Cover crops provide a high-quality and low-cost feed during times of low feed supplies. Beef graziers worked with neighboring row crop farmers to plant cover crops and monitored grazing value. Grazing cover crops extended the grazing time on crop stubble fields and reduced the amount of stored feeds required.
Key Findings
- Soil compaction was not increased following cattle grazing cover crops.
- Cover crops provide reasonablypriced forage for grazing livestock, protect the soil for crop farmers, and allow graziers to rest their pastures longer in the spring.