Diversified Livestock Benefits the Soil

When it comes to livestock, we are a committed “grass-based” farm. The cows we’ve now had for 2 years are providing much needed amendments to the soil where these fields have not been grazed in 30+ years. 

Having laying hens and broilers to follow up our cows in a pasture-based rotational grazing system has been a boon to soil health and fertility.

Our chickens eat and pick through fresh, young grass regrowth that is provided after the cows have been through a paddock. They eat bugs, flies and other insects that tend to congregate around cow manure. 

When the hens scratch up and through cow manure piles, they do the soil a great service. It de-concentrates, distributes and aids in the decomposition of this beneficial organic fertilizer.   

Our mobile chicken coops and tractors allow us to trailer the hens around to paddocks where the cows have just been.

There we set up solar fencing in a perimeter around the coop and allow the hens to have safe, protected access to the fresh, young grasses to help sanitize the field and also add their nitrogen-rich fertilizer to the soil as well.