Multi-Paddock Grazing - Pitchstone Waters (Page 3)

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Multi-Paddock Grazing

A collection of 113 posts

cattle_united_kingdom

Animal Development

The Case for a Carbon Tax on Beef

This article does a good job of summarizing the many environmental problems caused by Big Meat’s method of raising beef. However, the author mistakenly assumes that there is no other way to raise beef than in these artificial, energy-intensive, environmentally-destructive, cruel and unhealthy mega-feedlots. And the author seems to

australian_cattle_erosion_control

"Invasion Biology"

How an Australian Ranch Uses Cattle to Restore Soil

Meet Glenn Morris, General Manager of Figtrees Organic Farms, producers and marketers of award winning organic beef from the award winning properties ‘Wilton Park’ in New South Wales, Australia. Glenn has spent more than two decades observing, studying and thoughtfully managing the diverse ecosystems in his care. His keen eye

Cattle-Fever-Tick-quarantine-road-sign-25

"Invasion Biology"

A Better Fight Against Cattle Fever Ticks

Planned grazing has been shown to significantly control fever ticks without medications when the recovery (rest) periods – the time between when a herd leaves a pasture and when it returns – exceeds 150 days. This is because the ticks’ life cycle cannot survive absence of host animals for that long. Decades

Can Livestock Restore Drought-Stricken Grasslands?

"Invasion Biology"

Can Livestock Restore Drought-Stricken Grasslands?

Americans assume our range practices are the most advanced anywhere. Yet these ideas originated in Africa and remain generally unaccepted by American universities and agencies. NOTE: This article excerpt is being republished with permission of thefern.org. It was written by Judith Schwartz and appeared April 12, 2016 Inside a

gulley_restoration_desert_grasslands

Turning a Dangerous Arroyo Into a Flood Irrigation Resource in the Deserts of Far-West Texas

Here is how we harvested water out of Circle Ranch’s worst gully, and used it to re-wet 5-miles of desert meadows.

chris_gill_circle_ranch_texas

"Invasion Biology"

Rancher Takes an Unconventional Path to Restoring His Land

“Chris Gill, 72, together with his family own Circle Ranch in far-West Texas. He thinks of the desert habitat, its flora and fauna, as a single system.” NOTE: this article was initially posted to ReportingTexas.com on December 12, 2017. It was written by Austin Price, and all photography credits

greening_the_chiuaua_desert

"Invasion Biology"

Greening the Chihuahuan Desert

Chihuahuan ranchers are at the forefront of restorative grazing practices.

Ipomopsis_aggregata_circle_ranch

Plants That Get Tougher and Meaner When Attacked

The idea that plants need animals as much as animals need plants is counterintuitive to those trained to think nature consists of disconnected parts which can be independently manipulated. But, holistic thinkers have always said that nature’s individual parts are interdependent. As any gardener knows, pinching back flowers to

How and Why Holistic Planned Grazing Can Restore Habitat and Ranch Income

"Invasion Biology"

How and Why Holistic Planned Grazing Can Restore Habitat and Ranch Income

This paper, authored by Texas A&M range scientist Richard Teague and colleague Matt Barnes, discusses what has worked best for planned graziers across the world, and why conventional range studies have been unable to analyze their results. The paper was published in the African Journal of Range &

us_land_practices

Emerging Land Use Practices Rapidly Increase Soil Organic Matter

“Emerging land uses, such as management-intensive grazing, may offer a rare win–win strategy combining profitable food production with rapid improvement of soil quality and short-term climate mitigation through soil carbon accumulation (sequestration)” NOTE: This study was originally posted to Nature Communications / Nature.com Abstract The loss of organic matter

Microbes Are the Key to Improving Rangeland Soil Fertility

Animal Development

Microbes Are the Key to Improving Rangeland Soil Fertility

David C. Johnson, Ph.D, of New Mexico State University discusses how his compost research shows tremendous promise for soil carbon sequestration, and the potential benefits that may have on climate change, our food system, rangelands and the wildlife they support. Microbes – ignored in most research – are the key. Transcript:

Richard Teague et al. on Benefits of Planned Grazing

"Invasion Biology"

Richard Teague et al. on Benefits of Planned Grazing

Here is peer reviewed, hard science from Texas A&M on the topic of holistic planned grazing. This paper by Texas A&M range scientists Richard Teague, Fred Provenza et al. studied the benefits of concentrated, rapidly moving cattle herds on rangeland health. Their peer-reviewed findings contradicted the

