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HOLISTIC MANAGEMENTHOLISTIC MANAGEMENT
Planned GrazingPlanned Grazing
January 2015January 2015
Grey Bruce Farmers’ WeekGrey Bruce Farmers’ Week
Audience InformationAudience Information
1 –What are you grazing – cattle, horses, 1 –What are you grazing – cattle, horses, sheep, goats, pigs, poultry - other?sheep, goats, pigs, poultry - other?
2 –Have you heard of holistic management 2 –Have you heard of holistic management before?before?
3 – Have you read something by or about 3 – Have you read something by or about Allan Savory?Allan Savory?
4 – How often do you move your lifestock? 4 – How often do you move your lifestock? Never, monthly, weekly, daily?Never, monthly, weekly, daily?
Presentation will be in 3 partsPresentation will be in 3 parts
A quick overview of HMA quick overview of HM A look at some key features of A look at some key features of
Holistic Management Planned Holistic Management Planned GrazingGrazing
A question and answer periodA question and answer period
Holistic Management is a Holistic Management is a decision making processdecision making process
Developed by Allan Savory Developed by Allan Savory and refined by decades of useand refined by decades of use
It is inclusive – involving the It is inclusive – involving the whole farm management teamwhole farm management team
““Holistic Goal”Holistic Goal”
Process involves the full management team Process involves the full management team developing a “Holistic Goal”developing a “Holistic Goal”
The Holisticgoal has 3 parts The Holisticgoal has 3 parts Quality of LifeQuality of Life
What we What we valuevalue in Life in Life Forms of ProductionForms of Production
What we What we DODO to achieve Quality of Life to achieve Quality of Life Future Resource BaseFuture Resource Base
What we need What we need to sustain to sustain quality of Lifequality of Life
Date & Title
Quality of Life - What we value in Life
Forms of Production -What we DO to achieve the Quality of Life
Future Resource Base -What we need to sustain the Quality of Life
A number of Tools have been A number of Tools have been developed to help farm families developed to help farm families move toward their Holistic Goalmove toward their Holistic Goal
Seven Testing Questions Seven Testing Questions are used when making decisions and help are used when making decisions and help
families make choices that take them toward families make choices that take them toward their goal and achieve a triple bottom line of their goal and achieve a triple bottom line of socially, environmentally and economically socially, environmentally and economically appropriate decisions. One of the 7 is “Does appropriate decisions. One of the 7 is “Does this action address the this action address the rootroot cause of the cause of the problem?problem?
Testing Testing QuestionsQuestions
on a handy on a handy cardcard
Canadian TireCanadian TireFarm AuctionFarm AuctionKitchen tableKitchen table
The Financial Planning ProcessThe Financial Planning Process
Encourages farm families to plan for a Encourages farm families to plan for a significant profit.significant profit. Savory suggests 50% of Savory suggests 50% of the gross income!the gross income!
not just by increasing income but by not just by increasing income but by controlling costs! controlling costs!
and using a “weak link analysis” to and using a “weak link analysis” to determine where they can best spend determine where they can best spend money to address the “weak link” in each money to address the “weak link” in each of their enterprisesof their enterprises
Financial Weak LinkFinancial Weak LinkThe WEAK LINK is the link in the chain of The WEAK LINK is the link in the chain of
Production that is most limiting the performance of Production that is most limiting the performance of that enterprise.that enterprise.
Need to determine which is the weakest link in the Need to determine which is the weakest link in the chain of production chain of production for each enterprisefor each enterprise..
RESOURCE PRODUCT MARKETINGRESOURCE PRODUCT MARKETING
CONVERSION CONVERSION CONVERSION CONVERSION CONVERSION CONVERSION
Sunlight and/or Products Marketing of Sunlight and/or Products Marketing of
raw resources and / or products raw resources and / or products including money services and /or services including money services and /or services
Example – Beef enterpriseExample – Beef enterprise
Land Planning ProcessLand Planning Process
helps farm families develop a long helps farm families develop a long term plan for infrastructure and term plan for infrastructure and landscape improvements.landscape improvements.
which are done which are done when they will pay when they will pay for themselvesfor themselves as part of the financial as part of the financial planning.planning.
