The Pros and Cons of Multispecies Grazing

Cattle and crops. That’s what a lot of us make our living on and know best. But what if adding one more species to your operation could not only improve your soil health and forages but also offer another revenue source throughout the year? Kevin Lynch shares the pros and cons of multispecies grazing as well as what beginners need to consider in Season 7, Episode 16 of the Casual Cattle Conversations podcast.

Multispecies grazing, like the word implies, includes grazing multiple livestock species on the same land. This can look like cattle and sheep or cattle and goats or even adding bison to the mix. “Multispecies grazing can be really deep or really simple. Cattle, sheep and goats are probably the easiest two to implement,” said Lynch who has been passionate about ag, grazing and raising livestock of over forty years.

The main benefits of grazing multiple livestock species are the improvements to your soil health and forage quality. Lynch said, “Soil takes a long time to show improvement, but I can visually see improvements in forage in just 2 years of multispecies grazing.” This is partially due to the different livestock species consuming different plants. Cattle prefer to eat grasses while sheep will consume forbs and goats will eat woody plants. There is some crossover in diet depending on the species but cattle and sheep or not likely to compete over the available forage when grazing together. These differing grazing patterns also reduce instances where spraying is required. “I haven’t had to spray my pasture in 30 years other than the occasional Russian Thistle plant,” said Lynch. This is just one example of how multispecies grazing can not only improve land quality but also reduce inputs in the long run.  

Additionally, multispecies grazing creates another revenue source for livestock producers which can be a way to diversify and manage your risk. “Depending on how serious you want to get about integrating small ruminants with cattle, you can have multiple crops of sheep or goats in a year compared to only one per year with cattle,” said Lynch. Whether you want to leverage this enterprise for yourself or bring another generation back, it opens a door for new opportunities.

There are several challenges that come with integrating a new livestock species, just like starting anything new. Two of the main challenges are managing your fences and water sources for small livestock if everything is currently built for cattle. “If you have cattle and are integrating sheep, you can simply lower your hot wire to be effective for both species. If you decide to integrate goats, you’ll want to make sure you have multiple hot wires on your fence,” said Lynch. When it comes to managing water, you can raise up a portion of the land or create a platform around the cattle tank so the sheep and goats can drink, place small waterers in the pasture that are specifically for the small livestock or use temporary water tanks to accommodate for the different sized species.

Animal health, disease and mineral requirements are also factors that need to be addressed. Transmitting diseases between cattle and sheep or cattle and goats isn’t likely to be an issue. However, it’s important to consult with your veterinarian and know who you are buying your livestock from to better understand their current health and any potential risks. Each livestock species has their own mineral requirements to be aware of too. “Wool sheep cannot consume Copper but hair sheep can, which is one of the reasons I recommend integrating hair sheep with cattle,” said Lynch. Do your research on different breeds and their nutrition and health requirements by visiting with local experts and your veterinarian.

If you are interested in integrating another livestock species on your operation do your homework on different breeds of livestock, talk to experts in your area who are doing something similar to what you want to start and buy from someone who raises these livestock instead of piecing together animals out of a sale barn. Lynch’s final remarks summarize this conversation best, “I would say try it. Like anything, it has pros and cons but can be very beneficial to your ranch and provide more income for your operation in the long run.”