Ranches for Free: Birdwell Creek - Planned Grazing

"Invasion Biology"

Ranches for Free: Birdwell Creek - Planned Grazing

Here is a Texas example of high density planned grazing, which means the owners greatly increased cattle numbers and animal density, improving habitat and forage production. The increase in productivity per acre is like getting a ranch (or two) for free. These results directly contradict the agency-university biases against cattle

Dr. David Briske et al. Synthesis Paper

Dr. David Briske et al. Synthesis Paper

This paper was published in 2008. Texas A&M range scientist David Briske and several academic colleagues concluded that planned grazing is ineffective and has been disproved as a grazing method, and that low-density set-stocking, which means keeping fewer cattle in one place all the time, is the best

drought_california

"Invasion Biology"

To Fight Climate Change, Heal the Ground

Soil health and soil fertility should be the goal of every farmer and rancher. Imagine the changes in habitat and wildlife practices if every action and every inaction – such as using fertilizers and pesticides, or removing animals – were tested according to how that action would affect soil health and fertility.

tangleweed_west_texas

"Invasion Biology"

Tanglehead in South Texas - Changes and Challenges

The so-called “invasion” of Tanglehead grass is a symptom of cattle removals on South Texas rangeland. This excellent article contains insights and facts that point to this. The facts: * Tanglehead is a native grass. * Tanglehead was not ‘invasive’ so long as the ranges were being grazed. * With reduced grazing, it

Circle Ranch - Mule Deer

"Invasion Biology"

TPWD Mule Deer Habitat Advice

I was surprised to learn at a TPWD mule deer seminar that the way we graze cattle at Circle Ranch harms plants and water function. So I read all the studies on which these conclusions were based and found they did not study what they claimed to study. I wrote

Tucson_Mountains_Foothills_Arizona_2014

"Invasion Biology"

Where's a Real Environmentalist When you Need One?

Many of the strongest advocates for planned grazing of cattle and other domestic animals to maintain and restore habitat health – ourselves included – started out opposed to grazing, which the agencies and universities have taught 4-generations to believe is bad for plants and animals. NOTE: This post initially appeared in Range

Eco Profits - Whose Money Harms The Environment?

Eco Profits - Whose Money Harms The Environment?

Author Dan Dagger says in part, “Environmental corporatism is guilty of the same offense of which it has made a career of accusing capitalism, the free market, and private enterprise: Getting rich at the expense of the environment. And its consumers are just as blind to the damage they cause

circle_ranch_mule_deer_fawns_feature

Animal Development

5 Rules for Bigger, Better and More Mulies

A great article by Steve Nelle that outlines how to have more and healthier mule deer, quail and pronghorn. 1. Grazing management is the single most important way to affect mule deer food supply. When grass conditions permit, practice light-to-moderate seasonal grazing, in some rotational form (examples include “holistic planned

cattle_circle_ranch

Princeton University: Wildlife and Cows Can Be Partners Not Competitors in Food Search

Cattle and horses closely resemble native animals that would be the dominant large grazers in North America, but for human impact. Horses – these include donkeys or burros – and their ancestors were in our deserts for 50 million years. They disappeared 5,000 years ago and have been back for 500

Slideshow: Circle Ranch Wildlife, December 2016

"Invasion Biology"

Slideshow: Circle Ranch Wildlife, December 2016

There is not a federal or state park in far-West Texas where one can see free ranging elk, sheep, pronghorn and mule deer together. These animals and many others are found in abundance at Circle Ranch, because of our (1) water system, (2) periodic planned cattle grazing, (3) protection of

circle_ranch_west_texas_cattle_feature

"Invasion Biology"

Public Wildlife on Private Land

The unification of wildlife management and private land management is essential for the wellbeing of both.

U.S. - Mexico Teamwork Where the Rio Grande Is but a Ribbon

"Invasion Biology"

U.S. - Mexico Teamwork Where the Rio Grande Is but a Ribbon

The destructive and wasteful application of invasive species biology as promoted by The New York Times. Invasive species biology is based on the assumption that anything done by an “invasive” is by definition bad. According to the invasive species folks, cane is a sneaky invader that has driven out native

circle_ranch_texas_burro

"Invasion Biology"

Circle Ranch Game Cameras - July 2016

To be healthy, desert ranges need three things: (1) Large, concentrated migratory bison herds, or, cattle grazed to mimic bison’s migratory patterns; (2) a lot of predators of all sizes; and, (3) a high, diverse population of prey species. Remove any of these and the systems collapse. Most wildlife