Feed back LoopFeed back Loop
Make your plan but assume it will Make your plan but assume it will be be WRONGWRONG. .
Then figure out where to monitor Then figure out where to monitor for early signs that it is not for early signs that it is not working so you can adjust it. working so you can adjust it.
PLAN-MONITOR-CONTROL-PLAN-MONITOR-CONTROL-REPLANREPLAN
10 Principles10 Principles
1 – Nature Functions in Wholes1 – Nature Functions in Wholes 2 – Understand the Environment You 2 – Understand the Environment You
ManageManage Brittle and Non-Brittle EnvironmentsBrittle and Non-Brittle Environments
3 – Livestock Can Improve Land Health3 – Livestock Can Improve Land Health Mimicking wild herding with predatorsMimicking wild herding with predators
4 – Time is More Important than 4 – Time is More Important than Numbers Numbers
10 Principles Continued10 Principles Continued
5 – Define What You Are Managing5 – Define What You Are Managing 6 – State What You Want-Clear 6 – State What You Want-Clear
HolisticgoalHolisticgoal 7 – Bare Ground is Public Enemy # 17 – Bare Ground is Public Enemy # 1 8 – Play With a Full Deck8 – Play With a Full Deck 9 – Test Your Decisions9 – Test Your Decisions 10 – Monitor For Results10 – Monitor For Results
Things particularly relevant to Things particularly relevant to GrazingGrazing
Understanding of the ecosystemUnderstanding of the ecosystem Brittleness ScaleBrittleness Scale Relationship of grazing period and recovery Relationship of grazing period and recovery
period to plant performance.period to plant performance. Role of animal impactRole of animal impact Planned Grazing ChartsPlanned Grazing Charts
Understanding the EcosystemUnderstanding the EcosystemLets us work with itLets us work with it
Working with it increasesWorking with it increases Productivity of our sunlightProductivity of our sunlight Reduces stress on our animalsReduces stress on our animals
Working with it decreasesWorking with it decreases Need for off farm inputsNeed for off farm inputs Workload and stress on farmersWorkload and stress on farmers
Brittleness ScaleBrittleness Scale
Brittle – very dry – desert most brittleBrittle – very dry – desert most brittle Non-Brittle – moist – rain forest – Non-Brittle – moist – rain forest – Brittle and Non-Brittle EnvironmentsBrittle and Non-Brittle Environments
Respond differently to same managementRespond differently to same management Rest – Non-Brittle – moves to more complexRest – Non-Brittle – moves to more complex Rest – Brittle - degradesRest – Brittle - degrades
Brittle Environments – Biological CommunityBrittle Environments – Biological Community In the rumen of grazing animals part of the yearIn the rumen of grazing animals part of the year
6 months later – After - 200 cattle & 6 months later – After - 200 cattle & 100 goats in a new area each day 100 goats in a new area each day
Increased Land ProductivityIncreased Land Productivity
doubling stocking rates doubling stocking rates – – like getting a second farm – like getting a second farm –
some of the brittle environments some of the brittle environments – – tripled stocking rates.tripled stocking rates.
Increased soil organic matterIncreased soil organic matter And Carbon SequestrationAnd Carbon Sequestration
Improved water infiltration and holdingImproved water infiltration and holding Improved mineral cyclingImproved mineral cycling Increased Energy Capture – Solar FarmersIncreased Energy Capture – Solar Farmers
September 3, 2008 – Regrowth from Hay cut June 24, 2008 – 64 day recovery – Middle A
Ontario is NOT Zimbabwe
We are Non-BrittleWe are Non-Brittle How can Holistic Management Help Us?How can Holistic Management Help Us?
