Cattle Production: Considerations for Pasture-Based Beef and Dairy Producers

1. Cattle Production:
Considerations for Pasture-Based
ATTRA Beef and Dairy Producers
A Publication of ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service • 1-800-346-9140 • www.attra.ncat.org
By Lee Rinehart Market demand is rapidly increasing for sustainably-raised beef and dairy products. Pasture or grass-
NCAT Agriculture based livestock production is inherently sustainable as this production system relies on biodiversity
Specialist and ecological complexity to maintain production without the use of costly inputs. Cattle producers are
© 2006 NCAT beginning to recognize that intensively-managed rotational grazing (also called management-intensive
grazing or planned grazing) can lower production costs, reduce animal stress, and boost the animal’s
immune system. This publication highlights these and other practices producers are using to provide
Contents customers with nutritious food from sustainable farms and ranches.
Introduction ..................... 1
Consumer Perception
and Market Demand ..... 2
Pasture-Appropriate
Animals .............................. 3
Cattle Nutrition ............... 4
Health and Disease
Management ................... 5
The National Animal
Identification System
(NAIS) .................................. 8
Integrating Cattle into
Cropping Systems .......... 9
Pastures and Grazing
Management ................. 10
Organic Cattle
Production ...................... 11
Slaughter and Meat
Processing ....................... 11
All photos courtesy of USDA-NRCS.
Milk Quality
Indicators ........................ 12
Marketing Overview ... 12
Social and Ecological
Concerns of Cattle
Production ...................... 13
Introduction: and larger machinery for more efficient till-
Final Thoughts .............. 14
age and harvesting, led to unprecedented
References ...................... 15 Towards a Pasture-Based high corn yields and subsequent cheap corn
Resources ........................ 15
Further Resources ........ 19
Cattle Production System prices. Crop subsidies became part of the
Cattle are natural grazers. They possess U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Case Study ...................... 21
the remarkable ability to digest plant car- policy. With subsidized prices, agricul-
bohydrates that are generally indigestible tural producers continued to provide mar-
to most other mammals. It is natural then kets with large quantities of corn. An eco-
ATTRA—National Sustainable
Agriculture Information Service to assume that grazing is the best way to nomic incentive was created to fi nish beef
is managed by the National Cen- supply a nutrient-dense diet to growing cat- on corn rations and to feed it to high-pro-
ter for Appropriate Technology
(NCAT) and is funded under a tle. Since the end of World War II, however, ducing dairy cattle.
grant from the United States
Department of Agriculture’s
this has not been the case. Prior to this period, cattle production was
Rural Business-Cooperative Ser-
vice. Visit the NCAT Web site The widespread use of synthetic, soluble an integral part of diversified family farms.
(www.ncat.org/agri. fertilizers and other agri-chemicals emerged Cattle would consume crop residues and
html) for more informa-
tion on our sustainable in the mid-twentieth century. These materi- forages, and contribute manure to the soil.
agriculture projects. als, coupled with plant breeding technology The farm family would always have a beef

2. for the year, and the surplus was sold off ture health and to provide meat and milk
the farm to contribute to the food needs of for the market. Producers rely on this natu-
the community. A surplus of cheap corn rally low-input system where feed costs are
combined with low fuel prices helped to fos- reduced, animal health is maximized, and
ter the industrialization of cattle production. a wholesome product is provided to the pub-
Related ATTRA High-energy feedstuff in large volumes was lic. Consumers are becoming more demand-
Publications provided to feedlots of ever-increasing size ing that agricultural products are carefully
Assessing the Pasture and scale. Today, feedlots with capacities in produced, with concern for soil and water,
Soil Resource excess of one hundred thousand head are crops and animals, and the people who
Beef Farm Sustain- not uncommon. work in production and processing.
ability Checksheet
The use of confinement feeding technology
Beef Marketing
Alternatives is just one facet of modern agribusiness to Consumer Perception
Dairy Beef
facilitate the disconnect between soil, crops, and Market Demand for
and manure. Smaller diversified farms Different Kinds of Beef
Dairy Farm Sustain-
ability Checksheet could utilize farm-grown crop residues and
animal manure. Large grain farms rely on and Dairy Products
Dairy Resource List: The demand for pasture-finished beef,
Organic and off-farm inputs for fertility, however, and
Pasture-Based never see the manure that results from the natural beef, and organic beef is growing
The Economics of feeding of their corn. This disconnect has in the United States, as is the demand for
Grass-based Dairying turned a once valuable source of fertilizer organic and pasture-raised milk and cheese
Grass-Based and into at best “waste” and at worst, a pollut- products. In fact, demand for natural and
Seasonal Dairying ant. Nitrates and phosphates from commer- organic milk and meat outstrips supply in
Grazing Networks for cial fertilizers and runoff from manure piles most U.S. markets, as evidenced by pro-
Livestock Producers in feedlots account for a very large propor- cessors, marketers, and suppliers seeking
Grazing Contracts for tion of agricultural pollution to surface and grass-fed products from South America.
Livestock ground water. Pasture-finished, natural, and organic food
Managed Grazing in sales have increased from $5.5 billion in
Riparian Areas Sustainable agriculture is a biologically 1997 to $12 billion in 2002, a 24 percent
Multispecies Grazing supported production system based on nat- annual growth rate. Meat comprises 21
ural principles that demonstrate a very high percent of the overall U.S. retail food mar-
Nutrient Cycling in
Pastures degree of system resilience. Sustainable ket. Pasture-finished, natural, and organic
Pastures: Sustainable
agriculture seeks to establish and main- meat’s share of the market is at 5 percent.
Management tain agricultural production and distribu- Continued growth in demand for these meat
Pastures: Going tion systems that are economically viable, products is expected, including direct, local
Organic ecologically sound, and socially just. For sales of carcasses and retail cuts to fami-
Paddock Design, beef and dairy production to be environ- lies via farm visits, farmer’s markets, and
Fencing, and Water mentally and fi nancially sustainable, they by mail-order. Many market analyses sug-
Systems for must of necessity be based on the most gest the possibility of a viable market well
Controlled Grazing renewable resource available to the stock into future years.
Raising Dairy Heifers grower: grasses, legumes, and other edible
on Pasture
plants and the ecological system that sup- Currently the demand for organic and pas-
Rotational Grazing ports them. ture-based dairy products is greater than
Value-added Dairy supplies, as many processors fall short of
Options Pasture-based production systems can be milk each week by hundreds of thousands
Pasture, Rangeland, inherently resilient to market price fluc- of pounds. Organic milk prices at the farm,
and Grazing tuations due to a reliance on renewable which at the time of this writing approach
Management pasture. This is exemplified by farmers, $25 per cwt (hundredweight) in some areas,
ranchers, and graziers who see themselves are an enormous incentive for many small
as having become principally grass farm- and medium size dairy producers not able
ers who produce beef or milk only sec- to compete in the conventional milk market.
ondarily. Under this model cattle become Current prices range from $11 to $15 per
grass-harvesting tools used to maintain pas- cwt in some areas.
Page 2 ATTRA Cattle Production: Considerations for Pasture-Based Beef and Dairy Producers

