We had no stockpile worth mentioning either. Was all warm season stuff that normally would have been mowed off in August. Glad I didn't clip it though. Hay was pretty low quality as well.
When I got a set of scales it was a real eye opener !
That's what I'm needing to a T.
I was going to respond with that, "learning", and you said it. That's the best thing about the ranch/farm life. Whether its learning to pay attention to the cows or grasses, and even the wildlife to tell you something useful. And then we get old and by then we realize how much more we could learn. What a privilege...
This video goes into more detail, Johannes' work has been replicated not only throughout southern Africa, but in Australia, the USA, Mexico, several South American countries, UK and several Mediterranean countries - https://sangacattle.webs.com/apps/videos/videos/show/18906811-sustainable-ranching
It was WAY too familiar, I couldn't quite place it though. After about the second sentence he spoke on the video when he said the name 'Alan Savory', that was all it took. Johannes is a disciple of Savory. I think Savory has some good/very good ideas and concepts. The problem is, and for whatever reason people that can figure out and come up with wonderful ideas, at the same time, don't pay any attention to scientific facts and do everything in their power to hide their failures and shortcomings. These systems that they tout are often so far under water financially that no producer could ever be able to accomplish what these systems claim and be profitable. The persist/exist because supporters of these systems contribute millions to see them advocated for and supplement the systems virtually every step of the way. These are not viable, self sustaining operations. There are some good things within these systems, but the systems are anything but transparent and are nothing I would try, in spite of what it looks like on the surface.
Ya know... I've been rotating pastures since learning about it in college in the early seventies. Finding ways to do it better. Light reseeding, stacking animals in trouble spots, weeding without chemicals, yada, yada, yada... Lo and behold, I found out about Alan Savory and his work only about a decade ago and in looking at it... I find he's doing a lot of what I found out to be cost effective. Not sure what he does that you find not viable. I think a lot of people expect cookie cutter solutions for problems that need tweaking for specific issues. I'd expect most of his best results have been very specific to the areas and conditions. That doesn't mean his "in general" ideas don't work well.
A set of scales is what got me into this predicament. Once I started measuring I wanted to get better and better and still better. I am now working on getting the tail end of my calves up closer to the top end, having a tighter calving interval (fertility) will help with this. One thing about where I am now is that I have no shortage of quality replacements so I don't fall in love with any. If they fall out of line with what I want calving wise or calf weaning weights then they go.
So as I said, "people expect cookie cutter solutions for problems that need tweaking for specific issues."Probably the biggest problem with Savory is that results aren't repeatable most of the time when what Savory claims he has accomplished is tried to be repeated. Savory does have many concepts that work, but he also has many concepts that don't work. He uses and advocates a holistic approach to problems. However, when he evaluates results of the application of his holistic management approach, he then picks and chooses components and does not apply the holistic approach he advocates.
Allan Savory's Holistic Management Theory Falls Short on Science
A critical look at the holistic managment and planned grazing theories of Allan Savorywww.sierraclub.org
Why Allan Savory’s TED Talk About Cattle and Global Warming Is Wrong
When Allan Savory finished his TED talk early last month, foodies worldwide collectively salivated. In roughly 22 minutes, Savory, a biologist and...slate.com
"Cattle that grazed according to Savory's method needed expensive supplemental feed, became stressed and fatigued, and lost enough weight to compromise the profitability of their meat."Holistic management – a critical review of Allan Savory’s grazing method
In a 2013 TED talk entitled ‘How to fight desertification and reverse climate change’ the Zimbabwean ecologist, Allan Savory, claimed that the ‘holistic management’ grazing management method that he has developed and promoted over 40 years, could stop global desertification and reduce...tabledebates.org
I've said it a few times now that Savory has some valid ideas, but I've also said I don't believe in "magic bullets". No two operations are the same and I don't take a cookie cutter approach to solutions. I find myself questioning if Savory is taking a cookie cutter approach with his solutions.
Johann actually developed the high density grazing system now used in the Holistic grazing program, during the 70's people in different countries were trialing grazing systems with varying degrees of success. Allan Savory was approaching the problem of degradation in the national parks as a biologist, and condemned livestcok as being the cause of this degradation, and recommended ranchers go to venison production instead. Johann comes from generations of cattlemen, and is still a "boots on the ground" rancher, despite being offered a leading position on Prof Bonsmas' team in South Africa, but instead, has continued his work in genetics on commercial ranches. After a short period of working with Allan (fellow countrymen so not too strange) they went their separate ways, as Johann is a cattleman, and Allan went down the environment pathway. We all grew up together and served in the army but no one in our community could be considered "disciple" of aby of the other practitoners, the main emphasis of the video is on selecting adapted genetics - Johann's area of expertise, with the high density grazing being in support of the best way to manage this phenotype.
I really don't see any good livestock producer/cattleman as being separated from environmental concerns. The best are both environmentalists and cattlemen.
Planned rotation definitely work in arid environments, and farmers here in the UK are increasing production on highly productive pastures, using the same principles, but far different timing. Allan has never been rich, having worked as a game department biologist, army officer, politician (old style medium salary) and a grazing consultant which was the best paid job. His present income is from consultant work and workshops. nothing from the charity, other than Prince Charles mentioning him in a video, he has no connection with "royalty" outside of working with ranchers and farmers (Gabe Brown is an Holistic practitioner) his main work is with rural communities in Africa with the Africa centre being the main training department, having restored the ecosystem from zero grass to a thriving savanna, with an abundance of wildlife and loin proof mobile kraals etc - https://achmonline.org/ The Savories at home -
Allan went into the carbon sequestration etc while Johann has concentrated on improving soil/grazing/production/acre from a cattleman point of view. There are large populations of antelope etc on Johann's ranch which are also managed as part of the environment, but not promoting the climate angle.
