Rob Havard - Phepson Angus
How can we harness natural grazing systems to improve soil health, increase biodiversity, and extend grazing seasons? In this post, we look at the benefits, challenges, and practical techniques of stockpiling forage to ensure sustainable livestock management.
The Principles of Tall Grass Grazing
Historically, large herbivores thrived on natural grasslands by relying on stockpiled forage to sustain them through winter. Today, holistic grazing systems seek to replicate these natural patterns, maximizing the free grass growth cycle each year.
One of the core principles is the First Law of Rational Grazing, which emphasizes the importance of allowing plants sufficient rest before they are grazed again.
First law of rational grazing - André Voisin:
“Before a sward, sheared with the animal's teeth, can achieve its maximum productivity, a sufficient interval must have elapsed between two successive shearings to allow the grass to accumulate in its roots the reserves necessary for a vigorous spurt of regrowth.”
The fundamental idea behind this rule is that regrowth can only happen if plants have had time to restore energy reserves in their roots.
In practice, this means that we must allow adequate rest periods before reintroducing livestock to a pasture. If regrazing occurs too soon, particularly around day four in summer, the plants will not have developed the necessary root depth to sustain long-term productivity. By using electric fencing to control grazing areas, we can effectively manage forage distribution and ensure that grasslands remain resilient and productive.
Planning for Winter Grazing
Early planning in setting up stockpiled forage for winter grazing is key. We begin preparing as early as May and June by managing grazing rotations carefully to allow grass to grow tall and strong. The approach involves leaving as much residual forage behind as possible to promote regrowth and stockpile forage for later in the year.
Regrazing must be carefully managed because overgrazing weakens root mass, reducing productivity and limiting the availability of forage in late autumn and winter.
Diverse grasses such as cocksfoot, tall fescue, and meadow foxtail are particularly valuable for winter grazing. These grasses develop deep root structures that enhance soil aeration and provide resilience against extreme weather conditions.
Tall fescue becomes more palatable after frost, making it an excellent forage option for the colder months. The timing and structure of grazing rotations can therefore be planned to ensure that cattle receive high-quality forage even during the harshest winter conditions.
The Benefits of Tall Grass Grazing
Tall grass grazing offers multiple benefits beyond simply providing winter forage. One of the most significant advantages is soil health and fertility. Deep-rooted grasses improve soil structure, allowing for better water infiltration and organic matter retention. This results in healthier pastures that require fewer artificial inputs.
Livestock well-being is improved. Outwintered cattle that graze on tall grass experience fewer respiratory diseases, have stronger hooves and better overall body condition. The combination of low-stress grazing and natural forage contributes to healthier and more resilient animals.
Biodiversity also thrives under a well-managed tall grass grazing system. The extended rest periods allow for wildflower regrowth, supporting a wide range of pollinators and small mammals such as voles, which in turn sustain bird species like barn owls and kestrels.
The delayed grazing schedule also results in an extended flowering season, ensuring that plants can produce seeds well into November. This natural cycle strengthens the entire ecosystem, creating a more sustainable agricultural environment.
Perhaps most importantly, tall grass grazing offers significant financial savings. With fewer expenses related to fertilizers, supplementary feed, and machinery, we can dramatically reduce our operational costs while maintaining high-quality forage for our livestock.
Challenges and Practical Solutions
Despite its many advantages, tall grass grazing does present some challenges.
❌One of the most significant concerns is unpredictable weather conditions. Excessive rainfall can damage stockpiled forage and lead to muddy conditions, making it difficult for cattle to graze efficiently.
✅The suggested solution is to graze wetter fields first during dry spells and to rotate livestock carefully to avoid excessive damage to pastures.
❌High feed and infrastructure costs are another common issue, particularly when supplementary hay feeding becomes necessary.
✅Our solution to this is bale grazing - by carefully rolling hay bales onto the pasture, we can reduce waste and distribute nutrients more effectively. Buying diverse hay from stewardship fields also improves soil and pasture diversity, strengthening the resilience of grazing systems.
❌Transporting hay bales efficiently is another challenge, particularly in large grazing systems.
✅To alleviate this challenge, we place bales next to electric fences in September before rolling them out in the winter months, ensuring that feeding is both efficient and manageable.
