By M. Charles Gould
Solar grazing has largely been associated with sheep, but a Virginia-based farmer and entrepreneur believes cattle may be the next frontier if they are bred and managed correctly.
During a recent My Ag Ideas to Grow With virtual conference session, Jess Gray, CEO of Gray’s LAMBscaping, LLC and board member of the American Solar Grazing Association, introduced the concept of inverter cattle, a purpose-built composite breed designed specifically for grazing solar energy sites.
“We spend a lot of money mowing things that cows would love to eat,” Gray said. “So, Marcus and I got to thinking, what would it take to get our cows out onto solar?”
Gray explained that solar sites present a unique challenge: they combine agriculture with an energy workforce that is often unfamiliar and uncomfortable with livestock. “If people are afraid of my sheep, they’re going to be afraid of cows,” she said. “We wanted animals that honestly couldn't care less who’s in that pasture.”
To meet that need, the Grays began selectively breeding cattle with traits suited for solar environments. These included docility, disease resistance, moderate size, heat tolerance and the ability to thrive on pasture with minimal intervention. “We are 100% pasture-based,” Gray said. “We want animals that can make the most out of whatever is present there.”
The result is inverter cattle, a composite breed drawing from Dexter, Belted Galloway, Piney Woods, and American Milking Devon genetics. Gray said the goal is longevity and efficiency rather than maximum size. “We’re looking at about 1,000 pounds,” she said. “Not miniature cattle, but also not full-size animals that intimidate people.”
Gray stressed that management is key. “This idea that cattle are a bull in a China shop—that’s constantly being proven wrong,” she said. “If animals have food, water, minerals, and good management, they’re not likely to find themselves in trouble.”
Source : msu.edu