2008 Cover Crop Research Plot - Bladen, NE
Providence Farms, LLC        Brian and Keith Berns

Cover Crop Grazing
The cover crops used for grazing consisted of a mix of the following:

  • Indianhead Lentils - 10 lbs

  • Common Vetch - 5 lbs

  • Sudan grass - 5 lbs

  • Premium Brassica Grazing Mix - 4 lbs

  • Ethiopian Cabbage - 1.5 lbs

 Total Planting Rate:  Approximately 25 lbs/acre

Cost of Seed:  Approximately $27/acre

Cattle in new paddok - 30 cows, 25 calves on 3 acres - lasted 3 days
Paddok just after grazing 20 cows, 20 calves on 3 acres - lasted 3 days

   

The same area 3 weeks later
   

The same area 5 weeks after grazing
Grazed paddok with 1 week regrowth

 

Heavy grazing - 2 weeks of regrowth
   
Medium Grazing intensity - 2 1/2 weeks of regrowth
 
Light grazing intensity - 2 weeks of regrowth