3. For more information on consumer demand or less and no more than one quarter
issues in meat and milk marketing, see the Brahman breeding in terminal calves.
Agricultural Marketing Resource Center’s
Web site at www.agmrc.org/agmrc. Dairy Cattle
The dairy industry in the U.S. has been
Pasture-Appropriate Animals under very intensive consolidation and
for Sustained Cattle industrialization pressure to maximize the
Production efficiencies that come with large-scale pro-
duction. Since the 1950’s, dairy farms have
Matching the right animal or plant with the
been getting bigger, and have been relying
appropriate environment is a wise manage-
ment decision that leads to healthy animals on harvested grain and forages to provide
and a productive and successful farming sys- high quality feedstuffs to support enormous
tem. Ecological farmers know that organ- milk yields. Modern Holsteins can produce
isms adapted to the climate and habitat do more than 60 pounds of milk per day, and
much better than those placed into situations many farms report herd averages in excess
nature might not have intended. Selecting of 20,000 pounds per lactation.
the right genetics for pasture-based produc- According to the American Livestock
tion is therefore of utmost importance. Breeds Conservancy, grass-based dairy
farming is on the increase, and this
Beef Cattle necessitates a very different type of ani-
In general, you want an animal that com- mal. Low-cost, grass-based dairies often
bines maternal traits like milking ability cannot support the high nutritional require-
with early maturity and tenderness. These ments needed by large-framed, high pro-
three traits are important because a cow ducing cattle. Grass-based dairy produc-
must calve on pasture and raise a thrifty ers are utilizing Ayrshire, Brown Swiss,
calf that lays down fat quickly (because and Jersey for their ability to maintain
growing seasons may be limited). The car- condition, milk production, and reproduc-
cass should yield high quality beef that tion on forage. These cattle are typically
provides a positive eating experience for smaller-framed and have lower nutrient
the customer. For this reason the moderate requirements than Holsteins. Again, there
body-type English breeds usually fit best is wide variability in the expression of the
with grass operations. However, it is impor-
tant to remember that there is wide vari-
ability in the expression of the traits impor- Selecting Animals for Pasture-Based Production
tant for pasture based systems, even within Select animals from herds that have mature weights under 1,100
breeds. Select for particular production pounds, as these will most likely finish at the proper time. Pasture-
traits in breeds such as Angus, Hereford, finished beef cattle are usually marketed between 16 and 24 months
Shorthorn, and other, rarer breeds such as of age. Selecting body type is more important than breed type for
Devon, Dexter, and American Low-Line. pasture-based operations. The following qualities should be selected
for in animals, including herd bulls:
Breeds of importance in the humid south are
1. dual-purpose breed types (for beef)
Brahman and Brahman-cross composites,
such as Beefmaster, Santa Gertrudis, Bran- 2. medium frame
gus and Braford. Brahman cattle are very 3. end weight 900 to 1,100 lb
tolerant of heat, humidity, and parasites,
and have excellent maternal traits. However 4. age at slaughter 16 to 24 months (for beef)
they do not have the carcass characteristics 5. early maturing
and marbling that consumers have come to
6. low maintenance requirements
expect. For this reason most producers in
the humid south keep the Brahman influ- 7. high milk protein and butterfat (for dairy).
ence in their cow herd to three-eighths
www.attra.ncat.org ATTRA Page 3

4. traits important for pasture based systems, • impacts of climate (heat, cold,
even within dairy breeds. A good example humidity, etc.)
is the Holstein genetics being developed The energy requirements of growing or lac-
through selection by grass-based produc- tating cattle can be met with fresh pasture
ers in New Zealand. or with high quality grass-legume hay in the
For more information on livestock breeds see winter. However energy supplementation on
the Oklahoma State University Animal Sci- pasture is often effective in maintaining
ence Web site at www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds. high gains and milk production. Dry cows
can subsist on lower quality feedstuffs, but
Information on rare breeds can be found at
must be maintained at an acceptable body
the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy
condition score in order to be successfully
Web site at www.albc-usa.org/index.htm.
bred and deliver a healthy calf.
Cattle Nutrition Energy is important for cattle on high protein
pasture. The microbes that occupy the rumen
Cattle require consistent sources of pro- need energy to digest all the protein being
tein, energy, minerals, vitamins, and ingested by the animal. If the microbes do
A
water to maintain productivity and health. not get enough energy, protein is converted
dequate
For detailed information on ruminant to urea and is passed through urine. For very
energy con- physiology and nutrition contact ATTRA high producing cattle like growing steers and
centration at 800-346-9140. lactating cows, an energy supplement such as
in the diet allows grain can result in better protein digestion,
The producer can determine an overall pic-
cattle to utilize other ture of the nutritional status of the herd by: and therefore higher milk production and
nutrients such as greater weight gains. Most dairy graziers who
protein, vitamins,
• using body condition scores supplement their cattle provide from 8 to 18
• assessing pasture condition pounds of corn per head per day, depending
and minerals.
on the quality of the pasture, in addition to
• soil and plant tissue testing to deter- free choice forage or pasture.
mine mineral and nutrient content
(with subsequent appropriate sup- Forages have the ability to supply all the
plementation) energy needed to maintain highly-productive
cattle throughout the growing season, but
The following section highlights some of the only when managed intensively. A legume-
nutrients important in cattle production. grass pasture will easily have a protein con-
tent greater than 18 percent and high digest-
Energy ible energy during the vegetative stage. As
Feed intake is regulated by an animal’s plants mature, the nutrient value lowers.
energy needs. Therefore, energy should Consider getting your forage analyzed to
be considered fi rst when attempting to bal- determine nutrient content and concentra-
ance animal diets. Adequate energy con- tion. Your local Cooperative Extension office
centration in the diet allows cattle to utilize can assist in sampling forage.
other nutrients such as protein, vitamins, For more specific information on graz-
and minerals. ing nutrition see the Further Resources
section below.
Some of the major determinants of an
animal’s energy requirements are:
Protein
• weight
Cows generally require crude protein in the
• body condition score range of 7 to 14 percent of daily dry mat-
• milk production ter intake. Dry cows require less, and preg-
nant and lactating cows, especially dairy
• rate of growth cattle, require more. Growing cattle, includ-
• level of activity ing replacement heifers and steers, require
Page 4 ATTRA Cattle Production: Considerations for Pasture-Based Beef and Dairy Producers

