Only by continuously monitoring the health of the soil on farms dedicated to beef cattle farming can we improve it and take action when necessary
Soil is much more than just the physical support for pastures and crops: it is a living ecosystem that stores carbon, regulates the water cycle, sustains biodiversity and ensures long-term productivity. That is why we must make every effort to protect and strengthen it.
There are many measures that can be implemented that have proven effective in protecting and improving soil health in extensive and semi-extensive livestock farming, especially in systems such as pastureland, Mediterranean grasslands, and mountain areas.
Rational and adaptive grazing management
Properly managed grazing has proven to be a powerful tool for improvement and conservation. Relatively simple measures such as planning rotational grazing, dividing the farm into plots and alternating the use of pasture, allowing periods of rest for plant regeneration, prevent overgrazing, stimulate grass regrowth and improve soil cover.
Another option is to opt for instant stocking, with more concentrated grazing but over a shorter period of time, which stimulates light trampling, incorporating organic matter without compacting it and promoting nutrient recycling and surface aeration of the soil.
It is also advisable to adapt grazing to the climate and production of the year, through dynamic management based on observation and the seasonal evolution of pastures, which helps to reduce the risk of degradation.
Vegetation cover against erosion
The permanent presence of living vegetation or plant residues on the soil is essential for reducing water erosion, preventing runoff, improving infiltration and increasing organic matter. Initiatives such as planting strategic cover crops of adapted species (perennial grasses, native legumes) in degraded or overused areas, or maintaining islands of natural vegetation, boundaries and temporary exclusion zones also allow for the conservation of functional biodiversity hubs and refuges for pollinating or insectivorous fauna.
In cases of heavy rainfall, proper management of livestock loads on slopes is always recommended to prevent the runoff of fine particles and nutrients.
Measures to improve soil fertility and biological activity
Only if the soil is alive will we have fertile soil. To guarantee its structure, mineralisation and water retention capacity, we must ensure that we are able to promote microbial life and soil fauna (earthworms, beetles, mycorrhizae, etc.). There are different ways to do this, such as avoiding unnecessary deep tillage, which degrades soil aggregates and breaks up mycelium networks, or applying compost, manure or grazing excrement.
The application of compost or mature manure must be carried out according to technical criteria that ensure that it is well stabilised, without excess moisture, and applied superficially to avoid nitrogen losses through volatilisation. In the case of grazing excrement, we must ensure that it is distributed evenly, which is achieved through mobile grazing that avoids areas of prolonged concentration, such as watering holes or feeders without rotation.
Water, our greatest challenge
Without a doubt, water is the limiting resource par excellence in many extensive livestock systems. That is why it is so important to implement measures that improve the soil’s infiltration and storage capacity. In this regard, techniques such as natural micro-dams or swales (level ditches) can be used in runoff areas to promote progressive infiltration; biological decompaction through deep roots (such as dactylis, sainfoin, some shrubby legumes, etc.), which open pores without the need for machinery; or multi-layer vegetation cover, which helps reduce the direct impact of rain and increase surface retention time.
The importance of trees in the silvopastoral model
In systems such as the “Dehesa”, trees play an essential role in soil health, as their deep roots structure the profile by providing organic matter, improving the microclimate and hosting beneficial mycorrhizae. This is why actions such as the regeneration of native trees (holm oaks, cork oaks, gall oaks) through individual protection and selective elimination of competition, adequate and periodic pruning to avoid shade/light imbalances, improve tree architecture and take advantage of biomass, and the protection of young trees from browsing through temporary exclusion or physical protectors are so important in this type of ecosystem.
Continuous soil monitoring and diagnosis
Only by continuously monitoring the health of the soil on farms dedicated to beef cattle farming can we improve it and take action when necessary. It is therefore recommended to establish a baseline for the current situation and to monitor it continuously.
For the latter, there are simple analyses that can be carried out periodically to monitor developments, such as the analysis of organic matter, pH, cation exchange capacity, bulk density, etc.
We must also observe and monitor a series of very simple and accessible biophysical indicators, such as checking and verifying the presence of earthworms, colour, odour, water infiltration (bottle test), vegetation cover, etc.
Finally, it is always advisable to map vulnerable areas in order to prioritise interventions, separating compacted areas from erodible slopes, concentration points, etc.
Soil protection and improvement not only as heritage but also as a strategy
Regenerative soil management is a long-term commitment that not only preserves and conserves soil by preventing erosion and desertification, but is also a strategic and key action that generates multiple benefits in extensive beef cattle farms, improving profitability, reducing external costs (fertilisers, plant protection products), strengthening resilience to climate change and socially legitimising the role of the farmer as a caretaker of the land.
In a European context where more sustainable agri-food systems are in demand, the extensive farmer has a historic opportunity: to demonstrate that quality meat can be produced while conserving and regenerating natural resources. And the first step always begins under our feet.
