> In my opinion, grazing through the winter for the sake of grazing through
> the winter is not a good idea. We graze through the winter because it
> costs less to do it that way. In places closer to the North Pole, it may
> actually be more expensive to graze all winter, or even to maximize winter
grazing.
> There is a reason that most of the beef cows are in the Southern or
> Western part of the US. Unless you are going for a local niche market,
I
> would recommend selling the cows and getting something more appropriate to
> your climate, like sheep. Sheep are much better at winter grazing than
> cows. They should also be a good niche market.
Grazing perennials is our cheapest feed source, grazing annuals like corn or
brassicas which could stand through deeper snow, while more expensive than
pasture are still cheaper than harvesting, storing and feeding. For the
cow/calf herd in winter/snow climates, stored feed is our largest expense,
we need to figure ways to graze longer to reduce that cost, not graze year
round at any cost just for sake of grazing.
Sheep are better graziers year round, not just winter. Beef are a much
better niche market, nearly everyone eats beef, very few people eat lamb
here. I don't have the time nor marketing skills to peddle lamb over 12
counties in 3 states to find enough buyers.
Gene Schriefer
Shepherd
Dodgeville, Wisconsin USA
Commercial Texel-x and Charollais-x Sheep
Red Poll Cattle
