I drive by your place on a regular basis and can tell you I have seen a vast improvement in your grass since you took over the operation! You need taller sheep so I can see them!
We are in Missouri, in our first year of sheep and just hit our first year with two cattle (bull and cow). We have 67 acres but about 20 acres of pasture. We have the cattle, 7 katahdins, and 3 pet goats. I am a nurse FT, inspiring farmer to eventually take over FT. I love watching your videos. You started sort of like I did in that I just had the opportunity and took it, and now I’m obsessed. I love watching your videos. Very inspiring. I mainly watch you and Greg Judy, trying to learn as much as I can. We rotate between two pastures but I want to eventually do what you’re doing with rotation. Just got our soil testing dripped off so looking forward to a better next year with grass quality. We do multi species together, and have had to be creative with that. Not a lot of resources on the mineral ideas but I think I found a way. Thanks again for sharing your knowledge.
your analysis is spot on for owning land. Greg Judy breaks down the impossible buying land in his first two books, in his MO way, and shows how he used rented grazing land to build from 100 acres owned to 1600 acres controlled. You have a great eye for detail and I enjoy your channel.
I like your hustle. We're on 27 acres in NH and looking at starting a flock of sheep in addition to our team of oxen. We're also going to be getting heifers for a raw milk dairy herd (we already have a little Jersey for our family of 7). Multispecies grazing is particularly good use of land. Our 3 year plan is to rotate cattle (6-10 depending on the year), followed by sheep, followed by broilers. Ducks are going to start becoming a more important part of our plan though because trucking problems are going to make it harder to get broiler chicks, whereas ducks are ready in 8-10 weeks, have excellent meat:bone ratios, and can be easily reproduced from a laying flock. They will help control slugs, snails and insects around the gardens. But they don't scratch manure the way chickens do, so chickens of some stripe will always be in the pasture rotation. We're also going to experiment with crossing BB turkey hens with heritage toms, since BB toms can't breed and very few people like the look of a full-blooded heritage turkey for thanksgiving--scrawny looking compared to what people are used to. But turkeys make great companion animals to cattle and sheep because they love to pick the flies off of everybody. I'm subscribing because I feel that your philosophy lines up well with ours and because I really like your logical way of explaining things. Thanks for the informative content.
I have ducks. They are a bit more hardy than chickens in a lot of ways. Example; cold enduring, plus when neighbors have tried to eat them, they would kill the chickens fast, but often the ducks could survive if you intervened fast enough due to how tight their feathers and skin are. (oops I meant neighbors dogs...) But where we are it takes ducks a bit longer to grow up than is stated in books and other written print. I don't trust 8 to 10 weeks for a duck growing quote rate. But in more arable areas with more water and fertility, its possible it could really be as stated?
@@noahriding5780 Glad your neighbors aren't killing your ducks ;) I hadn't even thought of them being harder for predators to kill, that's really interesting! If you have to wait longer to butcher your ducks than 8-10 weeks, how long do you wait? My understanding is that the 8-10 week mark is best because they are in between periods of feather growth, and if you butcher in the 10-14 week range you end up with a ton of pin feathers to deal with. Our aim is to sell meat from whatever poultry we raise so skinning is not an option :) I'd appreciate any experience you have with this, thank you!
@@wanderervii i hope i didn't give you the wrong idea. in a dog attack they will die. but it takes a bit longer. we had several dog attack sin the last year. The chickens went down really fast. the ducks did take longer and more survived. 10-14 works good for weight. I get that you don't like pin feathers. but for weight there's a certain weight ratio where you aren't gaining as much weight per feed as before. You can look at that. when the gains start to drop on waiting longer then you can butcher then. How r u with incubators? Part of how soon you butcher can depend on how fast u can replace them. We had so much trouble with the cheap incubators not working well. if you can get a good incubator that will continually produce and be accurate then whether or not you slaughter early or late won't matter. We especially had trouble w the foreign made incubators. they'd often have trouble with being too hot or too cold. I wish you luck. thanks very much for the talk. I really enjoy self sufficiency and the idea that you can work for yourself and not be a corporate slave. So I'm interested in all of what will let me reach for that. Especially its getting very hard to trust other ppl as they get more bad.
Both empowering and inspiring. Just working out whether to buy cows for our 26 acres. Our family of 7, just beginning our homestead journey with free range chickens and rabbits. Great vid! From Nova Scotia Canada
The benefits of rotational grazing vs continuous grazing are so vast that it's astounding anyone would not do it. I do evening chores...check on everyone, count everyone and move everyone...usually in a bout 2 hours if I take my time and enjoy being there. That's about 100 head of livestock and dogs. (53 head of sheep, 4 dogs and 45 head of cattle). I need to check on them once a day anyway and they basically move themselves if I move a single wire gate and ask them nicely, lol. Every year the farm looks like a different farm from the last. Plant diversity, density, quality, recovery times, etc... That's improving carrying capacity of the farm. I just love it. Some day in the not too distant future, you'll be able to give a master class on it, you're doing great!
I just saw this now. Best short and sweet coverage of this topic I've seen yet. You were able to compare and contrast conventional with regenerative methods - explaining the inevitability of regenerative methods as the least cost/input method of farming with the best social outcome. Thank you for making this. Kudos on your personal growth and transformation to regenerative practices and I wish you all the best in your enterprise! 😊
Wonderful video yet again. Your obvious passion is going to take you to great places 🤘 I’ve started pasture chickens. Very small scale. But I will be progressing. You saying that RegAg is the only viable option for our future is something I’ve said (on many occasions) to the T. I’m working on building my contribution. And people like you are helping guide and inspire. You are doing Gods work. Be blessed.
Love your observation on seeing your animals. Like the old saying "The best fertilizer is the Farmer's footsreps!" Love your business collaboration with soil biology. Its all related
Your rotational system improves your infiltration of rainfall, potable water is all ready a major factor in agriculture both farming and grazing. As we pave over more land we take out agricultural land and increase the runoff negative effects creating more erosion, pollution and flooding.
