I’ve always been one to focus directly on the physical care of our animals in order to maintain their health and quality of life.   However, when we took the step from small animals up to goats, my husband brought to my attention an important point that I had given little consideration to:  Pasture management – the cornerstone of the sustainable homestead.

When raising hoofed livestock on a relatively small piece of land, you will find that time spent considering care of the ground is as necessary as that spent on preventative health care for the animals.   Proper attention to the grazing load based on soil consistency and forage available must not be overlooked. Pastures may sustain long term to permanent damage from the hooves and grazing habits of livestock if too many animals are allowed access for too great a time.  Maintaining a healthy grazing area for your livestock is important, not only to keep your forage growing at its best but also to minimize parasite infestation, help prevent hoof rot, and to keep your pasture from becoming a mud lot.

Some of the practices we employ at our little homestead include:

• Careful consideration of the size of our herd based on grazing intensity and taking into account temporary increases during kidding.
• Using electric fence – allowing us to easily rotate pasture area.
• Restricting access to pasture during wet periods and times of freeze/thaw when grasses are easily damaged by crushing.  This helps to prevent those mud holes from developing in high traffic areas.
• Housing in the barn when the grass stops growing in the fall until it greens up in the spring.
• Planting clover, timothy & orchard grass  in late winter to help prevent thin areas from developing.

Here are some helpful numbers for those wondering what a maximum sustainable flock or herd size may be (all numbers are for property consisting of good quality forage & grazing through the whole growing season):

• Goats – Standard size – 6 per acre, Dwarf and Pygmy – 10 per acre
• Cattle – Standard size – 1 per 2 acres, Miniatures – 1 to 2 per acre
• Sheep – 4 per acre (though I’ve read accounts of up to 10 Shetlands per acre)

These numbers are a rough guide.  I highly suggest, if you are considering raising a herd or flock you spend a couple of weekends taking a drive around your local countryside.  Watch for healthy looking pastures and get an idea of how many animals are grazing them.  Watch out for those all too common mud lots as well, they can teach you just as much about what not to do.

Enjoy those sheep, goats, or cattle (or even all three), but remember that in addition to being a herdsman you are even more importantly a grass farmer.  Take pride in it!