11/14/05 Multi-species grazing and leafy spurge

American Rancher November 14, 2005 Researchers in North Dakota have been looking at multi-species grazing for controlling leafy spurge. Tim Faller from North Dakota State University Extension Service oversaw the work. Faller: "Well the original goal was to look at the role of multi-species and this case sheep, to control leafy spurge in land that was traditionally a beef only setting." For ten years cattle and sheep were grazed together in the same spurge infested pasture. Faller says the research showed that such a system would control spurge although it would take longer than if there were only sheep in the pasture. Faller: "In the cattle and sheep pastures it took actually about the fifth year before we had a level of control that was acceptable." Faller says the research showed that the sheep didn't compete with the cattle, because sheep eat plants cattle don't eat. Faller: "Out anticipation was that as they removed the spurge that we would have additional grass production. And we were successful in that and actually able to raise the cattle numbers in those sites that were infested with spurge and add sheep." Faller says the answers that were found have led to some new questions. Faller: "Is there a level of aftercare that we have to provide for pastures that have been renovated by a multi-species grazing to make it sustain itself long term." Additional research says Faller, could answer those questions. Meanwhile researchers are compiling the first ten years of data. I'm Bob Hoff.