It’s not so bad, sometimes you get on runs where spring loaded automatic release points can do 10 moves for you, or more depending how your set up. You have passion, and I love it! It’s actually a really old concept though. I read about it 1st 30 years ago. We had libraries back then. lol It’s not bad being out there it’s my therapy.
You nailed it. Regen Ag can be economic - and it has to be to take market share from conventional ag. Your business focus on maximizing value is spot on. It doesn't have to be lucrative, but it has to be profitable. I'm on the journey myself having recently bot acreage in east TN. Land clearing for silo pasture starts in Sept. Fencing in Nov. May be buying some Dorpor's from you next year.
You are very wise for your age. Keep a strong work ethic, whats better for your flock and the land is not always the easiest. Looking for bigger, faster, cheeper, is what got this country in the problems we have in agriculture today.
I can't believe the incredible condition of some of your paddocks. It looks like you could get away with making hay on it every so many years without taking anything away from the soil or the ability to pasture it.
Thanks!! It’s getting way ahead of me. Some of it will stockpile for winter grazing, but I will probably do a hay cutting for 2022... if I can get someone out here for just 23 acres... small acreage doesn’t tempt a lot of the hired hay mowers. Thanks as always, Dan! -the Shepherdess
@@theShepherdess thank you. I was partly motivated from your success in such a small amount of time. I am learning from your successes but also from your mistakes. Thanks for being real
Your not going to have any soil erosion anytime soon. In fact your building soil, some good healthy worms in your compost heap, are you using the brown and green layers method? I am also wondering if you can cut some hay at the same time. Just an enclosure at a time, give each enclosure a couple or 3 week to recover from the cut. The sheep would love the tender new grass shoots. Just a thought. As always thanks for posting
Yes! I’ve considered taking some hay to make way for new growth... but it’s just difficult to entice anyone out to my area for such a small acreage. I may need to figure out how to do it myself. 😁😁 The earthworms in my place are mostly on pasture right now. When rain gets going strong you’ll go out at night and here them before you see them. Pretty incredible. 🐛 -the Shepherdess
@@theShepherdess So how about one of those little tractors with a PTO on it. An old second hand one would do and use something like a bar cutter on it. Both could be bought fairly cheep and you can download a manual for both and fix them up. Hay another string to your bow, just as the big farms do, just one small step at a time.
Just subscribed. Thank you so much. You were speaking to me on this one. Very green with no resources or knowledge but still interested in making a go of it here in the Denver area. Some how…Very interested in the business aspects of being a new small farmer and how to maximize profits while not spending it where you don’t need to. I think I could handle the farming side from TH-cam and my perclivities. But the business and marketing side I know I am at a loss. Setting up and maintaining the social media and website I can maybe do with lots of help and funds but selling the meat is make it or break it. Buying freezers thankfully buys you time but it all has to go and I think that’s the crux.
We always rotated our stock on different pastors. And we always rotated our crops in every field. This way our crops were higher yield and they didn't take what they didn't need. That way the next crop you plant will grow abundance and not destroy the soil. We always turned under our leftovers from the year before as we plant. This way the soil is replenished. We always grew organic. Very little fertilizer no weed killer
I love your approach, you analyze from the business side of things. Out of necessity people look at the dollars and cents. Unfortunately most people don't look past the first year. If you had not purchased the electric fencing, your cash flow in the first year may have been a bit greater, and you would have put in less labor. It is always more important to look at the long game. Obviously this is your approach. Your videos are inspiring others to do so. Drastically increasing production without huge infrastructure investment should make sense to anyone. If you owned a factory and wanted to double production, would you acquire another factory or add an additional shift? It's really that simple. Either way your labor and management costs will increase. You have increased your production capacity and potential for sales increase by spending pennies on the dollar for infrastructure. In addition to this savings, your other input expenses have been decreased, less livestock loss expense, less deworming expense, and lower water expense. These are just the tangibles. You are also building soil, sequestering vast amounts of carbon, capturing much more water in the soil and creating less erosion and runoff. No to mention that your livestock is being treated better than it would be in a "conventional" farm. Kudos to you! Is there a reason you don't follow the sheep with chickens? Just curious on that one.
DO you clip your pasture? Dad grazed his angus cattle from the middle of may untill the grass died in september. I noticed one time that while his pasture broiwned and died every fall, our lawn, that was cut every week or so stayed green right up into late november. One summer I suggested that we clip part of the pasture to see what happens. It stayed green much longer.
This year I got serious about intensive rotational grazing. Very time consuming but looking forward to the results next year. I live in a drier area with native fescues and it’s challenges re regrowth. Grazing in the woods is getting me through this summer’s drought. As you shared, Parasite resistance has been great!
You say “ The normal way”, leaving animals to graze more land than they can eat is being lazy and that should not be considered normal it’s just that we were taugh the wrong way to do it. . Taking care of animals takes work the kind you love to do, we alway talk about you are what you eat but what about the animals we raise for food? Deworming chemicals, too much grain for a ruminant, etc. we are then raising poor quality food…..you are right on with rotational grazing and caring about what they eat 👍🏾
I think your eventually going to have a parasite resistant flock. I can't wait to see my pasture next spring this is my first full year grazing. I think I can realistically increase by 50 % the forage. I have cows .
That’s my my goal! I’m excited to see the result of year 2. I am temporarily grazing a small cow herd for a friend in order to test the impact of multi-species grazing on parasite loads. Thanks for your support! -the Shepherdess
How do I source that tool you are using to demarcate your area for rotational grazing? What’s it’s name? Any link on how I can source for it? Thank you. I’m glued to yo videos
Hello! Just came across you and your videos/website today. Very intrigued and interested in getting into sheep. I farm with my family, but have only had dairy cows and now stock cows, but with the way things are going, I'm very much wanting and needing to diversify into something more profitable. I'm in Northeast South Dakota. I do plan on rotational grazing, but what're your thoughts on dry lotting them during the winter up here? Or, what would you recommend? Love the videos, the rotational grazing, and how informational you are!