Stocking Rates and Grazing Density
One of the most frequently asked questions is how much land is needed per cow for outwintering. The AHDB national average suggests that 1.6 – 1.8 acres per suckler cow is a reasonable benchmark.
However, the key takeaway is that stocking density should remain flexible. One should start small if transitioning from housing, outwintering only a portion of the herd at first. In particularly wet years, selling excess cattle can help prevent overgrazing and minimize damage to the land. Adjusting paddock size and grazing duration based on weather conditions is essential for maintaining a successful grazing system.
Leaving plenty of residue behind prevents overgrazing and ensures sustainable pasture regrowth.
This approach not only protects soil health but also provides a safety net in the event of adverse weather conditions.
Real-World Results: Winter Performance and Weight Gain
What we have achieved so far - cattle that grazed on tall grass stockpile alone experienced an average live weight gain of 0.8 kg per day, which is comparable to conventional systems. Every animal was finished on grass alone by 28 months, staying within the 30-month market requirement.
No supplementary feed was required beyond mineral salt licks, which provided essential nutrients. This low-cost system resulted in significant financial savings, with a gross margin of £600 per suckler cow and a net cash profit of over £300 per cow.
Beyond the financial benefits, this system proves highly effective for environmental conservation with increased wildflower diversity, improved soil carbon sequestration, and thriving bird populations, including barn owls and egrets.
A Sustainable Future for Grazing
With careful planning and thoughtful management, tall grass grazing can provide a sustainable, profitable, and environmentally responsible approach to livestock farming.
The potential for reducing costs, improving animal health, and enhancing biodiversity is immense. As agricultural subsidies shift and market pressures increase, low-cost, high-efficiency systems like stockpiled grazing will become even more valuable.
Any questions? Please get in touch.
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Testimonials
“After visiting Rob and seeing how he manages his grass and testing his genetics, I was very keen to purchase some of his cattle. I didn’t need to see them, I just put an order in of what I wanted, and Rob did the rest. It’s very reassuring when you find a breeder who really knows his cattle and can be trusted to send you exactly what you want. We will be purchasing more in the future.”
Geraint Powell
Nuffield Scholar
“We bought a bull from Phepson Angus as we wanted to shift our maternal line to a smaller more efficient cow, high fertility and easy calving. The bull we bought has delivered on everything we wanted. We will certainly be a repeat customer.”
Silas Hedley-Lawrence
FAI Farms
We bought 2 bulls from Rob because we wanted easy calving, fertile, hardy bulls. Very happy with initial results on 62 heifers with 100% in calf, 73% bred in the 1st cycle. Bulls didn't go lame or lose condition while working
Oliver Chedgey
2022 Organic Dairy Farmer of the Year
We have PHEPSON ANGUS bulls available from January 2025
Please get in touch if you would like more information about available bulls. We have sold out for the last 3 years so please get in touch early to secure your breeding bull.
Free Consultancy
We often get requests for consultancy on both grassland and cattle management in holistic management systems. While we do take on some advisory work in limited situations we do tend to try and sign-post to other advisers in the regenerative agriculture sector. However, ALL PHEPSON ANGUS CUSTOMERS receive a FREE consultation with their purchase and for our customers we are always available on the phone. So if you are interested in saving money through your grazing systems and would like to add some proven fertility genetics to your herd then get in touch.
Kaiser, Senior Herd Sire
Semen straws available for UK and International export.
Your opportunity to buy into our programme
Excellent producer of easy-calving, fertile, moderate females for grass production
Will reduce frame size while still maintaining commercial scale.
Extremely fertile Bull - producing over 1000 straws per jump on collection on several occasions (bulls usually produce 150 - 350 straw per jump)
Line bred 4 times to Champion Bull "Evesund of Dupplin" who was known as the "Great Fixer of Udders"
We find Kaiser will correct poor udder structure in the 1st cross/generation
Huge rumen capacity - weighs 1000kg in working clothes - 53 inches at the hip
Kaiser is the foundation of our maternal bull lines, and is now available to you
Semen straws and genetics available for UK and
International export.
Contact Rob or Lizzie for an order form.
Rob - 07973771832
Lizzie - 07799127066
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