5. from 10.5 to 14 percent of their daily dry Health and Disease
matter intake to be protein. Approximately
two pounds per day is a rough average if Management
supplementing protein concentrate. Cattle health management is a disease
prevention strategy that includes:
Minerals and Vitamins • fostering natural immunity in ani-
The principal minerals of concern for mals by increasing animal and plant
cattle on growing forages are calcium biodiversity on the farm
and magnesium. Others to consider are • balancing nutrition through pasture
salt, phosphorus, potassium, and sulfur. grazing management and mineral
These minerals are very important for cel- supplementation
lular respiration, nervous system develop- • reducing animal stress through
ment, protein synthesis and metabolism, appropriate facility design and pas-
and reproduction. Vitamins are important ture exposure
for the formation of catalysts and enzymes
that support growth and body maintenance • providing high quality forage in the
in animals. Vitamin A is an important sup- dormant season
plement for grazing animals. Vitamin A The natural living conditions of pastures
supplementation should be included in the decrease animal stress and remove unneces-
mineral mix at about 1,200 to 1,700 IU’s sary burdens on the immune system. Other
(International Units) per pound of dry mat- practices such as sanitation, quarantine of
ter of feed intake per day. Green forage, new animals, and the use of probiotics in
high quality hay, and cereal grains are typi- young animals can also foster a healthier
cally high in vitamin E. Mineral and vitamin environment for livestock. Disease preven-
supplements are available in many formula- tion is the best health plan for your herd,
tions. Because soils differ in mineral content and a well-planned pasture-based system
from place to place, a recommended mineral effectively eliminates many disease vectors
mix that works in all places is not possible. and alleviates many nutritional disorders.
Check with your local Extension agent or Calves that are weaned, castrated,
veterinarian to determine the mineral and dehorned, and inoculated, and then sent to
vitamin mixes and recommendations common a drylot to eat unfamiliar hay and grains are
to your area. subjected to many simultaneous stresses.
They become particularly prone to respi-
Water ratory infections. However, calves that are
castrated early, naturally dehorned with
Cattle require from three to thirty gal-
a polled bull, and weaned on grass, tend
lons of water per day. Factors that affect
to be healthier and achieve a gain weight
water intake include age, physiological sta-
much more rapidly than do conventionally
tus, temperature, and body size. A rule of
weaned counterparts.
thumb is that cattle will consume about
one gallon of water per 100 pounds of
body weight during winter and two gal- Disease
lons per 100 pounds of body weight dur- Disease is a condition
ing hot weather. In general, double the that usually occurs
estimates for lactating cattle. Water should when an infectious
be clean and fresh. Dirty water decreases agent comes in con-
water intake. Remember that all other tact with an immuno-
nutrient metabolism in the body depends compromised host.
on water, and if a cow stops drinking, Stress factors usu-
nutrient metabolism (growth and lactation) ally underlie com-
will decrease. promised immune
www.attra.ncat.org ATTRA Page 5

6. systems. Stress factors in beef cattle pro- is closely related to a human variant called
duction include hunger, heat, cold, damp- Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD), and is
ness, wind, injury, fatigue, and rough han- thought to be caused by an abnormal pro-
dling. Infectious agents include viruses and tein called a prion that infects the nervous
bacteria which cause many of the following system and causes behavioral changes, loss
disease conditions. For more detailed infor- of coordination, trembling, and ultimately
mation on cattle diseases, refer to your local death. BSE was fi rst reported in Great Brit-
county Extension agent. Many state Cooper- ain in 1986 and has been associated with
ative Extension services offer free publica- the feeding of animal by-products, spe-
tions on the diseases endemic to your area. cifically nervous system tissue, in cattle
The Merck Veterinary manual is also a very rations. Since the prions are found only in
good reference on animal diseases, preven- an infected animal’s nervous system, trans-
tion, and treatment. Refer to the Resources mission is thought to be limited to ingestion
section for information to obtain a copy. The of nervous tissue.
following section highlights some of the dis-
eases and disorders a producer should keep Prevention of contamination is the only
in mind when considering a pasture-based known method to maintain a BSE-free herd.
C
onsumers beef or dairy operation. Producers should The USDA has instituted a BSE control pro-
cooperatively develop a herd health plan gram that focuses on three key efforts:
who pur-
chase and eat with the local veterinarian. 1. banning and restricting imports of cattle
and cattle products
pasture-fed beef can
be more confident
Mastitis 2. banning the use of animal by-products in
that the products are
Mastitis is a bacterial infection of the mam- cattle feed
mary glands caused by contaminated bed-
free from infectious ding, teat trauma, fl ies, or the use of hoses 3. testing of cattle in the U.S.
agents that might in the milking parlor to clean udders. An Producers of organic and 100-percent pas-
compromise human abnormal discharge from the teats confi rms ture-fi nished beef may have an advantage
health. a diagnosis. This can range from off-col- from a livestock and human health perspec-
ored milk to a white, yellow, or red, viscous tive in that animal by-products are fed at
pus-like discharge. In advanced cases the no time during the animal’s life. Consum-
infected udder quarter will become very ers who purchase and eat pasture-fed beef
hard and milk production declines. Treat- can be more confident that the products are
ment consists of antibiotics in conventional free from infectious agents that might com-
herds, and homeopathic infusions and oint- promise human health. More information
ments for organic herds. Cattle produc- on BSE can be found at the USDA Animal
ers can minimize the incidence of mastitis Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
through sanitation, avoidance of mud and newsroom Web site www.aphis.usda.gov/
manure on the udder, pasture-feeding and newsroom/hot_issues/bse.shtml.
calving, and maintaining the cattle on a
high plane of nutrition. Some organic pro-
ducers treat infected cows with antibiotics
Calf Scours
and cull them from the organic herd to main- Calf scours occur when a calf is born with
tain organic integrity. For more informa- (1) limited immunity, and/or (2) introduced
tion on organic mastitis treatment, see Paul into an environment conducive to microbial
Dettloff, Alternative Treatments for Ruminant (viruses and bacteria) infection. It is con-
Animals in the Resources section. sidered a management disease and can be
prevented by taking care of the cow prior
to birth and the calf after birth. Scours are
Bovine Spongiform usually expressed as diarrhea, skin elas-
Encephalopathy ticity from dehydration, weakness, loss of
BSE (called Mad Cow Disease by some) is nursing reflex, and a drop in core body
a brain-wasting disease affecting cattle. It temperature. When administered soon
Page 6 ATTRA Cattle Production: Considerations for Pasture-Based Beef and Dairy Producers

7. enough, f luid rehydration, electrolytes,
and drenching with probiotics can save a Your Local Cooperative Extension office
stricken calf. It is critically important to Contact your local Cooperative Extension office for information on
rehydrate the calf as soon as signs of infec- poisonous plants, forage nitrate testing, and locally adapted forages.
tion become evident. The USDA maintains an online database of local Cooperative Extension
offices on its website at www.csrees.usda.gov/Extension/index.html. The
Some principle factors that predispose a phone number for your Cooperative Extension office can be found in
calf to scours are: the county government section of the local telephone directory.
• inadequate colostrum within first 12
hours (low immunity)
• dirty calving environment (supports These conditions are covered in detail in
microbial contamination) the ATTRA publication Pasture, Rangeland,
• inadequate nutrition of the dam (the and Grazing Management, available by call-
cow should have a Body Condition ing 800-346-9140 or online at www.attra.
Score of 5 at calving) ncat.org. Other good sources of informa-
tion on plant toxicity are your local Coopera-
• calving difficulty tive Extension office (see box) and the book
• cold stress, and Southern Forages (see Ball in the Resources
• high cattle density on calving section below for more information).
grounds
Managing calving such that these factors are
Internal and External Parasites
minimized lessens the chances that calves Internal parasites are a problem in many
become sick. Many producers credit pasture- parts of the United States, notably those in
based systems (and adjusting the calving sea- warmer, more humid regions such as the
son to occur when temperatures are warmer South and East. Parasitism is manifested in
and grass is available) for reducing incidents cattle by:
of scour. An environment conducive to ani- • reduction in milk production
mal health can reduce or even completely
• weight loss
eliminate calf scour problems. Cows benefit
from calving on green pasture by: • lowered conception rate
• having access to high-quality • rough coats
growing forage, and • anemia, and
• calving in a warmer environment • diarrhea
which reduces stress on the calf’s The fi rst line of defense in parasite con-
immune system trol should be to maintain optimal livestock
nutrition. The second line of defense is to
Plant Toxicity enhance immunity through biodiversity on
Graziers must pay careful attention to the farm. Finally, a third line of defense is
the negative health effects that certain to establish specific management strategies
plants can cause in livestock. Some of the that can reduce the incidence of parasitism.
more common and economically important These strategies include:
disorders are:
• pasture rotation
• bloat • planned grazing
• grass tetany • dragging or clipping pastures
• prussic acid • multi-species grazing, including
• nitrates poultry
• fescue toxicosis, and • monitoring with fecal samples, and
• poisonous plants • barn sanitation
www.attra.ncat.org ATTRA Page 7