Hi Adam! Many people will overwinter their sheep in barns. I don’t have any experience with it, but it should work fine as long as the housing is clean. 👍🏻
@@theShepherdess Right on. Kind of what I was thinking, but just thought I'd get your take on it! Excited for the weather to get nice to rotational graze! Thanks so much for the reply!
Hey do you move the actual posts and line each time you move the animals? Or are they permanent with gates for the animals to get through? Also do you mind telling what kind of posts and line that is? I have the premiere one netting but it’s a bit pricey. Thanks!
I’m trying to work the land but I’m in a desert and electric fencing doesn’t work period. It’s too dry. And yes, I had rods going into the ground several feet. Any suggestions? I know that if I could just rotate my goats on 9 acres I could improve the land tremendously even if all they did was pee and poop and leave hay everywhere. Any suggestions?
I am not pursuing a formal education, but the hands on work is giving me a hard and fast education in animal husbandry. Thanks so much for watching my videos!
We have a variety of crown grasses! Dallis grass (the ultra-tall one you see in this video), rye grass, and the common Bermuda grass. Thanks for commenting!! -the Shepherdess
I'm watching this out of sheer curiosity and the size of my land. I have ten acres minus trees and building sites so 7.75 acres. Now to maximize use and growth I'm thinking sheep to rotate on 5 acres so I have a few for other things. I need to see how many breeding stock I can rotate. I'm evidently a bit colder climate it seems than you are but all the info I can get helps. I think maybe more predators too. So much goes into raising healthy stock it takes quite a bit of work. Do you ever milk your sheep?
@@theShepherdess He practices rotational grazing like Joel Salatin, Greg Judy, and others, but with a twist. His rotations are much more frequent. He rotates 2 to 4 times a day, giving them just enough to eat for the time period. The big difference is how much he has the animals eat. He has them eat it down to 1 to 2 inches tall. He says by eating this low it causes the bunch grasses to spread out more and fill in, and it allows more diversity of plants to grow. He doesn't bring the animals back until the grass is about ready to send up the seed head. He says using this method he has greatly increased the stocking rate of his ranch and the ranches he works on. His ranch is in Mexico but he has done work here in the U.S.
@@theShepherdess I'm not sure whether to go with Joel Salatin's and Allan Williams' view of only grazing the top half or Jim Elizondo's view of grazing down lower but giving more rest. I just listened to his latest podcast. He claims when you only graze part of the plant the stem takes energy from the roots. He also said it's the microbes dying that make the humus. The microbes eat root extracts. When the leaves are gone the extracts stop and most of the microbes die turning to humus. th-cam.com/video/-NHASIBZWRU/w-d-xo.html
@@williambryan2804 Yes, I have some skepticism about the total grazing... It leaves a lot of bare soil, which makes erosion and soil dry-out a concern if you don't have the right climate. Right now I practice the Salatin method. Animals eat 1/2-2/3 and trample the rest. Last year the ground cover from the trampled grass created a fantastic cover for the soil during a summer drought. It kept my pasture from drying out as badly as it could have. That said, I may try total grazing a few paddocks next season to chart results. -the Shepherdess
During the spring I often do. Overwinter I supplement the cattle with a few cubes, which the sheep will steal if they are in the same area. For this reason I’ll separate during the winter.
Very good video. One question, did you make a living out of that one year from your investment, and if not, how many sheep would you need to make a living based on your acreage?
Hi Jim! No, my operation still costs more than it earns and will for the next few years. If you check out the link below I have given my full financial analysis in year 1: th-cam.com/video/83QGhS1c92c/w-d-xo.html
So, would it be fair to say that after 3 years of your ongoing production which would also include you labour and your folk reaching its goal that you would be in a profit range. Did I miss any costs associated with the butchering of animals and other miscellaneous things associated with that I do admire your real time attitude in making it work. Well done (Your time has real value)
@@Spiked2005 Thanks, Jim! There are so many variables in the farming that can't be projected. It's going to be a year-by-year process of risk and analysis. One example: my pasture based system is risky and predators are a real threat. I could have 10-20% of my stock decimated in one night by an unforeseen attack (this happens to sheep ranchers regularly, regardless of fencing or number of guard dogs on duty). This year was great, thank the Lord. I only had 2 deaths (aside from stillborn lambs) and a really healthy lamb crop. I am subsidizing annual expenses via my full time job, and giving my operation a ton of my time. It is my aim to have my sheep operation be financially independent by year 5 and all assets paid off by year 7. We'll see what the Lord allows. There are so many things at stake if my generation does not regain a connection to working with the land to produce food. I aim to make my sheep profitable on paper, but ultimately I am working with an understanding of profitability beyond what can be put on paper. I believe our lives, or the lives of our grandchildren, are at stake if more of us don't catch that same vision. -the Shepherdess
I owned a small pet store for some years and discovered that pumpkin is a natural dewormer. I used it on tortoises, lizards, rabbits, rats, and even parrots and dogs. I also discovered that one of the popular commercial dog dewormers is simply an isolated version of the chemical in pumpkin that does the deworming. I have no idea if it expels all types of stomach parasites, but Im sure that if you grew some on your property, it could further reduce your parasite costs. Please do not take my word alone in this, as I have never worked with sheep or goats. I do know that it also works with us humans though. God always provides away through His creation.
Have you thought about introducing chickens to follow your sheep? The hens will eat the sheep's parasites in their poop and on the soil. If you thought about it then why you decided not to do it?
