Silvopasture is a technique for introducing and maintaining trees and grazing livestock on the same land. A silvopasture can be created by either introducing trees on grazing pastureland, or by integrating livestock forage into woodlands. The two features provide complimentary purposes to each other when integrated: for example, trees can produce fodder for livestock and reduce the risk of heat stress by shading them.
Silvopastures are most successful when managed more actively. Agronomic principles such as maintaining native pasture forage, organic fertilization, and using rotational grazing patterns maximize the effectiveness of the combination. Rotational grazing is particularly important to minimize damage to trees and maximize plant growth with short grazing cycles. Other specific management strategies include canopy management, weed control, hay harvest, and more.
Though silvopastures can be management-heavy, they provide several benefits for both crops and livestock. The trees and vegetation provide livestock with forage, shelter, and heat protection, boosting animal well-being and improving overall wildlife diversity. The forage protects soil from erosion by wind or rain, while also boosting organic matter to improve overall soil health. Silvopastures provide other economic benefits, too: they can make landscapes more visually attractive, and they provide both short-term annual grazing income as well as long-term income from tree harvests.
Learn more about the important ways to manage silvopastures and the different ways they can be implemented on the CA Field Office Technical Guide website.
The following sections highlight some of the most applicable and effective methods for the Sacramento region and provide access to additional sources to learn more.
