United Country Real Estate 1st Edition 2022

by Angela Smith

FOR RANCH LIVESTOCK

Many ranchers and farmers are already familiar with rotating cattle for grazing in order to keep grass and soil in prime condition. But in recent years traditional rotational grazing has been upgraded to a method called holistic grazing. This method takes things a few steps further by ensuring livestock is in the right place, at the right time and with the right behavior. Holistic grazing has been compared to a permaculture approach to ranchland management. It makes the environment and social welfare of the livestock just as important as production. If you want to switch to holistic grazing, there are some great ways to ensure successful results. DEFINEWHATYOUWANT

CREATE A PLAN FORTHE OFF-SEASON When forage isn’t growing anymore, create a plan to level out the remaining feed to last until growing season starts. The main goal is to make sure plants and soil are kept up and prepared for the next season. Timing is critical when developing grazing plans, regardless of the season. Just remember that the weather changes, land changes and even the economy changes every year. So, make sure you are paying attention and adjusting your approaches accordingly for best results. United Country Real Estate is a national leader in ranchland sales. View all of our available ranches and related property for sale at UCRanches.com.

Set goals and objectives for what you’re trying to accomplish. What type of environment are you trying to create? How many herds are involved? How much land do you have? What other resources do you have (wildlife, forestry, etc.) to help you achieve your goals? MAKE GRAZING CHARTS Charts can help define exactly where livestock needs to be and when. They can also make it a lot easier to determine if adjustments are needed while allowing you to monitor your cattle’s every move. LIMITYOUR LIVESTOCK Incorporating holistic grazing into your plan works best when you only have one herd. And remember, the idea is shorter grazing periods and longer rest periods.

Sources: www.savory.global/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/about-holistic-planned-grazing.pdf en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holistic_management_(agriculture)