I like your recognition of the importance of discernment in all parts of our life. It would eliminate a lot of hypocrisy and weakness in mankind if we all slowed down, stopped, and were honest with ourselves about each thing we think, feel, and do. There are too many people in the world. Eventually our birthrate will exceed our ability to feed everyone, along with providing all the other manmade resources on which we rely. Good farming practices are certainly necessary, but our own reproduction must be brought under control. Free, permanent, and voluntary sterilizations is the answer (not murderous abortion). In only nine months, we could begin to reverse the "latter end" that is inevitable if we don't stop reproducing like rabbits. Be careful about buying into the eco-whacko, leftist clap trap surrounding the environment. Their ONLY interest is in control, power, and money. These people are farmers' worst enemies, as they morph into telling you "what for" in every element of your operation. Freedom is the mother of invention and survival, not central planning. You have wonderful videos.
thank you for your support of my video! I disagree on the sterilization. The problem is not population, but centralized production. If we as individuals took personal responsibility for growing our own food (or at least a portion of it) there would be plenty for everyone. For those of us who can grow food, we can do so for our neighbor who can't. At present I (just one person) am able produce enough meat to sustain 15 individuals all year long, with the potential to double or triple production. And all that only takes me 2 hours per day. -the Shepherdess
@@theShepherdess Thanks for your thoughtful reply. Probably each profession (doctor, dentist, lawyer, cashier, auto mechanic, construction worker, etc.) could say "if we as individuals took personal responsibility for xxxxxx," and they would be correct. But people in dense cities don't have land for growing food. And people with full-time jobs don't have time for growing food. We have all become "fatally interdependent specialists" because we are overtaxed, over regulated, and overworked. Our over-population has created the cities, which are by definition "deserts of non-self-reliance." Centralized farming is merely a necessity in response to the survival demands of the cities. Lessen the population and you lessen the "deserts of non-self-reliance (i.e. the cities)." The crash will come someday, because humans do not know how to control their thirsty crotches.
@@bluenetmarketing America's population has had a net decline since at least the 70s. The world population is also on a slow decline. It would be faster but third world growth rates are outstripping first world slowing. The parts of the world that America has any say over are doing their part to reproduce less. I agree with you that sterilization should be easy and cheap if not free, but only because it would prevent abortions, not because the world's population is too large; most hunger in America is caused by poor choices by individuals and the drug epidemic, and most hunger elsewhere is caused by terrible human beings who make aid difficult (whether through war or graft).
Yes! And the amazing thing about that verse is that it’s actually instructed that grazing animals should come and use the land during that time! “ the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie fallow, that the poor of your people may eat; and what they leave, the beasts of the field may eat.” Exodus 23:11 -the Shepherdess
@@theShepherdess week later and I now saw this😬 but that is so amazing! I dont know how I missed that last part of the verse, but wow that makes me so excited to see that so clearly laid out in the Bible!
@@theShepherdess The interesting thing I read that in a book, an old book in Latin. It was on farming two different areas of England and one in Ireland that the family still has. From forest management, crop rotation along with grazing different animals in the same field for a time then moving them. I know my one friend David's family does about the same thing in Italy and my Great Grandfathers lands in Germany they are run the same. Many nobles with lands still know about this.
I drive by your place on a regular basis and can tell you I have seen a vast improvement in your grass since you took over the operation! You need taller sheep so I can see them!
We are in Missouri, in our first year of sheep and just hit our first year with two cattle (bull and cow). We have 67 acres but about 20 acres of pasture. We have the cattle, 7 katahdins, and 3 pet goats. I am a nurse FT, inspiring farmer to eventually take over FT. I love watching your videos. You started sort of like I did in that I just had the opportunity and took it, and now I’m obsessed. I love watching your videos. Very inspiring. I mainly watch you and Greg Judy, trying to learn as much as I can. We rotate between two pastures but I want to eventually do what you’re doing with rotation. Just got our soil testing dripped off so looking forward to a better next year with grass quality. We do multi species together, and have had to be creative with that. Not a lot of resources on the mineral ideas but I think I found a way. Thanks again for sharing your knowledge.
Glad .you are sharing your journey. Lots of folks are trying small scale and seeing you is a big help!
your analysis is spot on for owning land. Greg Judy breaks down the impossible buying land in his first two books, in his MO way, and shows how he used rented grazing land to build from 100 acres owned to 1600 acres controlled. You have a great eye for detail and I enjoy your channel.
I like your hustle. We're on 27 acres in NH and looking at starting a flock of sheep in addition to our team of oxen. We're also going to be getting heifers for a raw milk dairy herd (we already have a little Jersey for our family of 7). Multispecies grazing is particularly good use of land. Our 3 year plan is to rotate cattle (6-10 depending on the year), followed by sheep, followed by broilers. Ducks are going to start becoming a more important part of our plan though because trucking problems are going to make it harder to get broiler chicks, whereas ducks are ready in 8-10 weeks, have excellent meat:bone ratios, and can be easily reproduced from a laying flock. They will help control slugs, snails and insects around the gardens. But they don't scratch manure the way chickens do, so chickens of some stripe will always be in the pasture rotation.
We're also going to experiment with crossing BB turkey hens with heritage toms, since BB toms can't breed and very few people like the look of a full-blooded heritage turkey for thanksgiving--scrawny looking compared to what people are used to. But turkeys make great companion animals to cattle and sheep because they love to pick the flies off of everybody.
I'm subscribing because I feel that your philosophy lines up well with ours and because I really like your logical way of explaining things. Thanks for the informative content.
I have ducks. They are a bit more hardy than chickens in a lot of ways. Example; cold enduring, plus when neighbors have tried to eat them, they would kill the chickens fast, but often the ducks could survive if you intervened fast enough due to how tight their feathers and skin are. (oops I meant neighbors dogs...)
But where we are it takes ducks a bit longer to grow up than is stated in books and other written print. I don't trust 8 to 10 weeks for a duck growing quote rate. But in more arable areas with more water and fertility, its possible it could really be as stated?
@@noahriding5780 Glad your neighbors aren't killing your ducks ;) I hadn't even thought of them being harder for predators to kill, that's really interesting!
