Resting Degraded Land

In a earlier post we pointed out that much of our pastures are in a Degraded State.  This is just a fact, most of the agricultural lands of the United States have been “mined” for over 100 years, grasslands included.  The first step in…

Graze or Browse the Leaf Drop?

We all enjoy the beauty of trees in fall colors.  What does this season change mean for the land and animals?  What is nature doing?  How would large herbivores such as buffalo respond to the annual leaf drop?  These are the questions to think…

Cow Pie Testing

Viewer discretion advised, cow pies ahead! We all know cows communicate by mooing.  Cows also communicate through their “back-end”.  Note the caption under the cow pie photo above.  A “healthy looking” cow pie means the cows are healthy!  We, I mean Doug, spends a lot of time…

A Cows Calling Card

Warning, poop photos! One of the many benefits of having the herd always on the move is manure distribution.  A cow herd in a tight group, on the move, will evenly distribute nutrients (poop) throughout a pasture.  In season long grazed pastures (cows left in a pasture for weeks at…

Reed Canary Animal Impact Revisited

With the recent warm weather, forages are green when they are normally brown this time of year.  Especially down in the swamp pasture.  This wetland area is quite unique, tucked between the more common rolling hills of Lancaster County.  While trudging through the muck with portable fence I…