I think a lot of people are aware that cow manure from cows that are grazing rotationally helps to create better pastures.
However, what I learned from someone I met on a cattle farm is that cow saliva can also create a better pasture.
Cows may produce up to 150 liters of saliva in a single day (depending on their diet) to buffer the fermentation that goes on in their rumen.
The rumen is one of the four compartments of a cow's stomach.
In order to break down the tough foods that cows eat and release the nutrients that cows can digest, the rumen will contain many microorganisms.
And it is believed by some that there are more organisms in the rumen of a cow than there are people on earth. The most common organisms are bacteria, protozoa, and fungi.
Without these microorganisms in the rumen, a cow would literally starve.
I learned that the saliva from cows will be left behind during grazing. Did you know that saliva along with cow urine and cow feces will increase the microbes in the soil?
In order to have a healthy pasture with healthy grasses, you will need beneficial microorganisms in your soil!