Adding Profit the Easy Way: Grazing Sheep with Cattle 
by Jody Padgham

This article was first printed in the July - August 2006 issue of the Organic Broadcaster, published by the Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service.

Would you like to add more profit to your grazing system? Maintain better control of your forage? Have more pasture diversification? These are pretty no-brainer questions; of course any good farm manager will answer yes to all of these.

This spring at the Wisconsin Grazing Conference put on by Grassworks, Inc., Dr. Bob Nusbaum (UW Platteville Animal Scientist) and Bruce and Lisa Rickard (farmers from Fredrickstown, Ohio) stated that you can accomplish all of these things by adding sheep to your cattle grazing system, or cattle to your sheep grazing system. They went into detail explaining how and why multi-species grazing improves productivity of BOTH species. In fact, research has shown that adding one ewe per cow in a grazing system led to an overall net profit of 29% above that of cattle grazing alone.

Similarities, Differences Complement Each Other
Sheep and beef are both ruminants, both can be profitable on grass and neither demands grain for productive weight gain. Plus, the same handling facilities can be used for both species. Out in the pasture sheep are selective foragers, preferring to eat immature grasses, forbs and weeds. Cattle, on the other hand, prefer to eat mature grasses and legumes and have been described as “luxury grazers.”

Because of these grazing preferences, if you run sheep and beef in the same pastures you will see more even and more efficient utilization of the plants. You will also see more uniform manure spread, especially in varied terrain, as sheep tend to prefer hills while you’ll find your cows in the low ground. The species do not share parasites, and so parasite load per animal will not increase with the increased number of animals.

Sheep are more selective grazers than cattle, and will eat weed species, even things like burdock and thistle if less than 4” tall. In the Western states sheep have been very effective in re-opening pasturelands to cattle by eating out leafy spurge, which is toxic to cattle. Reducing these broad leaf plants will allow more sunlight for grasses, encouraging grass growth. Pasture diversity will be maintained by the two species, as each will forage for different things. One researcher found that cattle and sheep diets only overlap 35%. Grazing overall will be more even with multiple species. Sheep will eat close to cow manure patties, which cattle will avoid. Cows will clean up mature grasses that sheep will ignore. Sheep can go into a pasture that the cows will be tired of and still find plenty to eat. The Rickards have found that they can successfully graze sheep on pastures long after cows into the fall.

Management Recommendations, Challenges
“The biggest challenge to multi-species grazing,” Dr. Nusbaum states, “is getting beef people to not laugh when you recommend they get some sheep.” Assuming you can make it over this first hurdle, what other management changes do you need to consider to succeed with both sheep and cattle?

Fencing- Although 4-5 strands of barbed wire perimeter fence will easily hold in a cow, it will be inadequate for sheep. Adding two strands of hot wire to the fence should keep sheep where you put them. Six strands of barbwire can work too, depending on what is on the other side of the fence. Two strands of electric wire is sufficient for interior paddocks.

Water- Cattle and sheep can share a watering system, although if adding cows to sheep capacity will need to be expanded. Flow rate and tank size will both need to be increased to handle cattle needs. Sheep will eat snow in the winter, cattle won’t. Sheep will need a lot less water overall. If using natural water sources it is important to note that sheep will generally not cross a flowing stream. If trying to protect a water source from the animals, more fencing will be needed to keep sheep out.

Working facilities- Both species can be trained to use the same handling areas. Moveable panels help for any adaptations that must be made to accommodate size differences.

Minerals and grain- Sheep can’t have access to cattle mineral due to a toxicity with copper. Red urine in sheep is an indicator of high copper levels. Mineral access can be managed by feeder height to keep the sheep out. Sheep will try to get into anywhere you are feeding grain, so be prepared.

Predators- Cattle will help protect sheep from predators. Older ewes will actually form bonds with the cows, helping with predator control. If stockers are brought in, the dynamic between species will not develop as tightly and you will see less protective effect.

Herd dynamics- Some farmers have found that rams will “bully” cows and be protective of water sources or other gathering areas. At lambing, some cattle may create problems for the young lambs. You may want to separate animals at certain times of the year to avoid these challenges.

