Cover Crop Grazing Systems

Cover crops can feed cattle and protect soil at the same time, but they bring new risks and a new set of decisions. A plan made before planting makes the difference.

Key points

Decide on grazing before planting, since it affects species and timing.
Check herbicide labels for grazing restrictions.
Know which species carry bloat, nitrate or prussic acid risk and ask your vet.
Protect soil by keeping cattle off wet fields and leaving residue.
Provide water, mineral and reliable fence.

What grazing a cover crop means

A cover crop is planted mainly to protect and improve soil between cash crops. Cattle can graze it as forage, turning a soil cost into feed. Producers who combine crops and cattle often use this to fill gaps in the grazing calendar.

Grazing is a management choice that must fit the crop plan, the soil and the cattle's needs, not an automatic extra.

Some producers graze cover crops on their own land, while others make arrangements with neighbors. In either case, put terms in writing.

Plan before planting

Decide at the start whether the field will be grazed, because that affects the species you choose, the planting date and the termination plan. Check with your extension office, seed supplier and crop insurance agent about any rules that apply to grazing cover crops and the crop that follows.

Questions to settle in advance:

Which species and mixes suit your soil, climate and goals
When the cover will be ready to graze and when cattle must come off
Fence, water and mineral for cattle on a crop field
Herbicide labels and any grazing restrictions on the products you use
Who will check the cattle, and how often

Matching forage to the cattle

Cover crops vary widely in feed value. Some are high in protein and energy, and others are coarse and low in value. Lactating cows, growing calves and dry cows have different needs, so a nutritionist or extension specialist can tell you what supplement, if any, the cattle need on a given mix.

Cattle need minerals, and some mixes may call for added forage fiber. Do not assume lush green growth means a balanced diet.

A second look at the mix halfway through the season helps you notice if the cattle are cleaning up the forage evenly or picking only parts of it.

Health risks to understand

Some cover crops can cause bloat, and others can accumulate nitrate or prussic acid under certain conditions such as drought, frost or heavy fertilizer. These are real risks, but the details depend on the species and the weather. Ask your vet and an extension specialist about the species you plan to use, and when risk is highest.

Do not move hungry cattle onto lush covers, and fill them with dry hay or a safe forage first. Check cattle daily. Any animal that is swollen, down, staggering or in distress is an emergency, so call your vet immediately.

Protecting the soil

The point of a cover crop is soil protection, so grazing should not undo it. Cattle on wet fields can compact the soil and tear up cover, and overgrazing leaves bare ground. Take cattle off wet fields, leave enough residue and watch for muddy gateways and water points.

Rotating cattle through small paddocks with temporary fence lets them graze evenly and gives plants time to recover. Your NRCS office can help design this.

Soil conditions change with weather, so set rules for when cattle come off the field, such as after heavy rain, and tell everyone who handles the cattle.

Water, fence and handling

Temporary fence and portable water make cover crop grazing workable, but cattle must be able to drink easily and fences must hold. Check electric fences often, and make sure everyone who works around them follows electrical safety guidance from the manufacturer and OSHA or extension.

Plan how you will gather and move cattle on soft ground, and keep a way to get them out quickly if weather changes.

Keep a few days of dry hay on hand in case the weather turns and cattle need to come off the field.

Common mistakes and what to ask

Mistakes include turning hungry cattle onto lush growth, ignoring herbicide grazing restrictions, grazing wet fields, and skipping a mineral program. Ask your extension specialist, NRCS conservationist and vet about species, timing and risks for your area. Cost-share programs may exist for cover crops, but program terms change, so ask your NRCS or FSA office for current details.

Record the species, planting date, grazing dates, cattle numbers and results, and compare them with the soil and crop that follows.

When to get help: Call your veterinarian immediately for any bloated, staggering or down animal, and ask an extension specialist, nutritionist and your NRCS office about species, timing and grazing rules before planting.

Sources and further reading

Organization homepages are linked so you can search them for current guidance on this topic.

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