Old timers tell me that in our area we can have one cow/calf per one and a half acres will give you your hay and pasture and five sheep equals one cow.
Hi. I am Wyoming haha. Sometimes it is even more acreage than that per animal depending on what type of vegetation is growing! Crazy! I am currently trying to soak in all the information I can about regenerative ag before we get our animals. I found your videos a couple of days ago. Loving them so far! Thank you!
We grow around 200+ pounds of garlic (mostly music) . Those are huge holes .We have broad fork with knifes spaced 6" apart , just light foot weight on the fork and can plant 4 cloves ,goes pretty quick. I see some people that using soap in water for parasite control. Never tried it as we never had problem yet.
Got a broad fork, so I’ll have to try that, thanks!! Of course, we’ve got a smaller auger for drill but like everything else on the farm can never find it when we need it. I’m certain I’ll trip over it at some point next week!🤠
I wanted an excuse to mow some selectively grazed ground. You got me inspired to do it. But now I am wondering why? To keep ahead of tree saplings? To stimulate grass root growth? Or, why do you mow behind the graze?
I’ve seen the difference first-hand when it hasn’t been done, so maybe that’s helpful. The biggest aspect is the undesirable species (that which is left ungrazed) begin to and eventually take over - thistle, horsenettle, pigweed, burdock, poison hemlock, multi-flora rose, etc. If left uncut, those species eventually put on seed heads and drop and get even nastier the next year. Keeping stock density up around or greater than 50K lbs/acre OR mechanically mowing if under that gives the grazed desirables a fighting chance. Just what I’ve seen here between my two systems.
@@birchfieldfarmingThank you. Totally makes sense. And, in general, thank you for interacting with the comment section. I know it is time consuming. But it means a lot.
Called my extension office and they told me 1AU/Ac also. Did you test the soil yourself or do a mail in kit? I laughed at "about" then going down to the minute on amount of sun in the winter😂 Chicken nets are obnoxiously heavy...
Good for you putting in the effort on calling and checking! The light runs everything!🤠 I mailed in a sample that had an option for SOM. We had trouble with a heifer one year with grass tetany, so I was able to confirm we had tetany prone pastures (high K). Lesson there was get the mineral program dialed in, specifically Ca & Mg.
When people answer this question they are referring to conventional grazing? And only during the growing season? I feed hay 4 months in the winter and rotate every three days, hard to find a good answer with this practice. Thoughts?
@@caseyfenlon2238 Location on the globe is a large factor. If it was my area with decent SOM and pasture in a non-drought year, I’d say aim for double conventional yields.
Why would a battery be better for us than a Solar Charger? I intend to do multi-species grazing with cows and sheep. Would the shock from a normal battery be enough to prevent a cow or sheep from getting out of a 2-strand poly braided wire fencing system, similar to Greg Judy's rotational grazing practices?
I’m not saying a battery is better for you. I’m saying a battery is better for me. Reasons are: 1. Expensive 2. I already had an old battery available 3. I’m only needing this portable set-up for a few months out of the year, and it works great FOR US within that context. Cows are less likely to challenge fences than sheep. Sheep are always testing, cattle will not go near after one initial shock. Yes, this battery and controller give me enough shock to contain my animals. A better question would be surrounding forage availability. In other words, Greg is only able to contain his sheep b/c they have way more than enough forage. When that gets eaten down a bit is when sheep begin to challenge. I love Greg, but he’s nowhere close to gain per acre in a truly productive system where forage is being non-selectively grazed down hard. Greg is able to have lots of grazing land cheap b/c you simply can’t row crop in his area - this translates to minimal fence pressure. A single strand works great when you have more than enough forage, but to truly be productive on a per acre basis you need some pressure. And that’s not a knock, I love Greg!
@@barryhughes8963 Always 8kV…I actually heard and saw one get shocked yesterday, so it’s working fine. If I remember, I’ll show the tester on it during next video👍
@birchfieldfarming that's good voltage for sheep netting. We might try that route as well in the future. It certainly wouldn't hurt to add it to our rotation, especially during long periods of cloudy skies. Thanks!
