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PB MOTHER EARTH NEWS October/November 2016
time the pruning (grazing) at the top of
the “S,” before plants head into senescence
(that is, begin to die). The whole idea is
to increase the amount of time during
which plants enjoy their juvenile growth
period, thus capturing more solar energy
and transforming it into biomass.
How does this look in practical terms?
Let’s assume you have one cow and 2 acres.
Under continuous grazing regimens, that
pasture will yield (in our part of Virginia)
80 grazing days per acre, or 160 grazing
days for the 2 acres, which is only enough
for a quarter or half of a year, respectively.
Generally, a homesteader will buy hay to
feed the cow for the rest of the year.
Now, let’s assume that we use electric
fencing and give the cow access to only as
much pasture as she needs for a day. If the
forage is 50 grazing days in volume, the
cow needs^1 ⁄ 50 of an acre, or about 100
square yards. Ideally, that would be offered
at 10 yards by 10 yards — I’ve found that
animals graze squares more efficiently than
rectangles. Tomorrow, she’ll be moved to
the next spot, and to the next spot the day
after that.
Under this regimen, it will take 100 days
to cover the whole 2 acres. That means the
first paddock grazed will have had 99 days
to recover. In areas with rainfall above 20
inches per year, a 3-month rest period dur-
ing the growing season is usually adequate
for the forage to regrow to pre-grazing
volume. The second grazing cycle takes
another 100 days. Now we’ll have grazed
200 days and will have a third cycle to go.
Suddenly, we don’t need to buy any hay!
By using this practice on our farm, we’ve
boosted our production from an average
of 80 grazing days per acre to an average
of 400. On leased pasture, we’ve consis-
tently achieved a doubling of production
in one year by switching from continuous
to daily-move rotational grazing.Controlled grazing Controlled grazing Controlled grazing
involves math and involves math and involves math and
science, but it also science, but it also science, but it also
involves artistry. involves artistry. involves artistry.
Circle #25; see card pg 97p 72-75 Pitchfork.indd 74 10/11/16 3:32 PM