Understanding Recovery Understanding Recovery Role of Animal ImpactRole of Animal Impact Control of “Time” and “Numbers”Control of “Time” and “Numbers” Choosing Grazing and Recovery PeriodsChoosing Grazing and Recovery Periods Managing for the plants – improve Managing for the plants – improve
productivityproductivity Planned Grazing ChartsPlanned Grazing Charts
Grazing and Pasture Grazing and Pasture managementmanagement
At the right placeAt the right place
At the right timeAt the right time
For the right reasonFor the right reason
YOU SHOULD NEVERYOU SHOULD NEVER
BE SO BUSYBE SO BUSY
DOINGDOING WHAT YOU ARE DOING WHAT YOU ARE DOING
THAT YOU DON’TTHAT YOU DON’T
HAVE TIME TO HAVE TIME TO THINKTHINK
ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE DOINGABOUT WHAT YOU ARE DOING
The Grazing Chart lets you see all your paddocks and livestock in one place. It also lets you keep track of things like recovery periods, breeding, calving, planned holidays, environmental constraints on some paddocks, rainfall, herd animal units etc.
If things aren’t working or there is a problemIf things aren’t working or there is a problem
We have 3 choices:We have 3 choices:
1. DO NOTHING1. DO NOTHING
2. DO THE SAME HARDER2. DO THE SAME HARDER
3. 3. MAKE A CHANGEMAKE A CHANGE
Story of 2012 droughtStory of 2012 drought
- The grazing chart helped us realize - The grazing chart helped us realize something was amiss in MAY something was amiss in MAY
- The testing questions helped us decide - The testing questions helped us decide to buy hay then rather than wait.to buy hay then rather than wait.
- The pasture planning we did meant we - The pasture planning we did meant we ended up pasturing our animals ended up pasturing our animals throughout the summer and fall and throughout the summer and fall and didn’t start feeding hay till Mid didn’t start feeding hay till Mid November 2012.November 2012.
Holistic Planned Grazing:Holistic Planned Grazing:
Coordinates two land management Coordinates two land management toolstools Grazing and Animal impactGrazing and Animal impactHM – using animals as “Tools”.HM – using animals as “Tools”.
Uses four Uses four management guidelinesmanagement guidelines Population management (stocking rate)Population management (stocking rate) TimeTime Stock densityStock density Herd effect Herd effect
Recovery PeriodRecovery Period
The length of time it takes a plant to recover The length of time it takes a plant to recover fully from being grazed.fully from being grazed.
How can we tell if a plant has Recovered?How can we tell if a plant has Recovered? It starts to work on REPRODUCTION not It starts to work on REPRODUCTION not
REGENERATION.REGENERATION. It starts to flowerIt starts to flower It has replenished its roots and energy reserves and It has replenished its roots and energy reserves and
can start on reproduction.can start on reproduction.
Important ConceptsImportant Concepts
- Severely Grazed- Severely Grazed - Over Grazed- Over Grazed - Over Rested- Over Rested
Overgrazing can OccurOvergrazing can Occur
1 – If the Recovery Period is too short1 – If the Recovery Period is too short Animals return to a paddock too soon Animals return to a paddock too soon
and Plants are regrazed before they and Plants are regrazed before they fully recover.fully recover.
2 – If the Grazing Period is too long2 – If the Grazing Period is too long Re-growing plants are regrazed before Re-growing plants are regrazed before
the animals leave the paddockthe animals leave the paddock..
Feed Soil & LivestockFeed Soil & Livestock
• Monitor Daily Grazing Monitor Daily Grazing Patterns.Patterns.
• Fresh Trampled Litter On The Fresh Trampled Litter On The SoilSoil
• Proper Gut Fill On The left Proper Gut Fill On The left Side In Front Of Hip Bone.Side In Front Of Hip Bone.
Greg Judy – comments & slides
Recovery Periods will vary!Recovery Periods will vary!
Depending on the time of year Depending on the time of year AND the residual left after AND the residual left after grazing AND the weather!grazing AND the weather!
