Happy Urban Dirt

In her book, The art of science and grazingThe grazing consultant in the country Sarah Flack identifies the key principles and practices necessary for farmers for design and management, successful grazing systems.

This book is an indispensable guide for ruminant breeders who want chests that meet the needs of farm animals, pasture plants, soil and a larger ecosystem – especially since this is about that agriculture is a solution in the fight against climate change. Below is a fragment of her book, which presents the benefits of good pasture management.

Have you noticed that some pastures seem to end during the grazing season, so that the cows are more fed in the barn? Have you ever wondered why some pastures become weed, remain tiny, or are they full of plants that animals don’t eat? Many of these problems are caused by poorly designed grazing systems or they result from damage to plants and soils with pastures caused by indigent management.

After doing well, grazing management can improve the well -being of animals, ecological health and sustainable financial development of the farm.

Effectively designed and managed activity of grass -based farm animals requires that the farmer understand the basic principles of grazing management and ecology. It also requires understanding of what pasture and farm animals need and how to combine this information along with appropriate infrastructure. This knowledge allows the farmer to choose what type of grazing system suits best for the farm and family goals and adapting it so that the system is practical and works well.

The pasture ecosystem includes many related parts, including plants, soils, animals, local weather and farmer. (Yes, people are part of the ecosystem!) Many factors affect the types of plants in the pasture and how they grow vigorously. Such factors may include the way animals are used to harvest plants and the method of distribution of manure, as well as the impact of hooves, weather as well as the past and current soil fertility and health management. Grazing systems that are designed and managed with understanding of these factors create many benefits. However, poorly designed and managed pastures can lead to many problems, including a negative effect on the ecosystem.

For novice farmers or up-to-date in farm farmers based on grass, the number of suggestions regarding the “best way” of improvement of soil fertility, feed quality and production of pastures can be overwhelming.

This is particularly hard for farmers who have not yet learned the basic principles of good grazing. Without a solid understanding of the basic guidelines for configuring and managing the pasture system, it is effortless to move through the latest fashion and spend money on unnecessary or impractical infrastructure and input data. This may cause a system that does not meet the quality of life or financial needs of the farm, and can threaten the performance and prosperity of farm animals.

To be a good grass farmer, you need technical and scientific knowledge about grazing and animal breeding management, as well as observation and monitoring skills to see subtle changes in time in breeding, soil and pasture plants. Thanks to this knowledge, farmers found various inventive ways to apply good grazing principles to many types of land bases with various types of farm animals.

How grazing improves the pasture

After properly, animal grazing can bring many benefits for the environment, plants, soils, animals and farm income. Good grazing management can change plant species in the pasture, even without cultivation and re -assessment, simply as a result of influence on the animal. When the animals spend time in the pasture, they do more than just eat. They print weeds and dead plants into the soil, which adds organic matter and can improve the biological activity of the soil. They choose some plants to eat and spread their own manure. In just a few years, this combination of activities can convert overgrown pastures, during which animals must look for good quality feed, in highly productive pastures capable of supporting more animals and ensuring higher quality feed. As the pasture increases, the augment in the density and diversity of plants, which protects the soil against erosion and thickening. In addition to apparent ground improvement, the growth of plant roots and better ride on the bike of nutrients through the soil also increases, thanks to which they are more accessible to plants and other soil viability.

A well -managed pasture provides a affordable, high -quality channel. This is especially helpful for farmers who have to deal with the growing costs of purchased feed, combined with the cost of harvesting and storage of feed. With good pasture management, most sheep and beef farms should be able to completely eliminate grain feeding or feed in grazing season. For some dairy farms, it may be possible to significantly reduce or, in some cases, completely eliminate grain feeding. However, at the time of writing this text, this is probably still more profitable for most dairy farms to supplement the pasture with grain, due to the current cost of grain and the price of payment for milk. (More information about 100 % grass feeding see chapter 11.)

In addition to lower costs, due to the reduction of additional feed purchases, there is also less labor costs and outlays, because farm animals break its own feed, which reduces or eliminates the need for mechanical collection, storage and nutrition. After starting the grazing system, there will still be a certain cost, as investments in seeds and soil fertility may be needed. Despite this, the benefits of a well -managed system will generally cover costs!

When the pastures are well designed and managed, there will be a better seasonal availability of high -quality pastures. This can allow you to graze earlier and runs later until autumn or winter. This reduces the cost of buying fuel, workforce and equipment. For example, a miniature beef herd with just 20 heads can consume 8 to 10 round bales a week. At 40 USD for a bale, a farmer can save up to 400 USD for each week of grazing season is extended for autumn. These savings can be re -invested in more fence, seeds or fence. Or it can enter the savings account!

Benefits for farm animals and people

Good grazing management can improve the health of farm animals due to better nutrition, lower stress and a larger opportunity to keep a natural herd or herd. This can reduce the Cull rate, produce animals for longer, lower veterinarian bills and allow additional income from the sale of farm animals. Cattle in the pasture is also spreading their own manure and mowed weeds.

When their diet is mostly or completely from the pasture, animals produce meat and milk of different amounts and types of nutrients than a living grain feeding product. Nutrients that appear in larger amounts in the grass of meat and milk, include carotenoids, vitamin E, omega-3 fatty acids, linoleic acid (CLA) and other nutrients.

Studies on human benefits related to increasing CLA consumption in the diet indicate that this may reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease. Studies also show that an augment in omega-3 fatty acids in relation to omega-6 fatty acids can reduce the risk of cancer, obesity, diabetes and other diseases.

This information can be used to provide up-to-date marketing possibilities. It is not surprising that the higher nutritional value of these foods attracts health -oriented consumers, and many consumers also appreciate other benefits of grass breeding, including the improvement of animal welfare and environmental health. Many ecological benefits of well -managed production systems based on pastures are the result of a population with a higher density of deeply rooted perennial and well plants, biologically vigorous soils. The benefits of many years of soil covering include reduced soil erosion and better water quality due to better soil stability and less rafting of nutrients. In addition, when farm animals perform a collection and spread of manure, there is less used fossil fuels and less greenhouse gas emissions, and coal is actually sequested in plants and soil. These eternal pastures are very diverse, which also improves wild nature habitats.

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