Steve Kenyon never mentioned patience during his pasture planning workshop in Lethbridge Jan. 25.
But the need for patience is obvious in his photos of pastures rejuvenated over a period of years using intensive cell grazing and the workings of Mother Nature.
Kenyon, a grazier from Busby, Alta., has a 3,000 acre custom grazing operation on which he averages 1.8 pounds per day of gain per animal.
He said his success depends on graze period, rest period, stock density and animal impact.
He uses a minimum of 16 paddocks and moves cattle from one to another for optimum graze and pasture rest periods.
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Kenyon said limited grazing allows plant roots to recover, but it’s also important to avoid regrazing too soon or too early in spring.
Kenyon moves cattle every day in spring and every two or three days in summer. He rejects mob grazing as too labour intensive because it requires herds to be moved several times a day.
He said stocking rate is different from stocking density.
Stocking rate is the number of animals on land for the whole season, while stocking density, which he deems vital to grazing success, is the number of animals per acre at a given time.
“The higher the density, the better the plant utilization and better manure distribution.”
Kenyon defines animal impact as the physical movement of soil by animals’ hoofs, which can be positive or negative to pasture depending on severity.
He uses the analogy of damage done by 365 daily trips down a hill to fetch water using a single donkey, compared to damage done by 365 donkeys travelling once per year.
The latter scenario would do less damage to the soil.
Properly managed grazing controls and eliminates problem weeds, although Kenyon’s philosophy about plant diversity provides a different twist.
“I believe Mother Nature has no weeds. There are no weeds. There are pioneer species.”
He used Canada thistle as an example. It grows when conditions are harsh, such as bare, dry or saline soil that prevents grass establishment. Thistles grow, die and provide trash cover and nutrients to the soil.
“Now maybe that baby grass plant can survive,” said Kenyon.
“There isn’t a weed that I can’t out-graze. I’m favouring the conditions for the desired species.”
Kenyon believes fertilizer isn’t necessary if cattle movement and accompanying manure spread are properly managed.
“Eighty percent of what goes into a cow comes out the back end. And in a grazing system, 80 percent is effective in terms of nutrient recycling.”
Kenyon supports greater legume growth in pasture, and believes many producers are overly cautious about the possibility of cattle bloat.
He manages it by moving cattle after lunch, when they’ve filled up on familiar forage and are less likely to overeat legumes.
The ideal grazing period equals days of pasture rest needed, by total number of paddocks, subtract one
Example:75 days 16 paddocks-1= 5 day grazing period