In the early spring?In the early spring? Late spring early summer?Late spring early summer? Mid summer?Mid summer? Fall?Fall?
Lengths for Grazing PeriodsLengths for Grazing Periods
Fast Growth – 3 days or lessFast Growth – 3 days or less Slow Growth – 6 to 7 days ???Slow Growth – 6 to 7 days ???
Some folks experimenting with Some folks experimenting with very short graze periods, rapid very short graze periods, rapid moves, high stock density.moves, high stock density.
Neil Dennis, Saskatchewan, Stock Density, 1,000 animal units per acre. 1 million pounds of beef on an acre – Moving every couple of hours. To get a similar stock density with 30 animal units they would be in a paddock 26 by 50 feet.43 square feet/animal.
New Zealand Batt Latches – timed gate release. Neil sets up a number of pasture strips of about an acre and then has the Batt Latches timed to open every two hours. The cattle keep moving forward into the fresh pasture – they can go back to get to the water truck.
Paddock #’s impact Grazing Time and Recovery Period
# of Paddocks Grazing Period Recovery Period
1 150 days 0
2 75 days 75 days
4 38 days 112 days
8 19 days 131 days
16 9 days 141 days
16 with 3 passes 3 days 45 days
Electric fencing Electric fencing
They need to be trained to respect it.They need to be trained to respect it. Makes it easier to subdivide pasturesMakes it easier to subdivide pastures Moving animals frequently makes them easier Moving animals frequently makes them easier
to handle.to handle. Can separate animals for shippingCan separate animals for shipping Make temporary lanes to move animals to the Make temporary lanes to move animals to the
barn.barn. Make temporary gates – no permanent lane Make temporary gates – no permanent lane
ways.ways.
Animal Impact on Wet SoilAnimal Impact on Wet Soil
One of my anxieties – in our Non-Brittle area.One of my anxieties – in our Non-Brittle area. If animals are on small areas when they are If animals are on small areas when they are
wet – looks pretty grimwet – looks pretty grim But only a small area is affectedBut only a small area is affected If there is adequate recovery period it is OKIf there is adequate recovery period it is OK Planned Grazing can helpPlanned Grazing can help Biologically active soil may also be importantBiologically active soil may also be important
May 16, 2008 – West R – after the horses were on it for 1 day – wet weather - 3.25 inches of rain so far in May – 7/16 the night before. 4 horses on about 1/7 acre.
You are the Expert on your Farm!You are the Expert on your Farm!
Experiment with new ideas.Experiment with new ideas.Severely graze a paddock.Severely graze a paddock.Leave lots of residual in Leave lots of residual in
another.another.Monitor what happens.Monitor what happens.Each year will be different!Each year will be different!
Start SlowlyStart Slowly
Increase Stock DensityIncrease Stock Density Paddock NumbersPaddock Numbers And reducing Grazing PeriodAnd reducing Grazing Period
Maintain good gut fillMaintain good gut fill And adequate recoveryAnd adequate recovery
Do for several yearsDo for several years Before Increasing Stocking RateBefore Increasing Stocking Rate
HM Planned GrazingHM Planned Grazing
Just one element of Holistic ManagementJust one element of Holistic Management Other elements includeOther elements include
Developing a Holistic GoalDeveloping a Holistic Goal Financial PlanningFinancial Planning Land PlanningLand Planning Testing QuestionsTesting Questions Feedback LoopFeedback Loop
For More InformationFor More Information
Tony & Fran McQuailTony & Fran McQuail
[email protected]@hurontel.on.ca 519-528-2493 519-528-2493
Holistic Management InternationalHolistic Management International
http://holisticmanagement.org/free-downloads/http://holisticmanagement.org/free-downloads/
http://www.ted.com/talks/allan_savory_how_to_http://www.ted.com/talks/allan_savory_how_to_green_the_world_s_deserts_and_reverse_climgreen_the_world_s_deserts_and_reverse_climate_changeate_change