@birchfieldfarming my wife and I are building up a regenerative farm very similar to yours, we are just a few years behind you in our journey. Thanks for all the valuable insight in your videos!
For anyone considering using the 35” netting for goats; it has proven useless for me if they have reason to go elsewhere. It has worked perfectly for sheep, so far. But I won’t buy any more that hight.
Careful with comfrey. It can be hard on the (human) liver, Especially taken internally. It is worth studying. I Used it for topical healing mixed with bees wax. Was very impressed with pain relief and ultimate healing.
It really is an impossible question to answer. Our area only sees 5 hours, 48 minutes of daylight at winter solstice. That three and a half hour difference changes everything, from shelter requirements to winter forage options to fencing options. Up here in New England, winter hay stocking is always the biggest concern. I try to consider how much hay I need to collect in my calculations on acreage per animal. As a general rule of thumb, we'll go through 50 good square bales or 1.5 good round bales per ewe per winter. That changes the math vs just grazing space pretty significantly.
Great points here! Can I ask what breed of sheep and average ewe weight? And I’m assuming your “good square bales” are around 50 lbs, big rounds at 1200? Thanks for sharing!
@@birchfieldfarming I raise Dorset meat mutts, and we're between 150-200lbs depending upon time of year. For hay, I see a more realistic average of 45lbs and 800lbs for bales here in New England, but the quality matters at least as much as the weight. One of my favorite local resources that should be available to everyone in the US is the Extension agency. They're an example of how effective government-funded agencies SHOULD be.
@@birchfieldfarming I have their chicken mesh. I bought it on the recommendation of others, and recommend it as they did. I have not tried their sheep mesh.
I don’t have premier one. But can only say I don’t know how the starkline could be improved. It is very high quality compared to some sheep netting I have, which is junk by comparison. I use the starkline for chickens, sheep, goats, (coyotes, fox, Sasquatch) and the only time it has failed me is when I forgot to turn the electricity on, and watched a fox fit right through the middle of it. If he came back, he found out.
And if you have a neighbor who brings some goats, even more of the fence rows cleaned. But i have also heard the trees do help with fungi that help, amazing how the Lord has so much to teach. And if you and a fellow farmer share, that requires relationships, which is so important. One dairy farmer was asked about robot dairy milkers. He didn't want to because he liked young people working. That was important to him
I’ve said for years, we’re overcivilizing ourselves right out of existence. Yes to more animals, trees, healthy human relationships, and listening to the Lord. Be well this week, friend.
One last comment. It was great to see the kids walking with the sheep. That is medicine for us to see normal.
Good insight as always! We have similar conditions in northern kentucky.
Thanks for watching
Old timers tell me that in our area we can have one cow/calf per one and a half acres will give you your hay and pasture and five sheep equals one cow.
Sounds productive there for sure. One thing I should’ve noted is the weight difference between sheep breeds.
Thats been what folks have told us for where I am in South bama as long I can remember (32yo)
Yay, my first new video since I started following you. Thank you for sharing. Planning on getting land and raising sheep myself.
That’s awesome, so many folks getting back to the good life…welcome here, friend!🤠
Hi. I am Wyoming haha. Sometimes it is even more acreage than that per animal depending on what type of vegetation is growing! Crazy! I am currently trying to soak in all the information I can about regenerative ag before we get our animals. I found your videos a couple of days ago. Loving them so far! Thank you!
You bet and thank you for being here! Great to know about grazing in WY!!
Beautiful animals and property thanks for sharing!
Thank you!🤠
We grow around 200+ pounds of garlic (mostly music) . Those are huge holes .We have broad fork with knifes spaced 6" apart , just light foot weight on the fork and can plant 4 cloves ,goes pretty quick.
I see some people that using soap in water for parasite control. Never tried it as we never had problem yet.
