It goes without saying that healthy soil is good for plant growth. Something we don’t talk about enough, though, is what a powerful impact animals can have in the process itself. Furthermore, proper application of manure and other livestock impacts can help restore soil organic matter. Thus, the use of animals to improve soil organic matter is a new frontier in agriculture. Besides being able to nourish soil, livestock can also help manage various habitats, such as wetlands and woodlands. Find livestock for sale on AgriMag at affordable prices.

Maintaining a farm’s soil conditions is often not at the top of a farmer’s list of priorities when above-ground production needs to take the front seat. But below-ground health is vital to ensuring a good crop, and today we’ll take a look at how you can use livestock to create healthier soil, the benefits, and how manure affects soil.

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Why is livestock important for healthier soil?

The use of animals as part of regenerative farming can have a powerful effect on production and the management of land. Let’s take a look at why.

Livestock provides natural fertiliser

Natural manure is a beneficial addition to a farm's rotation and cropping systems as it can provide another layer of fertility in addition to what is already being done. Farmers can also reduce their use of chemicals by using this method.

Assist in pest control

Allowing livestock of the avian kind to forage and scratch in fields can help combat pest problems. This is extra beneficial because these birds will eat the various insects and worms that can attack your crops while they also get protein from what they consume.

Residue removal

Livestock can be used as a cleanup crew to remove residue and damaged crops from fields. They can forage for cover crop materials or eat vegetables that aren't approved for human consumption.

Help with restoration and regeneration

A long-term solution to the problem of invasive species is through systematic grazing. This method involves using cattle, sheep, and goats to remove unwanted organisms from the habitat.

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Benefits of using livestock for healthier soil in South Africa

1. Increase nutrients in the soil
2. In their own way, the animals are able to loosen the soil by stimulating microbial activity. Their excrement then creates organic acids that can free up nutrients.
3. Improve soil organic matter
4. Sheep have various benefits, such as working seeds into the soil with their hooves, dropping manure, and also mowing down the pasture.

Are you wondering how livestock manure affects soil health? Let’s take a look…

If properly managed, livestock manure can provide beneficial nutrients to soil and improve the soil's chemical, physical, and biological properties.

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Here’s something interesting.

Water, nutrients, carbon, and microbial life make up manure, which is mainly composed of compounds that have already been broken down by an animal’s digestive system. The presence of carbon in manure can improve various soil-health indicators. These include nutrient cycling, organic matter, water-holding capacity, and pH level.

Even though most plants and animals can tolerate varying pH levels, it's still important to maintain the soil's pH at around 6 to 8, as this will allow for the availability of nutrients. Manure can also help improve the pH level of the soil, and it can benefit crops that reside in acidic environments.

In addition to being beneficial for soil health, manure also helps in recycling nutrients. When livestock eat and digest leaves or grain, they remove nutrients from the soil, which are then returned. This process increases the biological activity of the soil by introducing beneficial microorganisms and animal saliva. When properly applied, manure can help reduce the use of commercial fertilisers.

We can conclude by saying not only does livestock manure provide nutrients to crops, but it also helps build up the organic matter in the soil, which can contribute to both fertility and structure. As a result, livestock improves soil health and produces more effective and profitable crops. Are you looking for more livestock for your farm? Browse through AgriMag to find livestock for sale right now.