An increasing number of producers on the Canadian prairies are feeding or grazing their livestock in a field setting rather than a confined corral during the winter season.   In-field winter feeding systems, such as swath and bale grazing, involve lower costs associated with reduced manure and feed handling.  Technologies such as mobile electric fencing, winterized watering systems, and portable windbreaks help to maintain livestock health and productivity.

In-field wintering feed systems provide increased soil fertility and increased plant growth by greatly reducing ammonia volatilization losses, which are common with confined feeding systems.   However, there is a risk of increased loss of nutrients by surface water runoff, particularly during spring snowmelt.  Sustainable management of nutrients involves both appropriate site selection and ongoing site management.

The Agri-Environment Services Branch (AESB) of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) has initiated a number of monitoring, technology transfer and applied research projects to facilitate improved nutrient management of in-field livestock winter feeding systems.  The Farm Environment Management Survey is being used to monitor adoption trends.  Technology transfer projects include a recent publication, a winter site risk assessment tool, and a nutrient loading calculator.  Research initiatives include long term monitoring of soil nutrients and forage/crop response following a high nutrient load feeding event with bale grazing.   AESB is also providing support to a number of multi agency research projects aimed at measuring and understanding nutrient losses from in-field winter feeding sites.

In February 2011, AESB coordinated a multi agency workshop to provide the latest science based information on this topic.  This workshop also developed ideas for future priorities in research and technology transfer.  These ideas are being assessed by two recently formed working groups.  This initiative has helped create a multi agency based community of practice to address these issues.