Zero grazing methods?

Anyone using zero grazing methods for sheep/goats/cows? If so, how are you gathering feed in an efficient manner?

I see this method commonly advertised by NGO for developing areas.  It has numerous advantages:  it eliminates the need for costly fencing, improves forage management, concentrates manure for easy collection, eliminates damage to crops and wildlife areas, and keeps feed parasite free.

The most obvious downside I see is the labor required to harvest the feed.  I routinely give prunings to my animals.  A half day's worth of prunings are consumed within a few hours leaving the animals hungry for more.  I couldn't imagine cutting and hauling enough feed every day for much more than a single milk goat, yet the NGO videos often show farmers feeding several cows.

Another danger I see is allowing the method to lapse into a feedlot situation with poor manure management and feedlot associated health problems.  I believe exercise is also important for animal health.

Hi Grey,

While I am sure it can be done, I am skeptical.  Because of coyotes,  I bring my livestock into corrals closer to my house at night.  I also use those corrals Dec through Feb to make life easier for me.  Now if I had one milk goat or a couple of pigs it might be acceptable... just as long as I didn't look too close at the numbers.  Many people homestead with limited livestock on 1 or 2 acres.

John F Dean wrote: Hi Grey,

While I am sure it can be done, I am skeptical.  Because of coyotes,  I bring my livestock into corrals closer to my house at night.  I also use those corrals Dec through Feb to make life easier for me.  Now if I had one milk goat or a couple of pigs it might be acceptable... just as long as I didn't look too close at the numbers.  Many people homestead with limited livestock on 1 or 2 acres.

How much stock do you put in those corrals in the winter?  What do you feed them?  How do you manage the manure?  Do you use bedding?

Like John, I'm skeptical of this method as well. It's very much a commercialized production approach, rather than a permaculture approach. You won't find it in any natural ecosystem. You've already spotted the pitfalls, which create a lot of work to avoid.

I have goats, which are free to graze (rotationally), but are in their shelters at night with free choice hay. I use the deep litter method in the barn and find it works very well. My bedding is wasted hay, mostly. I rarely buy straw. Several times a year I clean out the barn and top dress the pastures with it. I especially search out bare spots, where I toss down a forage seed mix and cover it with the barn litter. For me, this is the simplest and easiest workflow. My goats are healthy and happy, and my pastures are improving.

I do gather branches and weeds for the goats, but it's more of a treat. I agree it would be a lot of work to gather enough to keep them in good condition. Remember too, that goats, sheep, and cows are ruminants. They require long-stemmed grasses and hay to stay in top health because that's how their digestive systems are designed to work.

Yes I use straw bedding.  I keep around 30 bales on hand.  I have, at present, 4 corrals of varying sizes.  To grab onto  number ...say 40x60 feet
I have 2 more not quite as close to the house that are available. At the moment, the 2 extra ones lack shelter. For the winter I have 6 goats and 3 pigs.  The pigs get a mix of beets, oats, corn, and sunflower seed.  The goats get a mix of goat feed, sunflower, and beets.  Hay is available for both the pigs (Kunekune) and goats.