Strip grazing tools

The RCS Regenerative Grazing principles guide management of both production and the ecosystem in time-controlled grazing systems.

Terry McCosker, outlines these principles in plain English here. We have republished his thoughts below. This intensive system utilises a portable electric fence to give stock access to a new strip of pasture at planned times. The system can be relatively cheap, can provide for higher stocking rates and can increase production per hectare, but the labour and time component may be significant.

In this case study , South Australian croppers, David and Glenda Heinrich, introduced strip grazing to manage the small number of ewes they run. Rational grazing developed by Andre Voisin in the s rests on four laws that are applicable to all soil types and climates. First Law: The Law of Rest: In order for grass to achieve its maximum productivity, grass must be given time to recover between grazing intervals.

Second Law: The Law of Occupation: The time spent inside any individual grazing slice should be so short that the animals do not regraze the same grass a second time before they move to the next paddock. Third Law: The Law of Maximum Yields: We must help the cattle with the highest nutritional requirements to harvest the most quantity of the best quality grass possible.

Milk production and weight gains will be maximized if cattle spend no more than one day in each paddock. Cell grazing is derived from the vision created by Voisin and is a method of employed time-controlled regenerative grazing. Small cells are grazed at a high density for short periods, following by a rest period.

The number of paddocks is a key factor in this strategy. As Business Queensland noted, as the number of paddocks increase:. Looking for more producer stories? Click here. The Savory method, or Holistic Management HM , is based on high intensity grazing to mimic traditional herding habits of large mobs, adapted continually through planning and monitoring. It was developed in the s by biologist and livestock farmer, Allan Savory. These insights are :.

There are huge swaths of support and evidence for time controlled grazing strategies from producers and research, but there also exists widespread disagreement about the benefits of the approaches too.

In our next post, we will provide findings from research and trials, from both sides, on this topic. This method can be used in combination with rotational grazing. Fields can be strip grazed for example with dairy cows which are moved twice daily to be milked. Once grazed, cows are moved to the next field which is strip grazed while the previous area is rested. An example of Strip Grazing is shown in Figure 3. Mob Grazing , also known as ultra-high density grazing — Mob grazing involves grazing a large concentration of livestock in a small area for a short duration.

With stocking densities between , to , lbs or more of body weight per acre, animals are usually moved several times per day. Paddocks are only grazed 2 to 3 times per year. Long rest periods allow forages to become mature before grazing rather than being grazed in a vegetative state, allows for root systems to develop and energy stores to be built.

This method forces livestock to graze everything available, rather than selecting only the lush forage. What is not grazed is trampled into the ground. Advocates claim this method will increase soil organic matter, reduce weeds, and increase manure distribution. Using this method, forage production and stand persistence may be reduced. Research into this method have yielded mixed results and long term effects on pastures have yet to be studied. This method requires increased labor and is best suited when grazing animals that have lower nutritional needs.

Creep Grazing — When using the creep grazing method, younger animals have access to a pasture of higher quality forage through a creep gate. This supplemental forage will increase gains in nursing calves and reduce the energy requirements for the cows. Often, the forage creep grazed i. Only a small area is needed for the creep pasture along with a creep gate to control animal access.

See Figure 4 for an example of Creep Grazing. Forward Grazing or First-Last or Leader-Follower Grazing - This method consists of 2 groups of livestock on a paddock, one following directly after the other. This method is often used to graze animals with higher nutritional needs i. This method can also be used when grazing two different species as well. An example of Forward Grazing can be seen in Figure 5. You will need two portable reels, enough temporary posts to hold up wire across the area to be grazed, and a single strand of poly rope or poly wire.

You can electrify your cross-fencing by connecting it to your perimeter fence, or if need be, a portable solar or battery-operated energizer. For best results, a low impedance fence charger such as our battery-operated or solar-powered energizers should be used to energize poly wire or poly rope fences. Continuous output chargers should not be used.

When you consider the layout and setup of your strip grazing fencing system, first establish where the water supply will be and then begin grazing from that point. Depending on terrain, space the pigtail posts approximately 60 to feet apart. If livestock are new to electric fencing, consider spacing posts closer together until your animals become accustomed to it. In addition to the right equipment and setting strip footprints, you will need to learn how to judge the amount of forage crops stockpiled per acre.

Also determine how many pounds of forage or pasture grass your animals will eat each day. Not sure? Remember that grazing management is not an exact science. It's a learned skill which requires an open, adaptive mind. After all, you will be managing an ever-changing pasture and an always-hungry herd.