If you have to wait longer to butcher your ducks than 8-10 weeks, how long do you wait? My understanding is that the 8-10 week mark is best because they are in between periods of feather growth, and if you butcher in the 10-14 week range you end up with a ton of pin feathers to deal with. Our aim is to sell meat from whatever poultry we raise so skinning is not an option :) I'd appreciate any experience you have with this, thank you!
@@wanderervii i hope i didn't give you the wrong idea. in a dog attack they will die. but it takes a bit longer. we had several dog attack sin the last year. The chickens went down really fast. the ducks did take longer and more survived.
10-14 works good for weight. I get that you don't like pin feathers. but for weight there's a certain weight ratio where you aren't gaining as much weight per feed as before. You can look at that. when the gains start to drop on waiting longer then you can butcher then.
How r u with incubators? Part of how soon you butcher can depend on how fast u can replace them. We had so much trouble with the cheap incubators not working well. if you can get a good incubator that will continually produce and be accurate then whether or not you slaughter early or late won't matter. We especially had trouble w the foreign made incubators. they'd often have trouble with being too hot or too cold.
I wish you luck. thanks very much for the talk. I really enjoy self sufficiency and the idea that you can work for yourself and not be a corporate slave. So I'm interested in all of what will let me reach for that. Especially its getting very hard to trust other ppl as they get more bad.
This is one of the all-time bets channels out there.
Seriously, thank you so much for all of this!!!
Both empowering and inspiring. Just working out whether to buy cows for our 26 acres. Our family of 7, just beginning our homestead journey with free range chickens and rabbits. Great vid! From Nova Scotia Canada
Thank you!!
The benefits of rotational grazing vs continuous grazing are so vast that it's astounding anyone would not do it. I do evening chores...check on everyone, count everyone and move everyone...usually in a bout 2 hours if I take my time and enjoy being there. That's about 100 head of livestock and dogs. (53 head of sheep, 4 dogs and 45 head of cattle). I need to check on them once a day anyway and they basically move themselves if I move a single wire gate and ask them nicely, lol. Every year the farm looks like a different farm from the last. Plant diversity, density, quality, recovery times, etc... That's improving carrying capacity of the farm. I just love it.
Some day in the not too distant future, you'll be able to give a master class on it, you're doing great!
You said it well! Can’t believe anyone would not do it. It only gets more exciting to be on pasture as time goes on. 🌱
Fantastic overview of your first year farming with sheep. Im inspired :)
Thanks, Paul!
-the Shepherdess
I knew you ware gonna be a Star!!! Im glad that I'm a witness ... Big hug from Argentina...
I love how methodical and prepared you are especially looking into the future, dreaming with eyes wide open... ❤ 😍 💖
I just saw this now. Best short and sweet coverage of this topic I've seen yet. You were able to compare and contrast conventional with regenerative methods - explaining the inevitability of regenerative methods as the least cost/input method of farming with the best social outcome. Thank you for making this. Kudos on your personal growth and transformation to regenerative practices and I wish you all the best in your enterprise! 😊
Wonderful video yet again.
Your obvious passion is going to take you to great places 🤘
I’ve started pasture chickens. Very small scale. But I will be progressing.
You saying that RegAg is the only viable option for our future is something I’ve said (on many occasions) to the T.
I’m working on building my contribution. And people like you are helping guide and inspire.
You are doing Gods work.
Be blessed.
I'm convinced YOU were beautifully wonderfully made❤
Learning about Rotational grazing is very encouraging.🙏🏻
Love your observation on seeing your animals. Like the old saying "The best fertilizer is the Farmer's footsreps!"
Love your business collaboration with soil biology. Its all related
I'm trying the same thing on my one acre. We are only running two sheep right now but hope to have as many as 4 at a time.
Your rotational system improves your infiltration of rainfall, potable water is all ready a major factor in agriculture both farming and grazing. As we pave over more land we take out agricultural land and increase the runoff negative effects creating more erosion, pollution and flooding.
YES! Very well explained.
It’s not so bad, sometimes you get on runs where spring loaded automatic release points can do 10 moves for you, or more depending how your set up.
You have passion, and I love it! It’s actually a really old concept though. I read about it 1st 30 years ago. We had libraries back then. lol
It’s not bad being out there it’s my therapy.
Agreed! It’s getting easier to find short cuts in paddock setup as time goes on.
Thanks so much for your support!
-the Shepherdess
You nailed it. Regen Ag can be economic - and it has to be to take market share from conventional ag. Your business focus on maximizing value is spot on. It doesn't have to be lucrative, but it has to be profitable.
I'm on the journey myself having recently bot acreage in east TN. Land clearing for silo pasture starts in Sept. Fencing in Nov. May be buying some Dorpor's from you next year.
Thanks, John!
Grateful to have your support on the channel.
-the Shepherdess
With your 2022 drought experience it would be interesting to see if your insights have evolved. Excellent info on parasite management .
Welcome to the life business by the way.
You are very wise for your age. Keep a strong work ethic, whats better for your flock and the land is not always the easiest. Looking for bigger, faster, cheeper, is what got this country in the problems we have in agriculture today.
Greetengs from Ecuador Souht America.
I can't believe the incredible condition of some of your paddocks. It looks like you could get away with making hay on it every so many years without taking anything away from the soil or the ability to pasture it.
Thanks!! It’s getting way ahead of me. Some of it will stockpile for winter grazing, but I will probably do a hay cutting for 2022... if I can get someone out here for just 23 acres... small acreage doesn’t tempt a lot of the hired hay mowers.
Thanks as always, Dan!
-the Shepherdess
Watching you and learning from my farm ranch in Yucatan Mexico. Just purchased 86 acre farm.
Congratulations on your new ranch!
@@theShepherdess thank you. I was partly motivated from your success in such a small amount of time. I am learning from your successes but also from your mistakes. Thanks for being real
Love your channel, phenomenal content!