8. Sustainable and organic producers have Vaccines are seen by these practitioners as
come to recognize that as animals become a bypass of natural immunity. Regardless,
adapted to a system, internal parasites cease vaccination is a tool that should be carefully
to be a problem. Good health and natural considered by the producer and the veteri-
immunity goes a long way to reduce the narian, and is not meant to take the place of
incidence of both disease and parasitism. good animal management.
For more in-depth information, please see Every producer should develop a vaccina-
the ATTRA publication Integrated Parasite tion program to address the risks of dis-
Management for Livestock. eases endemic to the region. Consult your
veterinarian to determine the types of vac-
A Word on Paracitacides cines recommended for your area. For more
Beef producers have historically relied information see General Principles of Vacci-
on paracitacides (chemical dewormers) to nation and Vaccines, in Cow-Calf Manage-
combat parasitic pests such as the brown ment Guide and Cattle Producers’ Library
stomach worm, which can cause significant listed in the Further Resources section.
health and economic damage to a cow herd
V
when infection is severe. A common prac- The National Animal
accination
tice is to alternate applications of different
against dis- paracitacide products to reduce the chance Identification System (NAIS)
ease is an that the parasites will become immune to a Animal health issues have become more
accepted practice in particular treatment. Many injectable and important in the United States since the
modern cattle pro- pour-on types of paracitacides are avail- discovery of a BSE-positive cow in Wash-
duction, including able. Many dewormers are not biodegrad- ington State in December of 2003. As a
able and remain active in manure. These result the USDA Animal Plant Health
organic production.
products become a part of the pasture envi- Inspection Service has begun administer-
ronment, and several kill dung beetles, and ing the development of a nation wide live-
may have other unintended side effects as stock identification system that will allow
well. If you plan to use a dewormer, your officials to track animals to the source in
veterinarian can recommend an appropriate the event of an animal disease outbreak.
application schedule for your area. The plan, called the National Animal Iden-
tification System, or NAIS, is composed of
Organic producers’ use of synthetic treat-
a database and tracking system that will
ments is restricted to breeder stock cattle
be able to “identify all animals and prem-
before the last third of gestation but not
ises that have had contact with a foreign or
during lactation of organic progeny, and to
domestic animal disease of concern within
milk animals at least 90 days before milk
48 hours after discovery. As an informa-
production (NOP 205.238(b)(1-2)).
tion system that provides for rapid tracing
of infected and exposed animals during an
Vaccines outbreak situation, the NAIS will help limit
Vaccination against disease is an accepted the scope of such outbreaks and ensure
practice in modern cattle production, includ- that they are contained and eradicated as
ing organic production, and should comple- quickly as possible” (USDA, 2005).
ment other preventative health management
Consumers often cite food safety as among
practices, such as reducing stress, ensuring
the most important factors that influence
a balanced ration, and providing pasture as
their buying decisions. The NAIS was
a significant portion of energy needs.
established to address these issues and
Some natural, pasture-based cattle produc- assure consumers that the meat and milk
ers contest vaccination, and assert that pro- they consume is wholesome and safe. Con-
viding for the development of natural immu- sumer confidence in the safety of their
nity through farm biodiversification protects food hinges on knowing an animal’s com-
animals better than a vaccination regime. plete history, or preserving the identity of
Page 8 ATTRA Cattle Production: Considerations for Pasture-Based Beef and Dairy Producers

9. each animal that becomes food. Producers
of certified organic products—whether they Nutrient Cycling
be crops, livestock or processed products—
Grazing cattle will return 70 to 85 percent of the nutrients consumed
have always been required to maintain back to the pasture. When combined with nutrient additions from
records that can assist the tracking of prod- the dead leaves and roots of pasture plants, nitrogen contributions
ucts from their origin to fi nal sale. Other to nutrient cycling can approach 280 pounds per acre per year in a
producers maintain transparent tracking moderately managed grass/clover pasture. (Bellows, 2001) Pastures
systems through direct marketing relation- with a legume component of 20 to 45 percent are more sustainable
ships with consumers. Although different than monoculture grass pastures, as the legumes contribute signifi-
groups may differ about how that traceabil- cantly to nitrogen fertility. For more information, see ATTRA’s Nutrient
ity should be documented, most everyone Cycling in Pastures.
agrees that it is an important issue.
For more information on the National Ani-
yearly maintenance costs associated with
mal Identification Program see the ATTRA
keeping a cow herd. However, raising
publication The National Animal Iden-
steers or heifers can require more manage-
tifi cation System (NAIS): What it is, and
ment skill. For more information on alter-
how to participate in the process located at
native beef enterprises see the Further
www.attra.org/attra-pub/nais.html. Resources section below.
Integrating Cattle into Before starting a new grazing enterprise,
conduct an economic analysis to measure
Cropping Systems your break-even cost, and determine how
Cattle have the potential to give value to many animals it will take to make a profit.
cover crops in rotation, where the land
might otherwise not yield an economic
return. (Bender, 1998) Many farmers
utilize legume cover crops in rotation to
build soil and increase soil nitrogen for
subsequent crops. Cover crops greatly
benefit small grain and vegetable yields
without the use of soluble fertilizers. How-
ever, most cover crops are used as green
manures and incorporated into the soil in
preparation for subsequent crops. Cattle
grazing on legume cover crops can benefit
the farm system economically and ecologi-
cally. By selling fed steers or custom graz-
ing yearlings, a fi nancial return can be
made on the land. Furthermore, through
added nutrient cycling (dunging and urine
deposition), soil fertility can be enhanced.
If you are considering adding a grazing
component to an existing cropping system,
note that the cost of electric fencing and
water delivery can eat up profits quickly
unless these structures are already in
place. Consider grazing more valuable ani-
mals, such as steers or replacement heif-
ers, instead of cows. Steers and heifers are
generally maintained for a short period
of time, and you will not have to cover
www.attra.ncat.org ATTRA Page 9

