Rotationally grazing our livestock on our regenerative farm can sometimes be a challenge during the winter. Especially when you are facing frigid temperatures and lots of snow.
This winter, in Kansas, has provided more snow than we have seen in years! In fact, we can’t remember a winter like this since 1998. On our regenerative farm, this has created a few challenges rotationally grazing our livestock after this past winter storm. We received about about 1 inch of rain before getting 7 inches of snow in 1 day! The temperatures dropped into the -15 degree range and there were about 35-40 mph wind gusts, which caused a lot of drifting.
Feeding the cows during winter…
We needed to push some snow drifts out of the way in order to get some fresh brome hay rolled out for the cows to graze on. In order to rotationally graze during winter, we implemented a bale un-roller that we purchased from Greg Judy. We use our 4-wheeler to pull the bale un-roller around. It works great to evenly spread the hay out over the land for the cows to graze on. As a result, this mulches the prairie and also helps to reseed the grass. Even through the frigid temperatures and the snow, our cows have remained comfortable, and happily enjoying their delicious dinner!
Watering the cows during winter…
Because we are committed to rotationally grazing our livestock year round, even during winter, we use a mobile watering system. This made it necessary to add a few amendments in order to winterize the mobile water tanks. Our watering system has been a big win in these -degree temperatures! It has remained free of ice and continues to provide our livestock with fresh clean water when they need it. This heifer is enjoying the benefits of our winterized waterer on a day when the high for the day was -3 degrees!
Moving the cows around the farm during winter…
On our farm, we also utilize an electric fence system as a permanent exterior fence and a mobile interior fence. This allows us to easily move the cattle and sheep around our regenerative farm. During the winter, It is important to keep the livestock rotationally grazing as snow and ice melt and mud ensues.
Regenerating the soil during the winter…
Keeping the livestock, fence, and water mobile helps to protect the soil from pugging. Consequently, this pugging can be difficult for the pasture to recover from. Pugging is caused when the soil is muddy and the cows come back to 1 spot in the pasture time and time again. Using a bale un-roller helps to spread out the hay, which mulches and reseeds the pasture. Finally, keeping the livestock rotationally grazing on pasture during the winter also spreads their manure out across the pasture, which helps to fertilize the soil. All of these steps make the soil microbes happy. It’s a win-win situation!
Psalm 74:17 You have fixed all the boundaries of the earth; you have made summer and winter.
