source: Farm and Food Report
Neil Dennis is a Wawota-area grazier attending the Manitoba Grazing School in Brandon as a presenter over the next three days because of the success he has enjoyed recently.
“A few years ago I got interested in holistic resource management. Basically, you graze cattle the way bison used to hit the grass. In the spring, you skim graze the pasture and then you wait 60 to 90 days before you hit the grass again. This way the root system has a chance to develop; surface rainwater trickles all the way down; and, the plant grows back stronger than ever. I’ll be showing before and after photographs in a PowerPoint presentation.”
The annual Grazing School, which started in 1997, sells out every year, with 450 participants who come from the Prairie Provinces, North Dakota and from as far away as Ontario. The Manitoba Forage Council spearheads the initiative with the assistance of Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives, the Manitoba Cattle Producers Association and the Western Forage Beef Group.
Roberta Currah is with the Organizing Committee: “We have had as many as 70 participants come from Saskatchewan in the past. For many of them, Brandon is a pretty accessible location. But I would attribute some of our success to the care with which we consult our producers when we ask them what topics are relevant to them.”
The program includes presentation and discussion topics such as: Export Markets to Other Countries, Grazier Arithmetic, Freedom 75 — Retiring Your Cows Later in Life, Are You Serious About Growing Grass and Making Money with Grass Calves.
The opportunity to share experiences with colleagues in the field is priceless to participants. Evidently, there is much to learn at this event. Neil Dennis is the first to admit that in range ecology, sound management practices may not necessarily be what they seem:
“I have learned that when I graze the way I do now, it is very important to maintain a high stock density of yearlings. I put 430 head on 0.8 acre using portable fencing. This way, the urine is spread more evenly on the whole lot and the nitrogen gets everywhere, enhancing pasture growth. I’m now getting 187 pounds of gain per acre on my grass, just by working with nature.”
The proceedings from the Manitoba Grazing School will eventually be published and made available to the public. Contact Roberta Currah at the Manitoba Forage Council to acquire a copy at (204) 889-5699.
Neil Dennis is a Wawota-area grazier attending the Manitoba Grazing School in Brandon as a presenter over the next three days because of the success he has enjoyed recently.
“A few years ago I got interested in holistic resource management. Basically, you graze cattle the way bison used to hit the grass. In the spring, you skim graze the pasture and then you wait 60 to 90 days before you hit the grass again. This way the root system has a chance to develop; surface rainwater trickles all the way down; and, the plant grows back stronger than ever. I’ll be showing before and after photographs in a PowerPoint presentation.”
The annual Grazing School, which started in 1997, sells out every year, with 450 participants who come from the Prairie Provinces, North Dakota and from as far away as Ontario. The Manitoba Forage Council spearheads the initiative with the assistance of Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives, the Manitoba Cattle Producers Association and the Western Forage Beef Group.
Roberta Currah is with the Organizing Committee: “We have had as many as 70 participants come from Saskatchewan in the past. For many of them, Brandon is a pretty accessible location. But I would attribute some of our success to the care with which we consult our producers when we ask them what topics are relevant to them.”
The program includes presentation and discussion topics such as: Export Markets to Other Countries, Grazier Arithmetic, Freedom 75 — Retiring Your Cows Later in Life, Are You Serious About Growing Grass and Making Money with Grass Calves.
The opportunity to share experiences with colleagues in the field is priceless to participants. Evidently, there is much to learn at this event. Neil Dennis is the first to admit that in range ecology, sound management practices may not necessarily be what they seem:
“I have learned that when I graze the way I do now, it is very important to maintain a high stock density of yearlings. I put 430 head on 0.8 acre using portable fencing. This way, the urine is spread more evenly on the whole lot and the nitrogen gets everywhere, enhancing pasture growth. I’m now getting 187 pounds of gain per acre on my grass, just by working with nature.”
The proceedings from the Manitoba Grazing School will eventually be published and made available to the public. Contact Roberta Currah at the Manitoba Forage Council to acquire a copy at (204) 889-5699.
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