Got a broad fork, so I’ll have to try that, thanks!! Of course, we’ve got a smaller auger for drill but like everything else on the farm can never find it when we need it. I’m certain I’ll trip over it at some point next week!🤠
@@birchfieldfarmingalso we try to plant mid to last week in October. Better for the root development....some say :)
@ Yep, that’s when our music went in
I wanted an excuse to mow some selectively grazed ground. You got me inspired to do it. But now I am wondering why? To keep ahead of tree saplings? To stimulate grass root growth? Or, why do you mow behind the graze?
I’ve seen the difference first-hand when it hasn’t been done, so maybe that’s helpful. The biggest aspect is the undesirable species (that which is left ungrazed) begin to and eventually take over - thistle, horsenettle, pigweed, burdock, poison hemlock, multi-flora rose, etc. If left uncut, those species eventually put on seed heads and drop and get even nastier the next year. Keeping stock density up around or greater than 50K lbs/acre OR mechanically mowing if under that gives the grazed desirables a fighting chance. Just what I’ve seen here between my two systems.
@@birchfieldfarmingThank you. Totally makes sense. And, in general, thank you for interacting with the comment section. I know it is time consuming. But it means a lot.
@@davidpeightal4918You bet, and I’m always learning here too! So many great ideas and wisdom from others. Be well, David.
Blessings to you and yours brother
Blessings to you as well.😀
Called my extension office and they told me 1AU/Ac also.
Did you test the soil yourself or do a mail in kit?
I laughed at "about" then going down to the minute on amount of sun in the winter😂
Chicken nets are obnoxiously heavy...
Good for you putting in the effort on calling and checking! The light runs everything!🤠
I mailed in a sample that had an option for SOM. We had trouble with a heifer one year with grass tetany, so I was able to confirm we had tetany prone pastures (high K). Lesson there was get the mineral program dialed in, specifically Ca & Mg.
When people answer this question they are referring to conventional grazing? And only during the growing season? I feed hay 4 months in the winter and rotate every three days, hard to find a good answer with this practice. Thoughts?
@@caseyfenlon2238 Location on the globe is a large factor. If it was my area with decent SOM and pasture in a non-drought year, I’d say aim for double conventional yields.
Thanks for the fast reply! Yeah that makes sense, I’m in eastern Wisconsin so I feel like we have similar conditions. Thanks
The biggest carrying capacity improvement (boost in forage growth) i have seen on youtube is Alejandro Carrillo in the Chijuajuan Desert.
I’ve seen that video, and it was unbelievable seeing desert turn to grassland!
Why would a battery be better for us than a Solar Charger? I intend to do multi-species grazing with cows and sheep. Would the shock from a normal battery be enough to prevent a cow or sheep from getting out of a 2-strand poly braided wire fencing system, similar to Greg Judy's rotational grazing practices?
I’m not saying a battery is better for you. I’m saying a battery is better for me. Reasons are: 1. Expensive 2. I already had an old battery available 3. I’m only needing this portable set-up for a few months out of the year, and it works great FOR US within that context.
Cows are less likely to challenge fences than sheep. Sheep are always testing, cattle will not go near after one initial shock. Yes, this battery and controller give me enough shock to contain my animals. A better question would be surrounding forage availability. In other words, Greg is only able to contain his sheep b/c they have way more than enough forage. When that gets eaten down a bit is when sheep begin to challenge. I love Greg, but he’s nowhere close to gain per acre in a truly productive system where forage is being non-selectively grazed down hard. Greg is able to have lots of grazing land cheap b/c you simply can’t row crop in his area - this translates to minimal fence pressure. A single strand works great when you have more than enough forage, but to truly be productive on a per acre basis you need some pressure. And that’s not a knock, I love Greg!
Thank you for the response, I apologize if my question came off as questioning your reasoning, I had no intentions of doing so. Have a blessed day!
@ No, great question and discussion that I’m certain will benefit others as well. Context in farming is paramount. Blessings to you also!!🤠
Grand Rising! have a blessed day!
Thanks, Jenn and you as well!🤠
What kind of voltage do you get with the battery setup? We have been using premier one solar chargers, and I'm curious how they compare.
