Grazing Technique Good for Cattle and Birds

Imagine herding livestock with no fences, horses or dogs—nothing but a book of matches. And imagine using cows to restore prairie chicken habitat. An emerging management technique called “patch-burn grazing” gives both ranchers and conservationists an effective, low-cost way to fatten cattle and favor prairie birds. Missouri Department of Conservation grassland biologists have been experimenting with this technique for several years, with exciting results.

Click the animation to see how the technique works. First, a patch of old grass is burned. When the new grass springs up, cattle rush to graze it. The combined disturbance of fire and grazing “awakens” dormant prairie seeds and plants, stimulating them to grow. This new, patchy spread of diverse plants attracts ground-nesting birds, including prairie chickens where enough habitat is available. Quail and lesser-known birds including the elusive Henslow’s and grasshopper sparrows benefit from this technique as well.

To learn more about how patch-burn grazing can benefit ranches and prairie restoration projects, contact Max Alleger at 660-885-8179, ext. 247.