10. cool-season grasses and fall decline of
warm-season grasses.
Grazing systems best suited to the afore-
mentioned elements are those that employ a
rotation where animals are placed on a pad-
dock at high density and moved to another
paddock at the appropriate time. Most rota-
tional grazing systems utilize ten or more
paddocks to best achieve the benefits of the
system. This type of rotational grazing has
been called planned grazing, controlled
grazing, management-intensive grazing,
and intensive rotational grazing. Whatever
the name, the main point of this system is
that it allows for more effective forage use
by increasing forage quality and decreasing
grazing selectivity.
A common sight in every region of the
Pastures and Grazing country is a pasture full of cows, sheep,
Management or horses and not a blade of grass in sight.
A pasture is “a complex inter-relationship The pasture might be green, but the grass is
of plant, temperature, light, soil, organ- cropped so close it resembles a pool table,
isms, nutrients, water, and livestock that and thistles are the tallest plant in the field.
make the pasture a continually changing This condition, called overgrazing, occurs
(dynamic) ecosystem.” (Murphy, 1995) Pas- when the grazing pressure exceeds the car-
tures are the foundation of sustainable live- rying capacity of the pasture. Many times
stock production. They are best maintained we are tempted to assume the culprit to be
by developing a grazing system or plan that too many animals on the pasture. However,
conserves the soil and plant resource while overgrazing is the result of time on pas-
maximizing productivity within the natural ture, not grazing intensity. In other words,
limits of the particular ecology of the farm. overgrazing is caused by allowing animals,
A grazing system or plan will ration out whether many or few, to remain on a pas-
forage according to animal requirements, ture for too long.
allowing full plant recovery while minimiz- A grazing system will permit (1) moder-
ing forage waste. (Murphy, 1995) The ele- ate defoliation, and then (2) allow time for
ments of a sustainable grazing management regrowth. If either one of these points is
system are: missing, an overgrazed pasture is the likely
1. proper timing of grazing (corresponding result. There are a great many well-pre-
to plant physiological stage) pared resources available to assist produc-
ers in designing and implementing a con-
2. proper intensity of grazing (duration on trolled grazing system. For more detailed
the pasture) information on pastures and grazing man-
3. residue or plant height after grazing agement, contact your local or state Cooper-
ative Extension office. In addition, ATTRA
4. plant recovery time after grazing offers the following publications: Paddock
5. adaptive management of grazing time Design, Fencing, and Water Systems for Con-
depending on pasture recovery rates trolled Grazing; Rotational Grazing; Nutri-
(i.e., time on a paddock may double ent Cycling in Pastures; Assessing the Pasture
during less productive times of the year, Soil Resource; Pastures: Sustainable Manage-
or consideration of summer slump of ment; Managed Grazing in Riparian Areas;
Page 10 ATTRA Cattle Production: Considerations for Pasture-Based Beef and Dairy Producers

11. and Pasture, Rangeland, and Grazing Organic Certification Process; How to Pre-
Management. See also the Further pare for an Organic Inspection: Steps and
Resources section at the end of this publi- Checklists; Organic Farm Certification & the
cation for more books and Web sites on pas- National Organic Program; NCAT’s Organic
tures and grazing management. Livestock Workbook—A Guide to Sustainable
and Allowed Practices; National Organic
Organic Cattle Production Program Compliance Checklist for Produc-
ers; Organic Livestock Documentation Forms;
The production of organic livestock prod-
and Organic Livestock Production are avail-
ucts is based on four fundamental criteria:
able free of charge by calling 800-346-
• soil—a healthy, functional soil is the 9140 or accessing the ATTRA Web site at
basis of organic agriculture www.attra.ncat.org.
• health—plants and animals acquire
natural immunity through the sym- Slaughter and Meat
biotic relationship that occurs on Processing
diversified farms
Processing includes everything from slaugh-
S
• ecological diversity—complexity ter to cutting to wrapping and storage. Meat mall and
in pasture plant composition must be processed in a state or federally medium-
achieves balance and agroecosys- inspected processing plant, and the plant
tem resilience must be organically certified if the beef is sized proces-
• organic system integrity—inputs to to be sold as certified organic. This, unfor- sors are particularly
the system must be approved organic tunately, has become a bottleneck in the hard hit when it
substances. This includes feed, fer- organic meat industry. There are many farm- comes to govern-
tility, and pest control inputs. ers and ranchers who can and want to pro- ment regulation.
duce organic, and/or grass-fed beef and milk
Conversion to organic production requires
products. As well, there are many custom-
the development of an organic system plan,
ers who would like to purchase sustainably
and an organic livestock plan for livestock
raised animal products. But there remain
operations. Organic certification of the land
very few small and medium-size processors
requires a transitional period of three years
who can make the link from animal to retail,
from the last application of a restricted sub-
especially for small farmers who would like
stance, and yearly inspections and updated
to direct-market their products.
applications must be performed to remain
in compliance. Small and medium-size processors are partic-
ularly hard hit when it comes to government
The National Organic Program (NOP) Rule
regulation. Food safety regulations, impor-
states that “livestock products that are to
tant as they are, remain heavily influenced by
be sold, labeled, or represented as organic
and developed for large-scale meat proces-
must be from livestock under continuous
sors. Small and very small size processors do
organic management from the last third
not have the scale or size to absorb the struc-
of gestation.” (USDA, 2006b) In addition,
tural and equipment costs often associated
livestock used as breeder stock “may be
with food safety regulations. Many operate
brought from a nonorganic operation onto
on very tight margins just to stay in business.
an organic operation at any time: Provided,
Small and very small plants make up 90
that, if such livestock are gestating and the
percent of all federally inspected processing
offspring are to be raised as organic live-
plants in the U.S. According to the USDA,
stock, the breeder stock must be brought
a small plant employs between 10 and 500
onto the facility no later than the last third
people, and a very small plant employs up to
of gestation.” (USDA, 2006b)
10. Together these two types generate more
There are many excellent resources to than $5 million in annual sales. The USDA
assist farmers and ranchers in the tran- Food Safety and Inspection Service has a
sition to organic production. ATTRA’s Web site providing outreach information
www.attra.ncat.org ATTRA Page 11

12. to small and very small plant operators Quality Components of Milk
and can be accessed at: www.fsis.usda.gov/
Science/Small_Very_Small_Plant_Outreach/ Breed Butterfat Protein Lactose
index.asp. Jerseys 4.6 3.6 4.9 – 5.1
An alternative that some producers are devel- Holsteins 3.7 3.0 4.9 – 5.1
oping is the concept of a small, mobile pro- Source: Hoards Dairyman July 2006 (492)
cessing plant that can be towed from farm
to farm for slaughter and initial cutting. The
Lopez Community Land Trust in northwest Somatic cell count—SCC is a measure of
Washington State has a Web site with infor- white blood cells in fluid milk. High levels
mation on mobile processors. For more infor- of white blood cells in milk indicate infec-
mation on mobile processors see the LCLT tion, such as mastitis, and lowers milk qual-
Web site at www.lopezclt.org/sard/mpu.html. ity. Healthy cows have a SCC lower than
200,000 cells per milliliter. Dairy market-
Finally, another issue is that current fed-
ers and processors specify a limit of SCC
eral law does not allow beef producers to they will accept.
sell state-inspected processed products into
interstate commerce, although there is cur- Antibiotics—The presence of antibiotics in
rently discussion within Congress to redress milk is disallowed. Producers who use anti-
this issue. Though state-inspected processors biotics to treat infection must not allow milk
need to meet federal standards, this has his- from treated cows to get into the bulk tank.
torically prevented cattle farmers from selling In these cases, treated cows are milked after
their state-inspected products in larger mar- all the healthy cows have been milked, the
ket areas, which may be just across the state piping to the bulk tank is disconnected, and
border from where the closest state-inspected the milk is either dumped or fed to suckling
processors are located. Generally speaking, calves. Milk containing antibiotics cannot
there are more state-inspected facilities than be sold for human consumption.
USDA-inspected facilities. Fewer USDA-
inspected facilities entails higher trans- Marketing Overview
portation and processing costs for the beef Demand is growing for organic and grass-fed
or dairy producer who ends up having to products. However, marketing has been one
travel long-distances to get his or her prod- of the most daunting activities farmers have
ucts processed. The mobile processing plant encountered. For most graziers, learning to
described earlier was developed because, market their products requires new skills and
prior to its creation, livestock producers had considerable time. Some will choose direct
to transport their product over 300 miles to marketing venues such as farmers’ markets
a USDA-inspected processing facility, mak- and direct sales, whereas others will opt for
ing it too costly to garner the added value by cooperative marketing. Becoming a mem-
having a closer processor. ber of a farmer cooperative is very attractive
to many farmers, as cooperatives give the
Milk Quality Indicators farmer the ability to sell products much the
The four primary quality factors for milk same way as in the commodity market, but
are percent protein, percent butterfat, per- often with a premium.
cent lactose, and somatic cell count (SCC). Information on dairy marketing can be found
These four measures determine how much a in the ATTRA publications The Economics of
dairy farmer is paid for the milk produced. Grass-Based Dairying and Value-Added Dairy
The biggest constituent in milk is water, so Options. See also Dairy Cattle Production in
pricing milk based on the concentrations of the Further Resources section below. For
solids is a better indicator of the value of detailed information regarding alternative
fluid milk, especially for processors of prod- marketing of beef products, see ATTRA’s
ucts such as butter, cheese, and ice cream. Alternative Beef Marketing, accessible on the
Page 12 ATTRA Cattle Production: Considerations for Pasture-Based Beef and Dairy Producers