@@barryhughes8963 Always 8kV…I actually heard and saw one get shocked yesterday, so it’s working fine. If I remember, I’ll show the tester on it during next video👍
@birchfieldfarming that's good voltage for sheep netting. We might try that route as well in the future. It certainly wouldn't hurt to add it to our rotation, especially during long periods of cloudy skies. Thanks!
@@barryhughes8963You bet, Barry, and hope it works out!
@birchfieldfarming my wife and I are building up a regenerative farm very similar to yours, we are just a few years behind you in our journey. Thanks for all the valuable insight in your videos!
For anyone considering using the 35” netting for goats; it has proven useless for me if they have reason to go elsewhere. It has worked perfectly for sheep, so far. But I won’t buy any more that hight.
Great info for folks, thanks!
it’s kind of weird. I can hold them with two powerflex poly wires, but not with 35” netting. Need a goat psychologist.
@@davidpeightal4918interesting, never heard of such a thing!
What about using comfrey?
We’ve grown it, mainly for rabbits. Are there studies on effectiveness against parasites in sheep?
@@birchfieldfarming i do not recall details. Billy and Michelle of PermaPasturesFarm dry it to use in winter.
@ Interesting!
@@birchfieldfarming i think it was for overall health, they fed it free choice.
Careful with comfrey. It can be hard on the (human) liver, Especially taken internally. It is worth studying. I Used it for topical healing mixed with bees wax. Was very impressed with pain relief and ultimate healing.
It really is an impossible question to answer. Our area only sees 5 hours, 48 minutes of daylight at winter solstice. That three and a half hour difference changes everything, from shelter requirements to winter forage options to fencing options. Up here in New England, winter hay stocking is always the biggest concern. I try to consider how much hay I need to collect in my calculations on acreage per animal. As a general rule of thumb, we'll go through 50 good square bales or 1.5 good round bales per ewe per winter. That changes the math vs just grazing space pretty significantly.
Great points here! Can I ask what breed of sheep and average ewe weight? And I’m assuming your “good square bales” are around 50 lbs, big rounds at 1200? Thanks for sharing!
@@birchfieldfarming I raise Dorset meat mutts, and we're between 150-200lbs depending upon time of year. For hay, I see a more realistic average of 45lbs and 800lbs for bales here in New England, but the quality matters at least as much as the weight.
One of my favorite local resources that should be available to everyone in the US is the Extension agency. They're an example of how effective government-funded agencies SHOULD be.
@@DanburyRanchAwesome, thanks for sharing!
FYI Starkline (electric netting) is offering their subscribers 15% off on everything now through 11/26/24
Never heard of Starkline, I’ll have to check it out
@@birchfieldfarming I have their chicken mesh. I bought it on the recommendation of others, and recommend it as they did. I have not tried their sheep mesh.
@@davidpeightal4918Better chicken net than PremierOne do you think?
I don’t have premier one. But can only say I don’t know how the starkline could be improved. It is very high quality compared to some sheep netting I have, which is junk by comparison. I use the starkline for chickens, sheep, goats, (coyotes, fox, Sasquatch) and the only time it has failed me is when I forgot to turn the electricity on, and watched a fox fit right through the middle of it. If he came back, he found out.
@@davidpeightal4918Sasquatch🤣🤣🤣…pics or it didn’t happen
And if you have a neighbor who brings some goats, even more of the fence rows cleaned. But i have also heard the trees do help with fungi that help, amazing how the Lord has so much to teach. And if you and a fellow farmer share, that requires relationships, which is so important.
One dairy farmer was asked about robot dairy milkers. He didn't want to because he liked young people working. That was important to him
I’ve said for years, we’re overcivilizing ourselves right out of existence. Yes to more animals, trees, healthy human relationships, and listening to the Lord. Be well this week, friend.
Sure appreciate the Scripture references!
Thanks for watching!
How many you want, are you just beginning to regenerative farm? Big context.
@@tireddad6541 For sure