An article for the Irish Dexter Cattleman website

Good afternoon, I’m sitting down to write up an article for the Irish Dexter Cattleman website.  I’m going to write this one up myself but I will include a few articles that you can go check out for yourself.  I don’t feel that I have any experience with this production yet as I’m just starting it myself.

I have been reading and watching so many different farms that have been using this as their practice and it is amazing what happens.  I’m talking about regenerative grazing. 

There is a place in Greenfield, IN called Tyner Pond Farm.  I was reading one of their articles this past spring and they had just pulled their cows off in March of this year.  They had wintered all winter on their pastures!!  They finally were feeding hay bales in March.  Their location is in Indiana which is about 2+ hours from me, but it is about directly across from me. So, the temperatures are close to being the same.  When I saw pictures, they had green grass still in March of 2024.  I find that amazing!! That is something that I want to strive for. 

Another place to find information about this practice is Greg Judy at Green Pastures Farm.  There are several videos that you can find on YouTube about how he does this practice.  

There is also Joel Salatin, Polyface Farm, who practices these methods.  

I’m still getting my perimeter fences all put in, hopefully they will all be put in by next spring.  Once you have your perimeter fences put in, you will separate those into small paddocks.  You will move your cattle every day through those paddocks.  As you watch Greg Judy, he has water lines run out to each paddock.  And most other people do, too.  That will be a down the road option for me.

This practice is a lot of work, but I believe that it will be well worth my time!!  Moving the cattle helps keep the microbes in the ground going.  It also helps to keep you from overgrazing your pastures, which is what I’m doing now.  Over grazing lets so many weeds in that it isn’t funny!!  This regenerative grazing also cuts down on the weeds.  

Another reason that I just learned this week is when you get your pastures going, you make sure your grass cocktail is good.  If you have a good cocktail of grasses that will keep the fly problem down!!!  Greg Judy has a Youtube video out that shows his cattle out on pasture with hardly, if any, flies on the cows.  It was amazing to watch!!!  The cows were sleek and shining with hardly any flies.  He talks about it with the guy who oversees it.  It is amazing!!!

I hope to come and write another article in about 3 years or so and tell you how it is going. I know that it will be hard work, but it will be so beneficial in the end!!  

Check out these farms to learn more information.  I believe this is so important for our pastures.  We need to preserve them as much as we can.

Shelley Hatfield