West Wind Farm-GrassFedBeef PowerPoint
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GRASS AND CATTLEat West Wind Farm, Greenbrier County, WV
by Martha Holdridge
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Feedlot - Oklahoma Typical source of commercial supermarket beef
Standing in excrement + no grass + unnatural major feed source (grain) = need for antibiotics, hormones to prevent
illness and promote rapid growth
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Management-Intensive Grazing (MIG)
• Paddock fence - polywire electric
• Water trough with float valve
• Daily moves to fresh paddock
• Paddock rest of 14 to 28 days
• Kelp/salt mix
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Rotational Grazing
• Efficient and effective– Cattle - 100% forage diet
• healthy meat/milk
– Ongoing pasture fertilization• dung + carbon cycle + nitrogen cycle
– Pasture rest - then vigorous re-growth
– Protects best grasses• Steers are moved before eating grasses too short
• At WWF, daily moves to fresh pasture– Steers are happy to move
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Soil Tests Show Startling Benefit
• ORGANIC MATTER– tested by WVU soil testing service
• 2004 4.1% 2007 8.3%
• Asked WVU Prof.: Why so great a change!!
• Answer: “You’ve been sequestering carbon!” 4 tons SOC / acre in 5 years = 15 tons CO2
• Why? How? Organic pasture management combined with daily rotational grazing.
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How Does Cattle Eating Grass Lead to Carbon Sequestration?
• Grass leaves and roots are a product of photosynthesis (sun+CO2+green plant+water).
• When cattle eat grass leaves, the roots partially die back, leaving organic matter in the soil.
• That organic matter is 57% carbon (C).- It is called soil organic carbon (SOC).
• Result: C of CO2 in air is drawn into the soil– Yield: more soil, better soil = SOIL REGENERATION
• Rotational grazing pulsing of grass/root growth pulsing of carbon sequestration
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Organic vs Chemical Management
Organic soils enhance soil life, grass root structure, and mineral nutrient uptake. Managed grazing causes root dieback that increases SOC. Chemical Organic
http://www.wtamu.edu/~crobinson/SoilFert/section2/AR2007091900472.html
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Clover Draws Nitrogen from the Air
Clover root nodules hold nitrogen in soil for gradual use by both clover and grass
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Fossil Fuel to Raise a Steer = 5 barrels/283
gal.
Gas/diesel/oil: for plowing, planting, cultivating, harvesting, drying corn/soy beans, transport of animals & grain to feedlots. Natural gas: used to produce chemical fertilizers, pesticides.
Credit: National Geographic, June 2004
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Fossil Fuel to Raise a Steer on Pasture: Less than 20 gal. (examples)
Estimates by 2 NE Pasture Consortium members: 17, 15 gal.• No fuel for grain production, chemical fertilizers, or pesticides• Minimal fossil fuel for spreading lime, making hay, transport.
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WEST WIND FARM Management Intensive Grazing
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Useful Links
• Eat Wild by Jo Robinson– www.eatwild.com
• Rodale Institute– www.rodaleinstitute.org
• Amazing Grazing Directory– www.futureharvestcasa.org/publications
• West Wind Farm– www.westwindfarm.biz/
– [email protected]; Tel: 301-229-2813