The Ontario Beef Research Station (OBRC) – New Liskeard is entering their final year of a three-year grazing trial to examine the effects of pasture management on carbon sequestration, soil health and forage productivity for optimizing performance using sustainable production practices. The overall goal of this study is to investigate how pasture management strategies affect sustainable beef production through the use of comprehensive pasture systems. Researchers hope the results will address beef producers’ cost-of-production concerns along with consumers’ environmental and social concerns regarding beef production. In New Liskeard, 120 acres of tile-drained pasture have been subdivided into fifteen eight-acre fields. This layout will allow researchers to examine the effects of renovating established pasture with the following five treatments:

1. Existing pasture left as-is.
2. Sod-seeded grass and trefoil mix
3. Sod-seeded grass and alfalfa mix
4. Pre-sprayed with glyphosate and seeded with grass and trefoil mix
5. Pre-sprayed with glyphosate and seeded with grass and alfalfa

The grass mixture includes meadow bromegrass, tall fescue, orchard grass and Kentucky bluegrass. Comprehensive data on soil health and the microbiome, carbon sequestration, pasture productivity and quality, animal performance, and production costs will be collected for each treatment. The study will also compare the performance of alfalfa and birdsfoot trefoil when the legume in the pasture grass mixture is changed. Researchers will use the information gathered to devise strategies for preventing decreases in pasture nutrient quality, as well as whether to rehabilitate existing pastures or continue grazing an established pasture. From a producer standpoint, this trial will provide more information on how to improve pasture output and nutritional quality through grazing management. The study will also assess the factors that influence the rate and extent of carbon sequestration in pastures. Given this, the collected data will provide insight on how beef producers can implement new pasture management practices to improve on-farm environmental and green house gas perspectives. Lastly, this study is designed to debunk consumer misconceptions regarding the environmental impact of beef production, as well as consumers’ lack of understanding of how proper pasture management enriches the environment and increases carbon sequestration to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.