Green Cover Best Management - Range & Forage

• Litter (mulch) is any old plant residue.
• Litter performs many beneficial functions to maintain pasture health.
• Litter loads upwards of 8000 lbs/ac did not reduce forage production.
• Study findings are still being analyzed – more to come!

• To demonstrate to producers the feasibility of grazing for 300+ days per year utilizing a coordinated system of winter grazing practices.
• To demonstrate to producers the potential cost savings and overall economics of a year-round grazing system.
• To demonstrate to producers the ability of beef cows to maintain body condition and reproductive performance under a year-round grazing system.
• To develop a handbook that captures the stories of 5 producers across the province who have implemented a year-round grazing system and provides the supporting science in the background.
• The handbook is a model of systems thinking for other producers to use in developing their own year-round grazing systems.

• Alberta’s rangelands are a rich source of natural capital and livelihood.
• They produce a wide range of benefits, and ecological goods and services such as water, forage, fish and wildlife, fibre, recreation, and aesthetics.
• Our present and future generations rely on the sustainable use of rangelands in the Grasslands, Parklands, Montane, Foothills, and Boreal forests.
• A key factor to achieve sustainable land use is rangelands are managed for ecological health and function.
• In 2006, Alberta Sustainable Resource Development Range Resource Management Program and the Hinton Training School and Canada Greencover partnered to develop a range management course that assists livestock producers and resource managers better understand and apply ‘state of the art’ range management ecology and tools.
• When rangelands are grazed ‘ecologically’ and their key ecological functions are maintained, sustainable livestock grazing can be achieved.

• We must have a sufficient forage source to accommodate the increasing number of cattle in Alberta
• Intercropping of spring and winter cereals may help to increase forage production and extend the grazing season for cattle producers
• The objective of this study was toe determine the effects of intercropping spring and winter cereals on yield and quality of forage and potential to extend the grazing season
• This project was carried out at 6 locations including: Fort Kent, Westlock, Ryley, Killam, Stettler and Oyen.