INTENSIVE GRAZING
In July of 2000, St. Catharine Farm began an intensive grazing project mainly funded by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, which is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The aims of this project are to use our land and water more efficiently, to produce better beef and to enhance the ecosystem of the area. The intensive grazing involves providing water for the animals from one source which can be pumped to eight different paddocks. The paddocks have been reseeded to improve the quality of the feed. The animals remain in each paddock for about four days and are then moved to another paddock. Since the cows are moved frequently, they do not eat the grass down to the ground and, therefore, the grass that they eat is more nutritious. Also, since the cows are moved frequently, the paddocks are "cleaner", which cuts down on diseases.
The
single water source has been fenced in to prevent the cows from contaminating
the water. Trees and bushes will be planted around the water source to
purify the water and provide a wildlife habitat.
Through the National Resources Conservation
Services, the farm has received grants to enclose the water sources, set up the
paddocks, reseed the fields, provide trees and bushes for wildlife habitat and
to purify the water.
The cows have adjusted to this method of feeding. As soon as they see
Danny Ray's truck they know they are headed to the next field.
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Second National Conference on Grazing Lands
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