Diverse Pastures: A Foundation for Thriving Soil Biology

Healthy soil is the backbone of any successful cattle farming system. One of the key ways to build robust soil biology is by encouraging a diversity of grasses in your pastures. This diversity fuels the soil food web and supports a flourishing microbial community.

The secret lies in photosynthesis. Different grass species have varying photosynthetic pathways, allowing them to capture and convert sunlight into sugars in unique ways. These sugars are then exuded from the grass roots and feed the soil microbes.

The more diverse the pasture, the greater the variety of sugars available to soil bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms

This nourishes a thriving, balanced soil food web that can cycle nutrients, improve soil structure, and make nutrients available to plants.

Incorporating a mix of cool-season and warm-season grasses, as well as broadleaf plants, is an excellent way to maximise the photosynthetic potential of your pastures.

Nutrient Dense Pasture On The Menu

By encouraging a diverse array of grasses, cattle farmers can create the ideal conditions for a thriving soil microbiome.

The underground ecosystem of bacteria, fungi, and other organisms plays a vital role in nutrient cycling, water retention, and overall soil health

One effective way to enhance pasture diversity is through the strategic application of liquid Biological Fertilisers. These natural, soil amendments introduce a concentrated dose of beneficial microbes that can colonise the soil and support the growth of a wide range of grasses.

As the pasture grasses thrive, they contribute organic matter and exudates that feed the soil food web. This, in turn, improves the availability of essential nutrients for the grazing animals, leading to more nutrient-dense forage and better overall herd health.

Implementing a diverse pasture system supported by Liquid Biological Fertilisers is a key strategy in todays cattle farming systems. By nurturing the soils natural processes, farmers can create a self-sustaining ecosystem that benefits both the land and the animals that call it home.

Liquid Biological Fertiliser Benefits

The use of liquid biological fertilisers, such as Liquid Fish Hydrolysate and Liquid Seaweed Biological Fertiliser, in cattle farming offers several advantages;

1. Firstly, Biological Fertilisers promote soil health by increasing organic matter content and improving soil structure. This leads to better water retention capacity and reduces erosion risks.

2. Secondly, Biological Fertilisers contribute to the overall biodiversity on farms by supporting a diverse range of beneficial microorganisms in the soil ecosystem.

Furthermore, using Biological Fertilisers can enhance nutrient cycling within the farm system. The nutrients released from these liquid fertilisers are slowly released over time through microbial activity, ensuring a steady supply for plant growth without excessive leaching or runoff into water bodies.

By improving soil health, promoting biodiversity, and enhancing nutrient cycling, cattle farmers can create healthy grazing environments for their cattle while minimising negative environmental impacts associated with conventional synthetic inputs.

Pasture Cropping Method

Pasture Cropping was first developed by NSW Australian sheep farmer Colin Seis.  The primary principal of pasture cropping is to have 100% ground cover, 100% of the time, to ensure photosynthesis and biological activity in the soil.

Pasture cropping plants cereal crops like oats and barley into perennial pasture rather than rotated fields.  And, it does not require the killing off of cover crops or tilling, but instead the perennial pasture becomes the cover crop.

Read Article – ‘Top 2 Cost Effective Crop and Pasture Cropping Tips’

Biological Soil Care

SONIC naturally cold fermented Biological Fertiliser delivers balanced organic minerals. Activated with beneficial microbes, these chelated ocean mineral concentrates stimulate beneficial microorganisms in the soil for long-term pasture improvement. Increased biological activity supports crop growth, nutrient density and overall plant resilience.

Biological Fertilisers are Safe for Grazing Animals – No Witholding Period Required

Liquid Fish Benefits for Pasture Improvement

Liquid Fish Fertiliser is made from fish discards from processing. It is a potent source of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, amino acids, enzymes, vitamins, and trace minerals.

Cold processed Biofertilisers deliver nutrients that are bio-available for plants to easily uptake. Liquid Fish not only provides essential nutrients but also enhances soil fertility by feeding beneficial microbes in the soil.

Balanced By Nature

Using a combination of Liquid Seaweed and Fish Biofertilisers offers several benefits.

Firstly, they provide a balanced nutrient profile necessary for healthy plant growth. Secondly, Biological Fertilisers improve soil structure by increasing microbial activity and organic matter content. This leads to better water retention capacity and nutrient availability for crops.