13. web at www.attra.ncat.org. Also avail- are the question, sustainable cattle farms and
able is SARE’s How to Direct Market Your ranches are an integral part of the answer. A
Beef, available on the web at www.sare.org/ farm that sees its ecological borders extended
publications/beef.htm. beyond the fenceline will necessarily involve
the community, and will seek opportunities
The Social and to build community through its production,
education, and marketing efforts.
Ecological Concerns of
In a time when livestock farming is under
Cattle Production serious scrutiny it is important to consider
One of the tenets of sustainable agriculture is the impacts of livestock production in ripar-
that the system be sustainable from a social ian areas, on public lands—including Forest
perspective. For instance, agricultural sys- Service and BLM lands—and at the urban-
tems should address such concerns as ani- rural interface. Livestock production is com-
mal welfare, human health, land use, and ing under fire from many advocates of envi-
the urban-rural interface. Sustainable agri- ronmental change, who see historic cattle
culture is concerned with the relationships raising as injurious to sustained, much less
S
and connections between farms, communi- improved, environmental integrity. While ustainable
ties, and the consumers that support them. these groups question the legitimacy of
The soil is the basis from which life is main- cattle production, whether it is grazing on agriculture
tained, and establishing a reconnection public land or issues dealing with animal is concerned
between consumers and the land is a very rights and welfare, it becomes imperative with the relation-
important aspect of ecological agriculture. that farmers, ranchers, citizens, and pol- ships and connec-
It is for this reason that the farm’s ecology icy-makers become informed and educate tions between farms,
is often extended to include towns, water- others about the reality of the ecological
communities, and
sheds, and cities. Other issues that can be impacts of animal agriculture.
addressed by re-evaluating agriculture from the consumers that
Domestic cattle do leave a large ecological
a position of social sustainability are: support them.
footprint, especially in environmentally sen-
1. Processing, farm supplies, local food sys- sitive areas. Desertification in parts of Africa
tems, etc.—In what ways do local farms and rangeland decline in the American West
work with local processors and retail- are but two obvious examples. Rangeland
ers? How are inputs produced and dis- managers and animal scientists have begun
tributed within a region? Do consumers to understand more about the ecology of sen-
have access to locally produced foods? sitive lands, and have attempted to describe
Are consumers educated about local food a history that involved grazing animals in the
issues? What about the workers in animal evolution of perennial grasslands. Many have
processing plants? Do they receive a liv- proposed that the real cause of inefficient or
ing wage? Do they receive benefits? Are even deleterious use of rangeland is simply
they protected from health hazards and mismanagement. If cattle are fenced into a
risks of injury? particular ecosystem and overgraze, they
place an inordinate pressure on the system it
2. Antibiotic, feed additives, growth pro-
cannot support. The result is a forced shift in
motants, and pesticide use in cattle pro-
plant community away from diversity, com-
duction—What are the consequences
plexity, and stability and toward one that is
of chemical use in animal agriculture?
simplistic and unstable. Such a community
What are the social and biological impli-
is inherently unable to cope with ecological,
cations of antibiotic resistance? Does
climatic, or biological change. To counter
the production system respond to market
this trend, it is imperative that scientists and
signals that favor natural or organically
land managers foster an understanding of
produced products?
the principles of animal behavior and build
If social issues such as land use, community production systems that mimic natural sys-
development, and local food system issues tems as much as possible.
www.attra.ncat.org ATTRA Page 13

14. Many progressive farmers and consumers 4. Reduced animal confinement, which
believe pasture-based cattle production is reduces nutrient problems and allows
more ecologically sustainable than conven- manure to become a fertilizer instead
tional, grain-finished, confinement-oriented of a pollutant.
cattle production, for both beef and dairy 5. Reduced annual cropping, which less-
products. Conventional beef and dairy pro- ens the amount of fossil fuel energy
duction relies on harvested grain as the pri- required to produce and transport feed
mary feed source. Conventional agriculture, for confined cattle. There is an unneces-
for all its productivity and cheap food, is by sary amount of energy used to produce a
definition not concerned with resource con- unit of beef protein or milk, whereas it is
servation and environmental stewardship. much more energy-efficient for the ani-
In fact, the conventional paradigm is incon- mal to harvest food itself.
sistent with agricultural sustainability by its
very nature. 6. Reliance on compost and manures
for nitrogen fertility, which results in
Pasture-based production systems, how- reduced synthetic fertilizer applications
ever, have the inherent ability to support, and use of fossil fuel energy for manufac-
stabilize, and maintain ecological systems ture and application. These practices do
for increased, sustained, efficient food and not contribute to long-term soil develop-
fi ber productivity. Some of the ecological ment and maintenance, but merely feed
benefits of pasture-based livestock produc- the plants at a particular point in time.
tion are as follows:
7. Pasture plant diversity which builds soil
1. Development and maintenance of structure, occupies all available niches, and
soil organic matter and effective nutri- effectively competes for space and nutrients
ent cycling. with noxious and invasive species.
2. Maintenance of efficient water cycle with
perennial grass and forb ground cover
and subsequent soil structural stability
Final Thoughts
and increased organic matter. At the time of this writing, the pasture-
based cattle production industry does not
3. Reduction in tillage associated with have a standard such as is found in the
annual cropping (corn, wheat, bar- National Organic Program (NOP) regula-
ley), which reduces organic matter and tions. The USDA is, however, considering
water conservation. a “USDA Grass-fed” label for animals that
are fed at least 99 percent of their diet on
pasture. Grass-finished beef and grass-fed
dairy products reportedly have many health
benefits compromised when an animal
is fed even a small amount of grain, even
after being on grass since calfhood. Given
the market prospects and positive human
health and animal welfare attributes, pas-
ture based systems would seem to be the
production method of choice for a society
engaged in seeking sustainable solutions to
the problems inherent in conventional agri-
cultural production.
Whether pasture-based beef and dairy sys-
tems can become viable as a mainstream
production, processing, and distribution
system in the United States remains to be
Photo courtesy of USDA-NRCS.
seen, however. Given the realities of large
Page 14 ATTRA Cattle Production: Considerations for Pasture-Based Beef and Dairy Producers

