Posted on Sep 23, 2022
A grassbank in Missouri welcomes cattle, showing how grazing and 'hoof traffic' help conserve...
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Dunn Ranch Prairie has the first grassbank in the Midwest, a partnership where The Nature Conservancy allows local ranchers to graze their cattle on its grasslands while the ranchers’ pasture is allowed to rest.
A pristine tallgrass prairie in northern Missouri is home to hundreds of wildflower species and birds.
Herds of cattle help keep these 3,000 acres a sanctuary for diverse plants and wildlife — just by wandering around and munching on a tallgrass buffet. The cows eat invasive cool season grasses, while their hoof traffic pounds seeds into the ground.
“You got that benefit from the grazing side of things, but also I think one of the things that people don't really look at is the hoof traffic benefit,” said Kent Wamsley, the grasslands and sustainable agriculture manager at Dunn Ranch Prairie.
A pristine tallgrass prairie in northern Missouri is home to hundreds of wildflower species and birds.
Herds of cattle help keep these 3,000 acres a sanctuary for diverse plants and wildlife — just by wandering around and munching on a tallgrass buffet. The cows eat invasive cool season grasses, while their hoof traffic pounds seeds into the ground.
“You got that benefit from the grazing side of things, but also I think one of the things that people don't really look at is the hoof traffic benefit,” said Kent Wamsley, the grasslands and sustainable agriculture manager at Dunn Ranch Prairie.
A grassbank in Missouri welcomes cattle, showing how grazing and 'hoof traffic' help conserve...
Posted from kcur.org
Ranching
Agriculture
Conservation
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 3
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."“It all comes down to how you manage those animals, and making sure that the person who is managing them knows both what they need for their livestock’s health and growth, and what the resource needs to be protected and improved through the grazing,” she said.
Rancher John Lueken said his cattle are healthier on a more diverse and plentiful diet that the grassbank is providing. He hopes that the program shows that conservationists and ranchers who use pasture can work together, not against each other.
“A lot of negativity has been put on cattle, because people see feed lots or confined things,” he said. “And that is part of the system, but people don't realize we're still learning how to graze cows. We're trying to do rotational grazing, but the benefit to the environment of having cows out there is a lot more than what people realize.”...
..."“It all comes down to how you manage those animals, and making sure that the person who is managing them knows both what they need for their livestock’s health and growth, and what the resource needs to be protected and improved through the grazing,” she said.
Rancher John Lueken said his cattle are healthier on a more diverse and plentiful diet that the grassbank is providing. He hopes that the program shows that conservationists and ranchers who use pasture can work together, not against each other.
“A lot of negativity has been put on cattle, because people see feed lots or confined things,” he said. “And that is part of the system, but people don't realize we're still learning how to graze cows. We're trying to do rotational grazing, but the benefit to the environment of having cows out there is a lot more than what people realize.”...
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SGT Daniel Petitt
People trying to blame cattle for the climate change is the best one I’ve heard. They claim the methane gas given off by cattle is the cause of climate change. I guess it just can’t be mankind’s fault.
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SGT (Join to see)
SGT Daniel Petitt - cattle isn't the cause of climate change... that's just Bullshit... plain & simple. Thanks for your comments.
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel Not that long ago, I seen an article where people are beginning to blame cattle and other livestock for the water shortage. They just don't get it.
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It is not only good for the cattle and pastures, but for the people as well
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