Moreover, the natural hormones present in both Liquid Seaweed and Liquid Fish Biofertiliser help regulate plant growth processes effectively, and promote root development for better nutrient uptake.

By incorporating Biological Fertilisers into your cattle farming practices, you can reduce your reliance on synthetic fertilisers while simultaneously improving soil structure. This approach not only benefits crop productivity but also contributes to long-term sustainability.

Further Reading;

‘Top 2 Cost Effective Pasture and Cover Cropping Tips’

‘7 Reasons Why Farmers are Shifting to Organic Nitrogen’

Liquid Minerals for Cattle

Minerals are needed year round by animals for optimum production, health and fertility.  Supplementing cattle with broad spectrum minerals can help stimulate metabolism and feed efficiency, which can assist health and body condition.

SONIC Liquid Seaweed for Livestock contains organic Kelp, activated with natural probiotic cultures.  The full spectrum of minerals and trace elements in Seaweed, optimise mineral nutrition, and the natural probiotics help to boost digestion.  Good digestive function, leads to increased nutrient absorption and better feed conversions.

Kelp seaweed is a highly nutritious supplement for cattle, providing a range of essential nutrients that support their health and productivity. The primary ingredients in kelp seaweed that are beneficial to cattle include:

1. Minerals

Kelp is rich in a variety of essential minerals, many of which are often lacking in conventional livestock diets. These minerals support bone health, metabolism, and overall body function:

• Calcium: Important for bone health and milk production.
• Magnesium: Supports muscle function and nerve health.
• Phosphorus: Vital for bone growth and energy metabolism.
• Potassium: Helps maintain electrolyte balance and proper muscle function.
• Iodine: Found in kelp in significant quantities, iodine supports proper thyroid function, which influences metabolism and growth rates.
• Iron: Essential for the production of hemoglobin and maintaining healthy red blood cells.
• Zinc: Supports immune function, skin health, and reproduction.
• Copper: Important for red blood cell formation and immune system support.
• Sodium: Helps in fluid balance and nerve function.

2. Vitamins

Kelp contains several important vitamins that promote general health:

• Vitamin A: Supports immune function, skin health, and vision.
• Vitamin D: Aids in calcium absorption and bone health.
• Vitamin C: Acts as an antioxidant and supports the immune system.
• Vitamin K: Important for blood clotting and bone health.
• B Vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B6, B12): Help with energy production, cell growth, and metabolic processes.

3. Amino Acids

Kelp contains essential amino acids that support protein synthesis, growth, and muscle health. Amino acids play a key role in building muscle tissue, repairing cells, and supporting metabolic processes.

4. Enzymes

Kelp contains natural enzymes that aid in digestion, which can help cattle better absorb nutrients from their feed. These enzymes can improve gut health and digestion, leading to better nutrient absorption.

5. Antioxidants

Kelp contains various antioxidants, such as flavonoids, polyphenols, and carotenoids (including beta-carotene), which help reduce oxidative stress and inflammation in cattle. This supports overall health and can enhance the immune system.

6. Alginate

Kelp contains alginate, a natural substance that can act as a prebiotic and promote healthy gut bacteria, enhancing digestion and overall gut health.

7. Sulphur

Kelp contains organic sulfur, which is important for maintaining healthy skin, joints, and connective tissues in cattle. Sulfur is also involved in the synthesis of proteins and enzymes in the body.

Probiotic Minerals for Calves

Natural Liquid Probiotic Seaweed can be administered to calves from as early as day one, and has been shown to promote optimal maturation of the rumen microbiota, as well as increasing digestion safety at weaning, and reducing the risk of pathogen colonisation.

“In young pre-ruminants, bacterial probiotics such as lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus spp., Bifidobacterium spp., Enterococcus spp., Propionibacterium spp.) or Bacillusspores generally target the small intestine, as the rumen is not yet developed, and they represent an interesting means to stabilise the gut microbiota and limit the risk of pathogen colonisation. However, live yeast distributed from the first days after birth have been reported to favour microbial colonisation and the set-up of fermentative capacities in the rumen.”

Author – ‘Beneficial Microbes’ by Chaucheyras-Durand and Fonty, 2002.  Download Article.