The sector day began off on the Irwin County Excessive Faculty C.A.S.E Farm with an academic session facilitated by Dan Glenn, owner-operator of Deep Grass Graziers, and Jonathan Fordham, owner-operator of Fordham Brothers Farm.
CATTLE BREED SELECTION AND SOIL HEALTH
Dan Glenn’s wealth of data comes from self-education, from visiting different farms, attending subject days, and most significantly, listening. He operates a 400 head cow/calf operation on 300 acres that makes use of minimal inputs, and champions local weather good methods of regenerating soil well being and breeding cattle genetics which can be tailored to the Southeast. As an example, as an alternative of elevating grass-finished beef that’s bred for body or weight, Dan places environmental pressures on the cattle that encourages self-selection for adaptability. In line with Dan, there are not any shortcuts in breed choice. When choosing cattle breeds, it is very important needless to say the Southeast area:
-
Will get a number of rainfall, which makes the grasses “washy,” that means they aren’t heavy in minerals or sugars, so the cows want a higher intestine capability to devour all of the vitamins they want.
-
Has intense warmth 6 months out of the 12 months, and through this time, it’s additionally sizzling throughout the night time; the cows want to have the ability to cope with steady warmth stress.
-
Has higher insect pressures, corresponding to ticks and flies.
Epigenetics performs a task within the adaptability of heifers and calves. In line with Dan, “You possibly can all the time increase a greater heifer, than you should purchase.” Which means that the cows raised within the setting of your farm are programmed to the feed you utilize, the bugs in your farm, and the trivialities which can be particular to your farm. Should you’re not capable of increase your personal heifers, Dan suggests that you just search for a breeder in your space, however stresses that it’s vital to search for a breeder with comparable practices to your farm. That means, the cow can extra simply adapt to your farm.
Considered one of Dan’s core values in operating a worthwhile enterprise is prioritizing his soil well being. To do that, he follows these ideas and practices:
Round 6 years in the past, Dan stopped utilizing industrial fertilizer on sure grasses. Consequently, the clover within the pasture seed financial institution has elevated. By embracing and dealing with nature, Dan minimizes consistently operating on a cycle of fixing issues, and he’s higher capable of tackle root points, not simply the signs. Dan is prepared to surrender close to time period efficiency in trade for investing time into adjusting and enhancing pasture and grazing administration as a result of that offers him extra management over his enterprise prices. The extra prices he can management, the extra resilient that makes him. Dan emphasised the significance of balancing resiliency and profitability, whereas additionally sustaining a ardour for the work. He mentioned it greatest by reminding subject day attendees that, “The cattle enterprise isn’t excessive sufficient margin for it to not be enjoyable, so all the time maintain it enjoyable.”