15. scale marketing and distribution, small and true of any farming enterprise that claims to
medium-size operations are at an extreme be truly sustainable. Such practical knowl-
disadvantage. Niche marketing remains the edge is really the manifestation of an inti-
most viable option for many producers. For mate relationship with the land; a sense that
some, joining a cooperative such as Organic the land is more than just a foundation from
Valley or the Organic Grassfed Beef Coali- which to engage in an economically profit-
tion can be a way to market specialty cattle able enterprise. The land is in a very real
products to larger markets. sense a living system, abounding in com-
plex and fruitful relationships between soil
In addition, the question has been rightly
and soil organisms, plants, water, animals,
raised whether the U.S. possesses enough
and people. This agro-ecology that farmers
acreage and the associated yearly forage
and consumers find themselves in, of which
production to sustain a pasture based live-
they are very much an integral part, is the
stock system. More research is required to
basis from which true agricultural knowl-
address these questions.
edge is derived. Agricultural sustainability
Sustainable livestock farming and ranching can be realized only by understanding ani-
depends on the producer’s practical knowl- mals, pastures, crops, markets, and home-
edge of a particular piece of land. This is life from this holistic perspective.
References Resources
Dettloff, Paul. 2004. “Alternative Treatment for ATTRA Publications
Ruminant Animals.” Acres USA, Austin, TX. Assessing the Pasture Soil Resource
Ball, D., C. Hoveland, and G. Lacefield. 1991. Beef Farm Sustainability Checksheet
Southern Forages. Norcross, GA: Potash and
Phosphate Institute. Beef Marketing Alternatives
Dairy Beef
Bellows, B. 2001. Nutrient Cycling in Pastures. Butte,
MT: NCAT. Dairy Farm Sustainability Checksheet
Bender, M. 1998. Beef cattle finishing in summer/fall Dairy Resource List: Organic and Pasture-Based
in a strip cropping system. Santa Cruz: Organic Farm- The Economics of Grass-based Dairying
ing Research Foundation.
Grass-Based and Seasonal Dairying
Murphy, Bill. 1995. “Pasture Management to Sustain
Agriculture,” Pages 321-347 in Agroecology: The Sci- Grazing Networks for Livestock Producers
ence of Sustainable Agriculture, second edition, edited Grazing Contracts for Livestock
by Miguel A. Altieri. Boulder, CO: Westview Press. Managed Grazing in Riparian Areas
USDA. 2005. National Animal Identification System Multispecies Grazing
(NAIS). Draft Strategic Plan, 2005-2009. USDA
Animal Plant Health Inspection service. Nutrient Cycling in Pastures
http://animalid.aphis.usda.gov/nais/downloads/print/ Pastures: Sustainable Management
NAIS_Implementation_Plan_April_2006.pdf
Pastures: Going Organic
USDA. 2006a. National Animal Identification System Paddock Design, Fencing, and Water Systems for
(NAIS) website. APHIS. http://animalid.aphis.usda. Controlled Grazing
gov/nais/index.shtml.
Raising Dairy Heifers on Pasture
USDA. 2006b. National Organic Program Standards.
Agricultural Marketing Service. www.ams.usda.gov/ Rotational Grazing
nop/indexIE.htm. Value-added Dairy Options
www.attra.ncat.org ATTRA Page 15

16. Forage, Pasture, and Rangeland Management Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources,
Alberta Forage Manual Order from University of Missouri Extension publica-
Alberta Agriculture, Food, and Rural Development tions, 573-882-7216, http://muextension.missouri.edu/
Publication Office, 7000 - 113 Street, Edmonton, explore/manuals/m00157.htm
Alberta, Canada T6H 5T6, 800-292-5697 This manual is designed to acquaint readers with
http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/ the principles on which successful grazing manage-
all/agdex16 ment is based. This manual brings together a group of
researchers, educators and producers with broad expe-
Fertility Pastures by Newman Turner
rience in land management and forage/livestock sys-
Faber and Faber, 24 Russell Square, London
tems to provide a comprehensive guide to understand-
Classic text on herbal lays, soil health, and profitable
livestock production on pasture. Out of print. Used ing and managing grassland ecosystems.
bookstores and interlibrary loan might yield good Rangelands West
results obtaining this worthwhile book. Western Rangelands Partnership, Agriculture Network
Forage Information System Information Center, University of Arizona
http://forages.oregonstate.edu/index.cfm http://rangelandswest.org
A comprehensive website for forage-related topics, Web-based educational tools and information to assist
including publications, educational opportunities, resource managers improve rangelands and maintain
and professional resources. Maintained by Oregon sustainability.
State University.
Pastures for profit: A guide to rotational grazing
Grazing Systems Planning Guide Cooperative Extension Publications, 45 N. Charter St.,
Kevin Blanchet, University of Minnesota Extension Madison, WI 53715, http://learningstore.uwex.edu
Service, Howard Moechnig, Natural Resources Con- Grazing ecology, and setting up a rotational
servation Service, Minnesota Board of Water & Soil grazing system.
Resources, Jodi DeJong-Hughes, University of Min-
nesota Extension Service, University of Minnesota Ecology and Ecosystem Management
Extension Service Distribution Center, 405 Coffey Behavioral Education for Human, Animal, and
Hall, 1420 Eckles Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55108-6068 Ecosystem Management, www.behave.net
order@extension.umn.edu Applying behavioral principles in ecosystem
Delineates the components of a grazing system by tak- management.
ing the farmer through the grazing management plan-
ning process. The guide can be viewed or downloaded Foraging Behavior: Managing to Survive in a World
at www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/ of Change; Behavioral Principles for Human, Animal,
livestocksystems/DI7606.html. Vegetation, and Ecosystem Management,
Fred Provenza, PhD, Utah State University
Intermountain Planting Guide www.behave.net/products/booklet.html
USDA Agricultural Research Service,
Grazing Management: an Ecological Perspective
Utah State University, Logan, Utah
by Rodney K Heitschmidt and Jerry W Stuth,
Order from USU Extension Publications
http://extension.usu.edu/cooperative/publications Available on the web at http://cnrit.tamu.edu/rlem/
435-797-2251 textbook/textbook-fr.html
This book was written to help resource managers
Management-Intensive Grazing: The Grassroots of broaden their perspective relative to management of
Grassfarming, Jim Gerrish, Green Park Publishing grazing animals and heighten their awareness of the
This book can be obtained through The Stockman role they play in maintaining the integrity of ecologi-
Grassfarmer’s Bookshelf at 800-748-9808. The indus- cal systems (from the Foreward). Published by Timber
try-standard for growing and managing pastures for Press, Portland, OR
sustained livestock production.
Holistic Management International
Missouri Grazing Manual 1010 Tijeras Ave. NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102
James R. Gerrish, College of Agriculture, Food 505-842-5252, hmi@holisticmanagement.org,
and Natural Resources, Craig A. Roberts, College of www.holisticmanagement.org
Page 16 ATTRA Cattle Production: Considerations for Pasture-Based Beef and Dairy Producers

