The new method tries to copy how Mother Nature manages groups of grazing animals. It seems to work far better than current methods. Less expensive and maybe the ability to significantly increase herd size without needing a larger farm.
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Fascinating.
I wonder how well it works in dryer or colder or hotter climates. Hell, if I see evidence that it works well in dry climates I might strike up a relationship to.try it with some of the old impoverished ranchers near where I live in Mexico.
david fb
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Check out Alan Savory, Savory Grazing.
He was roundly attacked by the “conservative” grazing experts.
But Bamberger ranch has reportedly used the system with success.
Most “Western Universities” with range management departments (TAMU, etc) have had “High Intensity Short Duration” grazing studies since Savory challenged their paradigm.
Here’s a non profit that does these studies.
ralph
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Contact the people promoting it and see what they say. IMO, the key point is having sufficient grazing area to keep moving the herd. If the farmers (as individuals) do not have sufficient land, then maybe combining two comparable herds–and moving them together–might work because two farmers should be able to provide double the grazing room of either one by himself. Reading the article, it states 2x or 3x herd size may be sustainable.
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The above Canadian study was about bio-diversity, not the effectiveness of AMP grazing regarding carbon sequestration, etc.
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This study is about the effectiveness of AMP grazing in Canada over a 5-yr period. Reading the article, it says it is better to use native grasses (in western Canada, at least) because they have deeper tap roots and can sequester carbon well underground while fast-growing plow-and-seed plants to feed cows/cattle have much shorter roots, so the carbon capture is basically just a few inches below the surface.
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That brings to mind another item that “looks interesting”. It is a seed/plant that is significantly drought tolerant. It is from Africa, the areas mostly around desert or semi-desert.
Key point: It is a nitrogen-fixing legume that puts nitrogen into the soil.
Do a search on Bambara Nut. I looked at it for possibilities around the more fringe-arid areas of the US. Legal to import to the US, and if appropriate, may be usable as a cover or in rotation with other crops.
No idea about costs, etc.
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Thank you all. I will do research, and the core of my idea is to act as a catalyst to the local remaining small scale herdsmen to shift from old Hacienda techniques to the intensive group grazing.
I am currently in my 5th year of eradicating the shallow rooted rapid growing grasses that were imported here in the 19th century from Australia and Asia.
david fb
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My slightly educated guess is that it might - with the right animals. Maybe deer or sheep (peccaries??) rather than cattle. Something that is native to the land - or to similar land elsewhere around the world.
–Peter
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They are in Colorado. So you should be able to get some to test as the price is not expensive (at least for test growing purposes).