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

August 1996 in BCAugust 1996 in BC

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

Bare Capped Soil - ZimbabweBare Capped Soil - Zimbabwe

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

Two Years Later Two Years Later

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

Willows the Day of Grazing

Salt and Mineral feeder in the willows

Animal Impact and Herd Effect

Cattle moving into the area – some going after the mineral & salt immediately

Willows the day after grazing

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..

Pretty Severely Grazed – not a lot of trampled litter on the soil surface.

Fresh Trampled Litter Bank

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.

Moving Cattle from South A & B to Middle A – September 3, 2008

Cattle Flow into next strip Middle A, Sept. 3, 2008

Elapsed time – around a minute – moving into Middle A – Sept. 3, 2008

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 – pasture before horses went in – Section of West R

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.

May 16, 2008 – West R – Animal Impact

July 23, 2008 – 63 days later in West R

Portable Mud Proof Water

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

mcqufarm@hurontel.on.camcqufarm@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