Your not going to have any soil erosion anytime soon. In fact your building soil, some good healthy worms in your compost heap, are you using the brown and green layers method? I am also wondering if you can cut some hay at the same time. Just an enclosure at a time, give each enclosure a couple or 3 week to recover from the cut. The sheep would love the tender new grass shoots. Just a thought. As always thanks for posting
Yes! I’ve considered taking some hay to make way for new growth... but it’s just difficult to entice anyone out to my area for such a small acreage. I may need to figure out how to do it myself. 😁😁
The earthworms in my place are mostly on pasture right now. When rain gets going strong you’ll go out at night and here them before you see them. Pretty incredible. 🐛
-the Shepherdess
@@theShepherdess So how about one of those little tractors with a PTO on it. An old second hand one would do and use something like a bar cutter on it. Both could be bought fairly cheep and you can download a manual for both and fix them up. Hay another string to your bow, just as the big farms do, just one small step at a time.
Could you show a before and after of your paddocks?
Hi randy! Yes, I’ll try to add that to more videos (or make a video with photos I have).
Just subscribed. Thank you so much. You were speaking to me on this one. Very green with no resources or knowledge but still interested in making a go of it here in the Denver area. Some how…Very interested in the business aspects of being a new small farmer and how to maximize profits while not spending it where you don’t need to. I think I could handle the farming side from TH-cam and my perclivities. But the business and marketing side I know I am at a loss. Setting up and maintaining the social media and website I can maybe do with lots of help and funds but selling the meat is make it or break it. Buying freezers thankfully buys you time but it all has to go and I think that’s the crux.
Thank you for commenting Phillip! I hope my channel will help you on your journey.
-the Shepherdess
We always rotated our stock on different pastors. And we always rotated our crops in every field. This way our crops were higher yield and they didn't take what they didn't need. That way the next crop you plant will grow abundance and not destroy the soil. We always turned under our leftovers from the year before as we plant. This way the soil is replenished. We always grew organic. Very little fertilizer no weed killer
I love your approach, you analyze from the business side of things. Out of necessity people look at the dollars and cents. Unfortunately most people don't look past the first year. If you had not purchased the electric fencing, your cash flow in the first year may have been a bit greater, and you would have put in less labor. It is always more important to look at the long game. Obviously this is your approach. Your videos are inspiring others to do so.
Drastically increasing production without huge infrastructure investment should make sense to anyone. If you owned a factory and wanted to double production, would you acquire another factory or add an additional shift? It's really that simple. Either way your labor and management costs will increase. You have increased your production capacity and potential for sales increase by spending pennies on the dollar for infrastructure.
In addition to this savings, your other input expenses have been decreased, less livestock loss expense, less deworming expense, and lower water expense. These are just the tangibles. You are also building soil, sequestering vast amounts of carbon, capturing much more water in the soil and creating less erosion and runoff. No to mention that your livestock is being treated better than it would be in a "conventional" farm. Kudos to you!
Is there a reason you don't follow the sheep with chickens? Just curious on that one.
Thank you, Matt!
For me, I'm looking at rotational grazing and sheep for turning scrubland into something that can sustain much more life. :)
You are on the right track! Keep it up!
Thank you, sir!!
DO you clip your pasture? Dad grazed his angus cattle from the middle of may untill the grass died in september. I noticed one time that while his pasture broiwned and died every fall, our lawn, that was cut every week or so stayed green right up into late november. One summer I suggested that we clip part of the pasture to see what happens. It stayed green much longer.
the Shepherdess you should look up “Just a few acres farm” he rotates his cows daily. He makes it work on, I think 40 acres, but in a colder climate.
I watch Pete's channel often and really enjoy it!!
-the Shepherdess
the Shepherdess definitely need more like you lot. Slowly getting into it myself as well🤠
This year I got serious about intensive rotational grazing. Very time consuming but looking forward to the results next year. I live in a drier area with native fescues and it’s challenges re regrowth. Grazing in the woods is getting me through this summer’s drought. As you shared, Parasite resistance has been great!
Yes!! I think one of the exciting things is charting the improvements year over year. I’m excited to watch what happens in year 2.
🐑🌱
@ 3:50 just lease if you like to expand unless you get a nice deal.
You say “ The normal way”, leaving animals to graze more land than they can eat is being lazy and that should not be considered normal it’s just that we were taugh the wrong way to do it. . Taking care of animals takes work the kind you love to do, we alway talk about you are what you eat but what about the animals we raise for food? Deworming chemicals, too much grain for a ruminant, etc. we are then raising poor quality food…..you are right on with rotational grazing and caring about what they eat 👍🏾
Well done!
That is a pretty dreamy stocking rate for year round grazing. Hope you dont get a drought or anything.
I think your eventually going to have a parasite resistant flock. I can't wait to see my pasture next spring this is my first full year grazing. I think I can realistically increase by 50 % the forage. I have cows .
That’s my my goal! I’m excited to see the result of year 2. I am temporarily grazing a small cow herd for a friend in order to test the impact of multi-species grazing on parasite loads.
Thanks for your support!
-the Shepherdess
How do I source that tool you are using to demarcate your area for rotational grazing? What’s it’s name? Any link on how I can source for it? Thank you.
I’m glued to yo videos
Thank you so much, Grace! I use an app called "Distance" to measure my pastures!
Smart farming and should be the common sense way.
Love your bible verse at the end. Top stuff
Thank you, David!
Super informative!!!!
Glad you think so!
Just found your channel, great video!
Welcome and THANK YOU!!
-the Shepherdess
Hello! Just came across you and your videos/website today. Very intrigued and interested in getting into sheep. I farm with my family, but have only had dairy cows and now stock cows, but with the way things are going, I'm very much wanting and needing to diversify into something more profitable. I'm in Northeast South Dakota. I do plan on rotational grazing, but what're your thoughts on dry lotting them during the winter up here? Or, what would you recommend? Love the videos, the rotational grazing, and how informational you are!
