Our Practices
Ranching the Natural Way
Rotational Grazing
Rotational grazing is defined as the practice of frequently moving livestock through pastures to allow for the rest and regrowth of grasses and forages. Rotational grazing is a fantastic way to sequester carbon from the environment. Grass and forages absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, allowing them to build up more plant matter, specifically their roots. Once the grasses and forages reach a desired height, the cattle are released into the pasture to graze. The cattle eat down the grasses and forages until they get down to a re-growable height. At the shorter height, the ends of the roots begin to die off because there is not enough plant matter to justify keeping the roots. The ground absorbs the dying root ends, absorbing the carbon absorbed by the plants. The grasses and forages will grow back, and the cycle continues.
No-Tillage Planting
No-tillage planting is the agricultural technique of planting grasses and forages without disturbing the soil. The no-till planters create a narrow furrow in the shape of a V with enough space to plant the seeds. The furrow is closed, and the seed is ready to grow. The seed can now utilize all of the organic matter that would have been lost in conventional tillage. In conventional tillage, the soil would have been overturned, exposing the organic matter to the atmosphere, which results in the organic matter oxidizing into carbon dioxide.
No-tillage planting also reduces erosion in the field. Existing grasses and forages are maintained on the soil surface, allowing the soil structure to remain intact, which helps resist wind and water erosion. Additionally, no-tillage planting promotes a healthier soil. The plant residue will decompose at a natural rate. The number of microorganisms will increase, which means more organic matter will be converted into usable forms of nitrogen and phosphorus for the grasses and forages.
Dung Beetles
Dung beetles are beneficial beetles to have on the ranch. They feed on manure and tunnel into the ground to make their home. Additionally, they aerate the soil with their tunneling. The beetles take the manure from the surface and bring it underground to feed themselves and their young. At the same time, the beetles bury the nitrogen-filled manure into the ground. The soil health improves, allowing the soil to hold more water and nutrients.
Livestock manure is the breeding ground for pests and parasites. For example, two pests of cattle, horn flies (Haematobia irritans) and face flies (Musca autumnalis), lay their eggs in the manure. A single manure pat can generate 60-80 hornfly adults. However, this number can be reduced by dung beetles feeding on the manure and laying their eggs in it. In the manure, the newly hatched dung beetles will compete with the fly larvae for food, physically damage the flies' eggs, and eat the fly larvae. Fly populations have been shown to decrease significantly in areas with dung beetle activity. On a pasture-management level, dung pat removal is beneficial for forage availability. Most ruminants will not graze closely to their own species' manure pats. Research has shown that the forage is palatable but avoided because of the dung pile. Consequently, cattle manure deposits can make 5% to 10% of grasses and forages unavailable per acre per year. By entirely and quickly removing the manure, dung beetles can significantly enhance grazing efficiency.
Roller Chopping
Roller Chopping has several benefits to the ranch. The ones used on the ranch are called Chopper Blades. This type of chopper is designed specifically for weed and brush control. The tractor pulls the chopper units over the soil. The choppers do not overturn the soil but penetrate the soil surface. The penetration reduces water run-off and helps maintain the soil's water-holding capacity. The penetration also allows air, water, and organic matter to enter deeper into the soil. The chopping process allows our grasses and forages to establish deeper root beds, giving us a hearty and stable foliage for our livestock.
Organic Fertilizers
Organic fertilizers supply our grasses and forages with the appropriate nutrients. Microorganisms break down nutrients, releasing nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, which the plants can use. Additionally, the broken-down fertilizers provide structure to the soil and increase the soil's water-holding capacity. Finally, the nutrients from organic fertilizers are supplied more slowly than conventional fertilizers. This helps lower the risk of burning the roots and leaching into the underground aquifers.
Our Grasses and Forages
Grasses are a source of fiber for our livestock. Forages are a source of protein for our livestock. There are many grasses and forages, but below you will see a few that grow on our ranch! Due to climate and weather conditions, grasses and forages may become limited at specific times of the year. To combat this, we grow, cut, harvest, and bale our own hay!
