Swath-Grazing in Western Canada: A Survey of Practices, Motivations, and Challenges Among Cow-Calf Producers

During winter, Western Canadian cow-calf producers (WCCCP) use field-feeding methods such as swath-grazing to reduce costs and improve nutrient cycling. This study identified the primary reasons for and against swath-grazing, updated common agronomic and production practices used by practitioners, and assessed associations between swath-grazing adoption and operation characteristics. Survey responses (n=220) from WCCCP were analyzed. Swath-grazing was currently or previously utilized by 70% of respondents. Reduced fuel (94%) and labour (60%) were the top two motivators for adoption. Concerns with waste (24%), weather (22%), wildlife (19%) and animal performance (19%) were the top four reasons cited by respondents (63/220) who ceased swath-grazing. Polycrops were used by 43% of swath-grazers, with oat, pea, hairy vetch, and turnip being the most incorporated crops in mixtures. On average, producers swath-grazed for 70 days, allocating new swaths every 4.5 days. Majority of producers managed leftover swaths in the spring by grazing with cattle (56%) and/or using field equipment to incorporate residue into the soil (21%). Logistic regression analysis revealed that having a spring calving start, cultivated land, use of stockpile grazing, and a cattle feeding enterprise were positively associated with swath-grazing adoption (P ≤ 0.05), while post-secondary education was associated with reduced adoption (P=0.004).