17. HMI is a goal-oriented decision-making system for eco- Great Lakes Grazing Network Grazing Dairy Data.
logical management of resources, people, and capital. Madison, WI: UW Center for Dairy Profitability.
Kriegl, T. 2005.
Stockmanship: Improving rangeland health through
Fact Sheet #1: Project Overview
appropriate livestock handling. Steve Cote, P.O. Box
Fact Sheet #2: Comparing the Top Half with the
819, 125 So. Water St., Arco, ID 83213, 208-527-
Bottom Half of Graziers
8557, or available on the web at: www.mt.nrcs.usda.
Fact Sheet #3: Comparing Herds by Size. Less than
gov/technical/ecs/range/stockmanship.html
100 Cows vs. 100 Cows or More
Order from the Natural Resources Conservation Service,
and the Butte Soil and Water Conservation District Fact Sheet #4: Comparing Seasonal Calving with
Non-seasonal Herds
Quivira Coalition Fact Sheet #5: Grazing vs. Confinement Farms.
1413 Second Street, Suite 1, Santa Fe, NM 87505, Fact Sheet #6: Preview of Financial Performance of
505-820-2544, www.quiviracoalition.org/index.html Graziers by Breed
Publications on ecological resource management Contact: Tom Kriegl at 608-263-2685 or 277 Animal
including range management, grazing, road con- Sci Bldg, 1675 Observatory Dr., Madison, WI 53706.
struction, monitoring, and managing resources at the http://cdp.wisc.edu
urban-rural interface. Comprehensive research project comparing conven-
tional and pasture-based dairy farms in the Midwest.
Cattle Nutrition, Health, and Production
An excellent resource for dairy farmers considering a
Management
transition to organic and/or pasture-based production.
Beef Cattle Resources
Missouri Dairymen’s Resource Guide
Virtual Livestock Library, Oklahoma State University
University of Missouri Extension,
www.ansi.okstate.edu/library/cattbeef.html
http://agebb.missouri.edu/dairy
Cow-Calf Management Guide and Cattle Producer’s Links to online dairy resources including feeds, labor,
Library (CD and print), developed by the Western business management, grazing, dry cow manage-
Beef Resource Committee, produced by the Animal ment, health and reproduction, facilities, and
and Veterinary Science Department nutrient management.
College of Agricultural and Life Sciences
University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844-2330 Northeast Organic Dairy Producers Alliance
208-885-6345, www.avs.uidaho.edu/wbrc 30 Keets Rd, Deerfield, MA 01342,
www.organicmilk.org/index.html
Merck Veterinary Manual
Merck Publishing Group, Merck & Co., Inc., P.O. Box Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle:
2000 RY84-15, Rahway, NJ 07065,732-594-4600, Seventh Revised Edition, National Academy of
www.merckbooks.com/mvm/index.html, Sciences, Washington, DC. 2001, http://newton.nap.
www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp edu/catalog/9825.html
Online text version is an authoritative reference for ani- The NRC nutrient requirements were developed from
mal health, disease, and management information. studies on cattle fed concentrates and harvested for-
ages in confinement, and may not reflect grazing
Dairy Cattle Production nutrition. However, it can be a useful starting place
Dairy Farm Manual in balancing developing pasture-based diets. Includes
Washington State Department of Agriculture Food feedstuff charts with nutrient contents.
Safety & Animal Health Division, P.O. Box 42560, Organic Dairy Farming: A Resource for Farmers
Olympia, WA 98504-2560, 360-902-1875
(2006), Jody Padgham, editor, Midwest Organic and
http://agr.wa.gov/foodAnimal/Dairy/DairyFarmManual.htm
Sustainable Education Service, P.O. Box 339, Spring
Information to assist dairy producers in meeting
Valley, WI 54767, www.mosesorganic.org, 715-772-3153
the inspection requirements for Grade A dairies in
A comprehensive resource that covers organic produc-
Washington.
tion from nutrition to marketing, including a resource
The Economics of Organic and Grazing Dairy Farms list and farmer profiles. The most up-to-date resource
Regional Multi-State Interpretation of Small Farm available, from Midwest Organic and Sustainable
Financial Data from the Fourth Year Report on 2003 Education Service.
www.attra.ncat.org ATTRA Page 17

18. Pasture for Dairy Cattle: Challenges and Opportunities Marketing
Donna M. Amaral-Phillips, Roger W. Hemken, Agricultural Marketing Resource Center
Jimmy C. Henning, and Larry W. Turner, University www.agmrc.org/agmrc
of Kentucky Cooperative Extension, National information service for value-added
www.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/asc/asc151/asc151.pdf agriculture. Section on marketing of natural beef
Prescribed Grazing and Feeding Management for located at www.agmrc.org/agmrc/commodity/
Lactating Dairy Cows livestock/beef/beef+natural.htm. Section on
Darrell Emmick, editor, New York State Grazing marketing of dairy products located at www.agmrc.
Lands Conservation Initiative, 2000 USDA-NRCS, org/agmrc/commodity/livestock/dairy/dairy.htm.
Syracuse, NY How to Direct Market Your Beef
The Small Dairy Resource Book USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and
Beltsville, MD: Sustainable Agriculture Network, Education (SARE) program, 2005.
Dunaway, V. 2000, www.sare.org/publications/ www.sare.org/publications/beef.htm.
dairyresource/dairyresource.pdf The Legal Guide for Direct Farm Marketing
Out of print. Accessible on the SARE Web site. By Neil D. Hamilton, contact Karla Westberg,
Excellent resources for small scale dairy producers, The Agricultural Law Center, The Law School, Drake
including processing, food safety, marketing, animal University, 2507 University Avenue, Des Moines, IA
and pasture management, and an extensive list of 50311, 515-271-2947, karla.westberg@drake.edu,
suppliers, organizations, and publications. www.statefoodpolicy.org/legal_guide.htm
Cornell University Small Farms Program An up-to-date, well-written primer on all the legal
www.smallfarms.cornell.edu considerations related to direct marketing of agricul-
Excellent resources on value-added dairy production tural products. Underwritten by a USDA SARE grant.
and marketing, including pasture-based and organic. Includes a chapter on marketing of meat. This publi-
The Resources section of the website has a link to Pro- cation is available for $20 through the Agricultural
duction Information, with many good publications on Law Center. Please include your name, address, and
developing dairy opportunities. phone number. Someone will contact you to finalize
billing information. Volume discounts may apply.
Dairy Barn and Equipment Plans
Colorado State University Resource Center Dairy Beef and Dairy Marketing Coops, Processors,
Equipment and Housing Plans and Firms
http://cerc.colostate.edu/Blueprints/Dairy.htm Coleman Natural Products, Inc.
5140 Race Court, Suite 4, Denver, CO 80216,
Canada Plan Service Dairy Cattle Barn and 800-442-8666, www.colemannatural.com
Equipment Plans
www.cps.gov.on.ca/english/dc2000/dairy.htm Dakota Beef, LLC
980 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1400, Chicago, IL
Penn State Dairy Housing Plans— 60601, 312-214-4991, www.dakotabeefcompany.com
NRAES Publications
www.nraes.org/publications/nraes85.html Laura’s Lean Beef
2285 Executive Drive, Suite 200, Lexington, KY
Low Cost Parlor Options CD (2001) 40505, 1-800-487-5326, www.laurasleanbeef.com
Arlin Brannstrom, 285 Animal Science Building,
1675 Observatory Drive, Madison, WI 53706, 608- Organic Family LLC, DBA Organic Choice
265-3030, Brannstrom@aae.wisc.edu 251 Industrial Drive, Mondovi, WI 54755,
This CD was developed by the Dairy Modernization/ 715-926-478, www.nextgenerationdairy.com
Retrofit Team of the University of Wisconsin Exten- Organic dairy processor.
sion in cooperation with the UW Center for Dairy
Organic Grassfed Beef Coalition
Profitability and the Biological Systems Engineering
P.O. Box 125, Vermillion, SD 57069, 605-638-0748,
Department of the University of Wisconsin—Exten-
www.organicgrassfedbeef.org
sion. Single copies of the CD may be purchased from
the Center for Dairy Profitability for $25.00. This price Organic Valley Family of Farms, CROPP Cooperative
includes shipping and handling. 507 W. Main St., La Farge, WI 54639,
Page 18 ATTRA Cattle Production: Considerations for Pasture-Based Beef and Dairy Producers