Hi Adam! Many people will overwinter their sheep in barns. I don’t have any experience with it, but it should work fine as long as the housing is clean. 👍🏻
@@theShepherdess Right on. Kind of what I was thinking, but just thought I'd get your take on it! Excited for the weather to get nice to rotational graze! Thanks so much for the reply!
also try mixing your heard with stronger jeans, get hold of Greg Judy Farms and many others, they will be more than happy to talk to you.
By planting plantains and chicory in with your grass your giving your sheep a natural dewormers.
Great tip, I’ll look into it! Thank you!
I like this video i started raising pig's in mexico
Very well done!!
Thank you very much!
Hey do you move the actual posts and line each time you move the animals? Or are they permanent with gates for the animals to get through? Also do you mind telling what kind of posts and line that is? I have the premiere one netting but it’s a bit pricey.
Thanks!
Great questions! This video will give you an explanation and supplies list: th-cam.com/video/FfMBSSlSs7I/w-d-xo.html
I’m trying to work the land but I’m in a desert and electric fencing doesn’t work period. It’s too dry. And yes, I had rods going into the ground several feet. Any suggestions? I know that if I could just rotate my goats on 9 acres I could improve the land tremendously even if all they did was pee and poop and leave hay everywhere. Any suggestions?
Like how inspirational you are. Are you doing a minor in animal husbundery.Great modeling info to add to a permculture farm setting.
I am not pursuing a formal education, but the hands on work is giving me a hard and fast education in animal husbandry. Thanks so much for watching my videos!
What’s your main brass in your pasture? It’s gorgeous. My area is much drier. Great video and info.
We have a variety of crown grasses! Dallis grass (the ultra-tall one you see in this video), rye grass, and the common Bermuda grass.
Thanks for commenting!!
-the Shepherdess
I'm watching this out of sheer curiosity and the size of my land. I have ten acres minus trees and building sites so 7.75 acres. Now to maximize use and growth I'm thinking sheep to rotate on 5 acres so I have a few for other things. I need to see how many breeding stock I can rotate. I'm evidently a bit colder climate it seems than you are but all the info I can get helps. I think maybe more predators too. So much goes into raising healthy stock it takes quite a bit of work. Do you ever milk your sheep?
Thanks so much for the comment! I don't milk my sheep for human consumption... only to feed other orphan lambs.
Thanks so much!
-the Shepherdess
Do you have guard dogs for your flock?
I have one in training right now :). Here is the video about him: th-cam.com/video/g7ivBlBT0GQ/w-d-xo.html
❤️
I enjoy watching your videos. They are very informative. Have you watched any videos by Jim Elizondo?
Thank you william! I have not watched him yet but will look him up :).
@@theShepherdess He practices rotational grazing like Joel Salatin, Greg Judy, and others, but with a twist. His rotations are much more frequent. He rotates 2 to 4 times a day, giving them just enough to eat for the time period. The big difference is how much he has the animals eat. He has them eat it down to 1 to 2 inches tall. He says by eating this low it causes the bunch grasses to spread out more and fill in, and it allows more diversity of plants to grow.
He doesn't bring the animals back until the grass is about ready to send up the seed head. He says using this method he has greatly increased the stocking rate of his ranch and the ranches he works on. His ranch is in Mexico but he has done work here in the U.S.
@@theShepherdess I'm not sure whether to go with Joel Salatin's and Allan Williams' view of only grazing the top half or Jim Elizondo's view of grazing down lower but giving more rest.
I just listened to his latest podcast. He claims when you only graze part of the plant the stem takes energy from the roots. He also said it's the microbes dying that make the humus. The microbes eat root extracts. When the leaves are gone the extracts stop and most of the microbes die turning to humus.
th-cam.com/video/-NHASIBZWRU/w-d-xo.html
@@williambryan2804 Yes, I have some skepticism about the total grazing... It leaves a lot of bare soil, which makes erosion and soil dry-out a concern if you don't have the right climate.
Right now I practice the Salatin method. Animals eat 1/2-2/3 and trample the rest. Last year the ground cover from the trampled grass created a fantastic cover for the soil during a summer drought. It kept my pasture from drying out as badly as it could have.
That said, I may try total grazing a few paddocks next season to chart results.
-the Shepherdess
Do you graze your sheep and cattle together in the same paddock at the same time?
During the spring I often do. Overwinter I supplement the cattle with a few cubes, which the sheep will steal if they are in the same area. For this reason I’ll separate during the winter.
She mentioned the book that she learned the rotating method from if anyone knows please drop the name
Here is a link to the 5 books that launched me: harmonyfarms.blog/product/the-shepherdess-library-bundle-5-books/
What kind of grass you feed sheeps
They eat any grass you give them. 😄
Nice job your doing over there you can plant something to be eaten by sheeps like hay
Thank you!
Very good video. One question, did you make a living out of that one year from your investment, and if not, how many sheep would you need to make a living based on your acreage?
Hi Jim!
No, my operation still costs more than it earns and will for the next few years. If you check out the link below I have given my full financial analysis in year 1:
th-cam.com/video/83QGhS1c92c/w-d-xo.html
So, would it be fair to say that after 3 years of your ongoing production which would also include you labour and your folk reaching its goal that you would be in a profit range. Did I miss any costs associated with the butchering of animals and other miscellaneous things associated with that
I do admire your real time attitude in making it work. Well done (Your time has real value)
@@Spiked2005 Thanks, Jim! There are so many variables in the farming that can't be projected. It's going to be a year-by-year process of risk and analysis.
One example: my pasture based system is risky and predators are a real threat. I could have 10-20% of my stock decimated in one night by an unforeseen attack (this happens to sheep ranchers regularly, regardless of fencing or number of guard dogs on duty).
