Would love to see side-by-side comparison photos of Total Grazing vs Gabe Brown's vs Greg Judy's vs any other system(s): 1. cattle and 2. paddocks with the same days of recovery from last grazing visit. My perception is that Total Grazing cattle look thin, more like dairy cattle and the TG pastures look less than lush. I could be wrong. My background is a lifetme of my family's dairy. We milked 112 in the 70's and milked 750 from 2005 to 2022. Our cows were pastured when dry, during the summer, with 24/7 access to tmr at the feed bunk. Dad seldom allowed a bunk to be empty, therefore, i am accustomed to seeing well-fleshed animals. (Any thin cow on our farm usually had some issue like ultra-high production, lameness, Johnes, ...) So the grazing methods are new-to-me. Gut feeling: we should mob the herd/flock tightly and move quickly/often; like the predators moved the bison before industrialized agriculture. Would love to hear what others think... Have a blessed day!
Thanks for the comment. A side by side comparison would be cool. Keep in mind that they would all three have different cattle and differing number of head of cattle on identical paddocks due to grazing style. The TG group would have several more than either of the other 2 methods.
Our best cattle are doing really well. Some of our more marginal cows are slightly behind where I want them this time of year. That’s to be expected this early in our non-selective grazing journey
Really great video Ben… When I get my finances in order and am on the farm full time I am definitely doing high stocking rate multiple moves a day…. I absolutely have been doing 1/3 a 1/3 for couple years and yes things improved initially then plateaud. but nothing like what you have really incredible. With the in town job unfortunately I’m stuck with 1 a day moves and usually give them more than they need.
Due to my current work schedule ( night shift 80+ hrs a week) i make a paddock big enough to last 3 days and i come behind and clup with a mower this will be my first year of grazing, i am slowly trying to get to daily moves, but have already started to see different in my pasture, my fields are primarily dew berry vines and brooms sedges lol
Exactly. Lots of annuals in our pasture right now makes a difference too. Mature annuals just trample much easier. It impacts the ratio of grazed/trampled as well
I’ve now been watching and following for awhile now. I would love a video based on the economics and financials in this current environment. Mainly because I’m looking to run more cattle on some of my land that is currently leased out to a cash cropper but with high cattle prices it may be tough and anti lucrative to try to expand right now. So that may work well into your proposal of 400 likes and buying another herd…. Thanks
There is a lot of seed head there. There is a lot of focus on weed pressure however there looks like a lack of quality. Total grazing in the spring in all my years has necer resulted well.
With this ultra-high density grazing resulting in evenly spreaded manure and urine when you start grazing a paddock in the spring, once you come back for the second grazing after not so many days, don't they (the cattle) not avoid those areas where they have peed and pooped the first time, when they graze that cell again?
I love your videos and you are doing a great job. They are super informative. My only criticism is that you need to slow down on your camera swings. You are going way too fast panning back and forth, and it is almost unwatchable. Keep up the great work! Looking forward to watching more.
Would love to see side-by-side comparison photos of Total Grazing vs Gabe Brown's vs Greg Judy's vs any other system(s): 1. cattle and 2. paddocks with the same days of recovery from last grazing visit. My perception is that Total Grazing cattle look thin, more like dairy cattle and the TG pastures look less than lush. I could be wrong. My background is a lifetme of my family's dairy. We milked 112 in the 70's and milked 750 from 2005 to 2022. Our cows were pastured when dry, during the summer, with 24/7 access to tmr at the feed bunk. Dad seldom allowed a bunk to be empty, therefore, i am accustomed to seeing well-fleshed animals. (Any thin cow on our farm usually had some issue like ultra-high production, lameness, Johnes, ...) So the grazing methods are new-to-me. Gut feeling: we should mob the herd/flock tightly and move quickly/often; like the predators moved the bison before industrialized agriculture. Would love to hear what others think... Have a blessed day!
Thanks for the comment. A side by side comparison would be cool. Keep in mind that they would all three have different cattle and differing number of head of cattle on identical paddocks due to grazing style. The TG group would have several more than either of the other 2 methods.
Very interesting. This new to me, but does make sense. How are the cattle doing with this approach? Are they maintaining body condition?
Our best cattle are doing really well. Some of our more marginal cows are slightly behind where I want them this time of year. That’s to be expected this early in our non-selective grazing journey
Really great video Ben… When I get my finances in order and am on the farm full time I am definitely doing high stocking rate multiple moves a day…. I absolutely have been doing 1/3 a 1/3 for couple years and yes things improved initially then plateaud. but nothing like what you have really incredible. With the in town job unfortunately I’m stuck with 1 a day moves and usually give them more than they need.
You can do it!
New here,
How many acres do you run and cows?
Thanks
Due to my current work schedule ( night shift 80+ hrs a week) i make a paddock big enough to last 3 days and i come behind and clup with a mower this will be my first year of grazing, i am slowly trying to get to daily moves, but have already started to see different in my pasture, my fields are primarily dew berry vines and brooms sedges lol
Keep it up! Gotta start somewhere!
Think that is what Jim struggled to get over to uk graziers last year total grazing means affecting all plants by grazing or smashing into ground
Exactly. Lots of annuals in our pasture right now makes a difference too. Mature annuals just trample much easier. It impacts the ratio of grazed/trampled as well
I’ve now been watching and following for awhile now. I would love a video based on the economics and financials in this current environment. Mainly because I’m looking to run more cattle on some of my land that is currently leased out to a cash cropper but with high cattle prices it may be tough and anti lucrative to try to expand right now. So that may work well into your proposal of 400 likes and buying another herd…. Thanks
We will be doing one in the future!
Great, looking forward to it!
Have you ever tried or thought about running chickens or turkeys behind the cattle to improve the soil? Like a once a year thing.
I have considered it. It’s one of the things I intend to integrate later in, just not now.
There is a lot of seed head there. There is a lot of focus on weed pressure however there looks like a lack of quality. Total grazing in the spring in all my years has necer resulted well.
With this ultra-high density grazing resulting in evenly spreaded manure and urine when you start grazing a paddock in the spring, once you come back for the second grazing after not so many days, don't they (the cattle) not avoid those areas where they have peed and pooped the first time, when they graze that cell again?
Almost all have broken down by the time we come back. We don’t worm our cattle, manure doesn’t last long after vacating paddock
Is anyone doing non-selective successfully in arid areas?
There are several. I recommend checking out Jim Elizondo’s channel and see if he mentions some names
Did you know you can selective graze without compromising pasture?
Please make contact i can share evidence
I love your videos and you are doing a great job. They are super informative. My only criticism is that you need to slow down on your camera swings. You are going way too fast panning back and forth, and it is almost unwatchable. Keep up the great work! Looking forward to watching more.
How many head in your mob?
Wait a second... last time I heard Elizondo, he said "remove stems and leaves" (ideally 90%), he did not advocate for trampling it down - ?
Harvesting as much through a rumen as possible is ideal but some trample, particularly cool seasons will happen
😊
Thanks!