3 benefits of no-grazing management

Reduce the worm burden

Keeping livestock off pasture for several months can greatly reduce parasitic worm populations by breaking their life cycle.

Numerous parasite species affect grazing animals. They all spend part of their lifecycle – usually in the form of eggs – in the base of pasture (0-5cm), mostly near fresh manure.

If parasites are unable to re-enter an animal within a certain time, they die. This reduces the chance for infestations and the need to use de-worming treatments.

The time required for the worm eggs to die varies depending on temperature, moisture and exposure. On short pasture in a hot summer, it can be 30 days; I allow three months for long grass in the Waikato humidity.

Increase the fertility

Grass captures nitrogen from the air. When it is left to die naturally, is mowed off or processed into manure, it decays into the ultimate compost. For free.

Ryegrass contributes dead leaf matter quite quickly. Plants only ever grow three leaves. As the fourth leaf grows, the first one dies. Some experts say the best time to graze it is when the third leaf has grown. I disagree: the worms need their share too.

Worms are the giants of the soil’s microbiology. They turn dead matter and minerals into essential nutrients for plant growth.

I recommend you regularly dig out a spade full of dirt from various areas on your block and count the worms you find. It will change with the weather and the season (worms like moisture) but it will help you get an idea of soil health.

Subterranean populations flourish when they have good feed, and die off without it. Fallowing will stimulate soil life, but needs regular feeding to maintain it.

Flower power

Bees and other beneficial insects appreciate a mixed pasture left to flower.

Alfalfa, burnett, caraway, chicory, cocksfoot, dill, dandelion, fescue, fennel, fodder beet, minutina, parsley, poppy, red clover, sorrel, trefoil and yarrow are just some of the options available in herbal ley pasture mixes.

However, many of these plants die off if regularly grazed and will need to be resown. You can over-sow, by sprinkling seeds on top of pasture that has been grazed short. You then ‘push’ the seed down to soil level using stock to naturally trample it in, or harrows.

Under-sowing has a much better strike rate. You will need to get a contractor to rip lines through your existing grasses and sow the seeds directly into the soil.

You can over-sow by sprinkling seeds on top of pasture... but under-sowing has a much better strike rate