Purdue Research
A research study done in association with Purdue University in 1991 quantified some interesting results in putting cattle and sheep together in Southern Indiana. (Integrated Livestock and Forage Production Through Multi-Species Grazing:  Progress Report-Neary, Johnson, Hendrix, and Trotter, Purdue University Animal Science and Agronomy Departments, 1992.) The researchers ran a rotational grazing system with three models in a fixed land area: cow/calves only (one pair per 1.33 acres), ewes/lambs only (5 pairs per 1.33 acres) and sheep with cattle (one cow/calf pair AND one ewe/lamb pair per 1.33 acres). Using Polypay ewes and Hereford/Angus/Simmental cross cattle, one season of grazing (April 25 - November 6) brought the following results:

The report summarizes results: “ Preliminary results indicate that grazing cattle and sheep simultaneously increased animal gain per acre by 40 lbs. when compared to cattle only, and by 88 lbs. when compared to sheep grazed alone.” The researchers noted that “based on these preliminary data it appears that total weight weaned, total weight gained and gain per acre can be increased by co-grazing sheep and cattle relative to either species grazed alone. Increasing the stocking rate by adding another species of livestock does not appear to lower the gains and performance of either species when compared to single species grazing.”  In the first year no measurable effect was observed on pasture composition. The researchers overall observed no detrimental effects of multi-species grazing, and noted that only minor additional inputs were needed (most notably the addition of two electric wires to the cattle fencing to keep the sheep in.)  (Note: attempts to find a final report for this project were not successful, but these first year results have been substantiated by numerous other studies done around the world. Various studies show cattle gains when grazed with sheep ranging from 12 to 126%, while sheep gains when grazed with cattle show gains of up to 21% over either animal being grazed alone.) 

Farm Experience
Bruce and Lisa Rickard own and operate the 280 acre Fox Hollow Farm in central Ohio. Their farm is split into 36-5 acre paddocks where they rotationally graze 800 Polypay ewes and 60 Holstein steers which they bring in as stocker cattle.

Primarily sheep producers, the Rickards decided a few years ago to try bringing in cattle to help interrupt parasite cycles in the sheep flock and so they could offer grass-fed beef to their lamb customers. Bruce says that they are “reluctant” cattle people. Over the years they have tried different management systems for multi-species grazing, and find their system is still evolving.  Bruce identifies four types of multi species systems:

1. Graze species together (as in the Indiana research).
2. Graze in a “leader-follower” system in which one species group follows another through the paddocks.
3. Graze different species in different areas at different times of the year and
4. Split the farm into parts and run a rotation system for each species on a particular portion of the farm each year, switching between years.

Because of the primary concern of parasite control, the Rickards have found that grazing sheep and cattle together is the least ideal of the four models for them. They say the most ideal for managing parasites would be either plan 3 or 4, when you are taking one species off a section of pasture for a long period to break the parasite cycle, but that these systems will not work for everyone as they require more pasture acreage than the first two systems. Bruce notes that a Scottish grazing system they really like uses the fourth model above, but splits the farm into three pieces, one cattle, one sheep and the third for only cutting hay and running weaned lambs each year, rotating each section each year, increasing advantages for parasite control and pasture renewal.

The Rickards currently put their 800 ewes out into grazing paddocks early in the spring. They buy 60 head Holstein stocker cattle in April, and put them before the sheep in paddocks to help with the spring flush of grass. They run the cattle in front of the sheep through July, when the grass slows down. They will then take the beef feeders to market, and will use the profit they make to buy hay for their winter sheep needs. They are moving into a system where they will split their farm into halves, one half for ewes and nursing lambs, the other for beef stockers and then weaned lambs. The following year they will switch halves, moving ewes into the former stocker paddocks and vice-versa. They will go into areas to cut hay as needed. Bruce and Lisa feel that this system will ultimately give them the best parasite control, be smoothest for management and support good market diversity. They also have brought chickens out into their pastures, where they see help with fly control. They generally run 120 layers for every 12 cows, but remind us that managing egg-layers is a whole new layer of work, management and marketing that needs to be managed.