This year was great, thank the Lord. I only had 2 deaths (aside from stillborn lambs) and a really healthy lamb crop.
I am subsidizing annual expenses via my full time job, and giving my operation a ton of my time. It is my aim to have my sheep operation be financially independent by year 5 and all assets paid off by year 7. We'll see what the Lord allows.
There are so many things at stake if my generation does not regain a connection to working with the land to produce food. I aim to make my sheep profitable on paper, but ultimately I am working with an understanding of profitability beyond what can be put on paper.
I believe our lives, or the lives of our grandchildren, are at stake if more of us don't catch that same vision.
-the Shepherdess
... you.... AWEsome.....
I owned a small pet store for some years and discovered that pumpkin is a natural dewormer. I used it on tortoises, lizards, rabbits, rats, and even parrots and dogs. I also discovered that one of the popular commercial dog dewormers is simply an isolated version of the chemical in pumpkin that does the deworming. I have no idea if it expels all types of stomach parasites, but Im sure that if you grew some on your property, it could further reduce your parasite costs. Please do not take my word alone in this, as I have never worked with sheep or goats. I do know that it also works with us humans though. God always provides away through His creation.
Thank you John!
Have you thought about introducing chickens to follow your sheep? The hens will eat the sheep's parasites in their poop and on the soil. If you thought about it then why you decided not to do it?
Garlic is a natural dewormer
I bet just like Greg Judy none of your neighbors are learning yet to copy your success and do better.
I have a great neighbor who practices rotational grazing… the rest just watch and wonder. 😂
I like your recognition of the importance of discernment in all parts of our life. It would eliminate a lot of hypocrisy and weakness in mankind if we all slowed down, stopped, and were honest with ourselves about each thing we think, feel, and do. There are too many people in the world. Eventually our birthrate will exceed our ability to feed everyone, along with providing all the other manmade resources on which we rely. Good farming practices are certainly necessary, but our own reproduction must be brought under control. Free, permanent, and voluntary sterilizations is the answer (not murderous abortion). In only nine months, we could begin to reverse the "latter end" that is inevitable if we don't stop reproducing like rabbits. Be careful about buying into the eco-whacko, leftist clap trap surrounding the environment. Their ONLY interest is in control, power, and money. These people are farmers' worst enemies, as they morph into telling you "what for" in every element of your operation. Freedom is the mother of invention and survival, not central planning. You have wonderful videos.
thank you for your support of my video!
I disagree on the sterilization. The problem is not population, but centralized production.
If we as individuals took personal responsibility for growing our own food (or at least a portion of it) there would be plenty for everyone. For those of us who can grow food, we can do so for our neighbor who can't.
At present I (just one person) am able produce enough meat to sustain 15 individuals all year long, with the potential to double or triple production. And all that only takes me 2 hours per day.
-the Shepherdess
@@theShepherdess Thanks for your thoughtful reply. Probably each profession (doctor, dentist, lawyer, cashier, auto mechanic, construction worker, etc.) could say "if we as individuals took personal responsibility for xxxxxx," and they would be correct. But people in dense cities don't have land for growing food. And people with full-time jobs don't have time for growing food. We have all become "fatally interdependent specialists" because we are overtaxed, over regulated, and overworked. Our over-population has created the cities, which are by definition "deserts of non-self-reliance." Centralized farming is merely a necessity in response to the survival demands of the cities. Lessen the population and you lessen the "deserts of non-self-reliance (i.e. the cities)." The crash will come someday, because humans do not know how to control their thirsty crotches.
@@bluenetmarketing America's population has had a net decline since at least the 70s. The world population is also on a slow decline. It would be faster but third world growth rates are outstripping first world slowing. The parts of the world that America has any say over are doing their part to reproduce less.
I agree with you that sterilization should be easy and cheap if not free, but only because it would prevent abortions, not because the world's population is too large; most hunger in America is caused by poor choices by individuals and the drug epidemic, and most hunger elsewhere is caused by terrible human beings who make aid difficult (whether through war or graft).
15K an acre here in Indiana. Crazy stupid.
Going up here in TX too. 75k for a 3 acre building lot in the middle of the country. 😳
sheep that keep the winter coat for too long you have no need!!
Saved $200 thousand dollars.... How many sheep are you raising to save that amount of money from saving on feed cost?
Thanks for the comment! The $200k is a reference to the raw cost of land in my parts, not the feed value :).
-the Shepherdess
??? ranchers have known to rotate grazing for at least a 100 years
why not doo beef and chickens. You know stuff people actually want to eat in america
When I read the Bible you can farm the land for 6 years and let it rest on the 7th years nice idea
Rotational farming has been going on since Bible times. The Word says to let the soil rest every 7 years.
Be blessed. 🙌🙌🙏☝️👍
Yes! And the amazing thing about that verse is that it’s actually instructed that grazing animals should come and use the land during that time!
“ the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie fallow, that the poor of your people may eat; and what they leave, the beasts of the field may eat.” Exodus 23:11
-the Shepherdess
@@theShepherdess week later and I now saw this😬 but that is so amazing! I dont know how I missed that last part of the verse, but wow that makes me so excited to see that so clearly laid out in the Bible!
@@cooperholdaway9559 yes!! Incredible that the Lord laid out a plan for soil health in the Bible. Scripture really is profitable for ALL THINGS. 🙌🏻
Like your message and have applied it myself. However, your halting way of speaking is very annoying.
The interesting thing, rotational grazing has been around since medieval times.
Yes! It’s more of a lost art than a new concept.
@@theShepherdess The interesting thing I read that in a book, an old book in Latin. It was on farming two different areas of England and one in Ireland that the family still has. From forest management, crop rotation along with grazing different animals in the same field for a time then moving them. I know my one friend David's family does about the same thing in Italy and my Great Grandfathers lands in Germany they are run the same. Many nobles with lands still know about this.
NO, NO , NOOO....58 seconds, enough! DISLIKED! Im leaving...