While there are numerous ways to determine forage quality, one of the tried and true field tests is to look at the consistency of the livestock's manure. The grazier's focus on the fecal matter of his or her livestock is actually a critical monitoring tool. Many people have developed a good eye, but there is also an app for that called the Cow Poop Analyzer as noted in an article on the website On Pasture. Using your cell phone to take a picture, you can compare the consistency of your herd's poo with pictures in the app to tell you if you have high quality or low quality forage.
HMI's Advanced Grazing Planning Manual titled "Taking Your Grazing to the Next Level with Holistic Management" also covers this skill along with numerous other monitoring protocols to determine not only forage quality but animal health, land health, forage quantity and other critical indicators for a profitable farm or ranch.
At only $15, "Taking Your Grazing to the Next Level with Holistic Management" e-book provides a wealth of information in 112 pages, including a comprehensive appendix with many more resources to explore. This manual is for the grazier who already has a grazing plan. It offers a glimpse into how holistic land managers have used Holistic Grazing Planning as a tool to create the ranches and farms they deeply believe will contribute to the health of their families, their communities, and the world – and is specifically designed to help you further along that journey as well.
“A really worthwhile guide to anyone managing animals, updated for the ‘experienced’, clear and simple for those ‘starting out’. A great pool of practical knowledge from around the world”
–Brian Wehlburg, Holistic Management Certified Educator, Inside Outside Management, NSW, VIC, and QLD Australia
“This manual provides plenty of material that will challenge your understanding of planned grazing.
I would like to recommend this manual as it will provoke your thinking and make sure you have thought of all the options.
— Graeme Hand, Holistic Management Certified Educator, Handfortheland, Australia
“This grazing manual from HMI combines knowledge from a wide group of successful people. There are many “nuggets of knowledge” in the book. Reading the book may well give you insights to take your operation to the next level.”
— Don Campbell, Holistic Management Certified Educator
“A lot of valuable information in a concise and useable form. Much of the information is derived from actual experience; you can have the benefit of the information without having to suffer the pain of making educational mistakes yourself.”
–Walt Davis, Author, Holistic Management Educator, Agricultural Consultant and Rancher
“Looking forward to adding this to my library and teaching arsenal on Grazing.”
–Roland R.H. Kroos, Holistic Management Certified Educator, Crossroads Ranch Consulting
“When I first had the opportunity to review the new manual from HMI entitled, “Taking Your Grazing to the Next Level with Holistic Management”, I thought it was going to be a publication regarding “advanced techniques” for holistically planned grazing. After reviewing it, I can recommend the manual to anyone applying the principles of Holistic Management to grazing planning and a host of other related topics. The manual contains an easy to read review of all the principles which apply to this very comprehensive subject as well as great examples from successful practitioners around the globe. The six page compendium of links to other resources at the end of the manual is an invaluable addition that puts many additional resources at your fingertips. Get a copy; and get ready to ramp up your understanding to the Next Level!” –Kirk Gadzia, Resource Management Services, Holistic Management Certified Educator Click here, to get
e-book today!
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