The Rickards see the benefits of multi-species grazing in their system through a reduction of the need for clipping pastures, the maintenance of pasture diversity, lower parasite loads in the sheep and better utilization of the grass. They also appreciate the marketing diversity, at both the commodity sales barn and in their direct meat markets. Bruce says that ultimately, the effect of multi-species grazing is that they “sell more products from the same grass.” Bruce cautions, however, that managing multiple species can get complex, and take more planning than running only one species on pastures. He suggests when bringing in new species that you try a few new animals at a time and to be prepared for a lot of trial and error to find a system that fits your farm. “Keep the big picture in mind” he recommends.

Adding Sheep to Dairy
The Rickards spoke a bit about their assessments of bringing sheep into a rotationally grazed cow-dairy system. “Adding sheep will improve your milk supply, as bringing in the sheep will improve the grass,” Bruce notes. “Sheep will keep the pasture in top condition,” He adds. He also notes that although sheep will mean more management, you may be able to get by with less machinery as the need for pasture clipping will go down. Adding one sheep per cow can be a pure profit center, as it will add very little cost to your system, and no additional acreage will be needed. Even just selling lambs as feeders at 80 lbs., you will see a significant profit added to your operation. ($60-70 per wintered over ewe, with average 1.5 weaned lambs per ewe per year.) The primary challenges in adding sheep to dairy will be the fencing, as noted above, and learning the management of an animal that is very different from a cow. (For those dairy folks interested in taking this on, Bruce suggests feeding 3# hay/ewe/day in the winter, and notes that sheep never have to go into a barn. They are fine out in the snow and cold.)

Considering Goats
Goats will also add a lot to a multi-species grazing system. They prefer to eat brush, and will do a good job of clearing an area for better utilization by cattle. However, goats are notorious for their curiosity and ability to scale fences, and so fencing becomes an even greater challenge. Benefits to adding goats to cattle generally duplicate those of adding sheep. Goats and sheep do share many parasites, and so a system using all three will have fewer cumulative benefits.

Conclusions
The conclusion from both researchers and farmers is that there are very few detrimental affects to having beef and sheep graze together, short of personal or management issues involved in understanding and managing more than one species. Bruce Rickard notes that the major hurdle he sees in merging sheep and cattle management is “the disposition of the farmer.” “Sheep will always choose to act collectively, and will act very differently than cattle in similar situations. They move like a school of fish.” There will be a learning curve in understanding the new species- the health issues, behavior, and new schedule for grass management. Multi-species grazing will bring in added complexities and require more foresight.

To succeed at multi-species grazing Dr. Nusbaum recommends you choose your animals carefully. You will want low maintenance breeds, animals that are tough, can lamb or calve on pasture, will perform well on grass and succeed with little management. He recommends that you “buy breeding stock from an environment that is equal to or less in quality than yours,” so that the animals will continue to improve in your situation and under your management.

If you feel like you have your grazing system more or less under control, next year might be the year to consider shaking things up by adding a new species, for benefit to both your pastures and your pocketbook as your pasture carrying capacity goes up. For more information, see the sidebar with recommended resources.

Resources

• Integrated Livestock and Forage Production Through Multi-Species Grazing:  Progress Report
  Neary, Johnson, Hendrix, and Trotter, Purdue University Animal Science and Agronomy Departments, 1992 www.agry.purdue.edu/forages/rotational


• Multispecies Grazing
  Coffey, Linda. ATTRA, June 2001
  www.attra.ncat.org


• Healing the Land Through Multi-Species Grazing
  Nelson, Donald, Univ of Washington Extension
  http://cru84.cahe.wsu.edu/cgi-bin/pubs/VT0119.html
  Video or DVD. Results of Western Grazing lands research on leafy spurge control project.


• Cattle and Sheep Together: partners in grazing
  Corliss, Julie, Agricultural Research, 12/1/1991


• Umberger, S.H., et al. 1985.
  Adding sheep to cattle for increased profits.
  Proceedings of a Multispecies Grazing Conference
  Winrock International, Morrilton, AR p 212-214


• Baker, F.H. and R. Jones. 1985.
  Proceedings of a Multispecies Grazing Conference
  Winrock International, Morrilton, AR

Jody Padgham has been with MOSES since 2002. She is the organization's Financial Manager, the editor of the Organic Broadcaster newspaper and co-coordinator of the Organic University. Jody raises poultry and sheep organically on a 60-acre farm in west-central Wisconsin.