze there themselves). Therefore those parts of pastures stay grassier later in the season, when the tall broadleaf stuff would shade out lots of grass. And the horses will happily mow down tall overmature grass to a level where sheep will use it (or use the regrowth).

Only been doing this for a year now but am highly impressed.

Pat

 

[ThreeBoysChicks]

I have 2 horses, 4 goats and 2 sheep who pasture together all the times. They share the same barn everything. When the horses move from one pasture to another, the goats and sheep go with them. In these pastures, there are also Chickens, Ducks, Geese and Guineas.

Horses are on a regular worming schedule as recommended by my vet.
I do not do fecal tests on the goats and sheep, but judge based on overall apperance, and checking gums and eye lids for color. To date, everyone is doing great.

Vet was out a month ago for horses annual and while there, she gave all the goats and sheep a look over (because they would not let her alone). She thought everyone was looking really healthy.

 

[elevan]

I have 2 horses, 4 goats and 2 sheep who pasture together all the times. They share the same barn everything. When the horses move from one pasture to another, the goats and sheep go with them. In these pastures, there are also Chickens, Ducks, Geese and Guineas.

Horses are on a regular worming schedule as recommended by my vet.
I do not do fecal tests on the goats and sheep, but judge based on overall apperance, and checking gums and eye lids for color. To date, everyone is doing great.

Vet was out a month ago for horses annual and while there, she gave all the goats and sheep a look over (because they would not let her alone). She thought everyone was looking really healthy.

How long have you run these animals together (including the poultry)?

 

[elevan]

I rotate the sheep thru some parts of the horse pastures, but they are never in there at the same *time* as the horses, dunno if that counts for what you're interested in.

No obvious discernible effect on parasite load (tho I'm sure the sheep have less than if they were not rotated over such a large area, and having horses grazing it in between may help too, who knows).

But it sure does GREAT for the pasture itself. I wish I had enough electronet to rotate the sheep thru a larger percentage of it. The sheep clean up a lot of stuff the horses don't touch (tall-growing broadleaf weeds like goldenrod, and the 'roughs' where the horses deposit most of their manure and then won't graze there themselves). Therefore those parts of pastures stay grassier later in the season, when the tall broadleaf stuff would shade out lots of grass. And the horses will happily mow down tall overmature grass to a level where sheep will use it (or use the regrowth).

Only been doing this for a year now but am highly impressed.

Pat

Multi species pasturing takes 2 forms...1 being rotational as you are doing and 2 being communal. I'd like to hear from anyone who uses either. Thanks for sharing your experience.

 

[MyKidLuvsGreenEgz]

I'm interested in this thread because we're thinking about mixing different animals together.

Goats and chickens are already together.

Thinking about adding miniature cows and pigs.

Is this possible?

 

[goodhors]

You need to have excellent fence to contain pigs. Even then they may try digging under fences "because they feel like it".
Electric wire low on the inside could prevent that, but you HAVE to keep the electric hot ALL THE TIME. This requires
work on your part, checking often so wire is not grounded out to let them escape. Grazing is good for pigs, just that
their nature requires special consideration. You CAN work with piglets, train them to come for food when called or
on a schedule if you can be prompt EVERY DAY in feeding. They are VERY smart and if you miss some feedings, they
will quit coming. This is real helpful if you are hunting for them when out or in the big field, or want to pen them for shipping out.

I would not be doing any communal pasturing with the pigs. They may kill birds or small animals and eat them. They
may not, but really not nice being surprised. Better to keep the pigs apart from the other species if you let them out
on pastuere. I have pretty good fences, so even with small lambs, they stay contained.

We rotationally grazed the paddocks between cows/sheep and horses. Dexter yearling heifer and feeder calf, plus
two lambs, got along well, so were kept together in fields to graze. Horses are large, so we consider it unsafe to
pasture them with other species. Geldings are too playful, would be pestering them all the time, until smaller
animals got hurt. Old mare HATES smaller animals and will charge the fence to get them away. No telling WHAT
she would do without the fence!! Cattle had no horns, so no defenses either, with no places to hide in the pastures.

Horses are on regular worming program, cattle got wormed every 2 months, lambs were wormed once after purchase,
didn't seem to need it again with steady growth and weight gain. Only had lambs for about 4 months, 4-H projects.
All species appear healthy, shiny, very thrifty.

I do think the addition of cattle and lambs grazing have improved the quality of grazing in pastures. I do fertilize fields with
fertilizer from the plant according to soil tests.

Each species seems to have preferances in grazing, often overlapping, but also graze what the other species ignores. This
let me have no problems with overgrazing, even with addition of cattle and lambs. Horses are the main grazers on our limited acres.
The "Chosen Ones" for family interests and if horses did not have enough pasture grazing, other animals would be gone. I do
cattle and lambs first, then horses, then rest the field after mowing. I still mow after the horses are moved out, to keep height
of grass down about 5-6 inches, for constant regrowth and to prevent weeds. Fields get dragged every second mowing, to
break up manure and spread out the cut grass tops, which I think is also helpful in worm prevention, drying up the eggs in
the sun and heat.

No birds except wild ones. This time of year, the finches which look like sparrows, really tear up the horse and cow manure
piles. Fresh manure doesn't last very long while they hunt for undigested grain, leaving the piles broken and scattered a bit.

Rotational grazing, if well managed, can work. Grouping species may not work, or be dangerous for the meeker animals and birds.