Wool Production and Biodiversity Working Together for Tim and Karen Wright: A Case Study
Lana is a 4,000-hectare sheep property in New England Tablelands region of New South Wales, Australia. Owners introduced a Holistic Management approach in mid-1990s because of degradation of pastures and poor profitability. Results achieved include: Changed from high inputs (fertilizers, sown pastures) to low input system, which reduced fertilizer use by 70%. 100% return on investment in extra fencing within 2 years. Wool yield increased from 73-74% to 78-80%. Labor costs cut in half. Maintained healthy gross margins of $200 per ha. during 2002 drought, when area had lowest rainfall on record and neighboring farmers suffered financial stress.
Going Beyond Best Practice in the Kalahari Bushveld Savannah: A Case study of Brahman Botswana on farm Oasis
This 2010 case study follows the 18,832-hectare farm named Oasis in western Botswana near the border of Namibia. Dwindling carrying capacity of the land led them to attend a Holistic Management course in 1986, with small changes implemented in 1988 and a more substantial buy-in occurring in 1999. By boosting the carrying capacity of the […]
The Efficiency of Low Input: A Case Study
This 2010 case study follows the 9,500-hectare Farm Springbockvley in Namibia that receives an average of 250mm of annual rainfall. Between 1989 and 2010, their flerd (a combined flock of sheep and herd of cattle) grew from 250 Simmentaler cattle and 3000 Karakul sheep to about 700 Nguni cattle and 5000 Damara sheep, with an average of 15 animals per hectare. They have maintained a continually increased carrying capacity even in years where less than a third of the average rainfall was recorded.
The Central Australian Grazing Strategies Project Working Paper Series
Etiwanda Station is a 28,000-hectare property in NSW, Australia used to produce sheep, cattle and goats. The owners adopted the Holistic Management approximately 10 years ago. Results include easier animal handling because only 2 mobs (instead of 10 previously) and movement being planned to ensure animals are close to handling facilities at right time; now in top 10% of producers in terms of profitability, compared to average or below average before changing management; improvement in quality and quantity of pastures with an increase in palatable perennial grasses; and set aside of paddocks gives 3-month buffer of feed during periods of drought.
Working in tandem with natural variability: New paradigms for livestock grazing in Australia
This submission to the Australian House of Representatives summarizes how grazing with Holistic Management (HM), a proactive, low-tech solution, (1) provides flexible management options in the face of climatic uncertainty, and (2) enhances the resilience of the natural environment, thus leaving it better prepared for climatic variability.
For the Love of Land
For the Love of Land describes practical, proven methods for bringing degraded landscapes–grasslands, rangelands, savannas, and farmlands–back to life through mimicking natural migratory grazing patterns with domestic livestock.
N.D. Rancher Builds Biological Capital
This 2009 article in Beef Producer magazine follows Gene Goven and his 1,500-acre ranch in South Dakota, USA. Researchers have documented that grasses penetrating only 3 to 5 inches,now send down roots four to 10 times as deep. From 1982 to 2001, water infiltration in his soils increased from 0.8 to 6.2 inches/hour. His grazing season also lengthened, increasing from 150 – 180 days of grazing a year to 230 – 270 days.
Grassroots Restoration: Holistic Management for Villages
This 90-page introductory manual is geared towards those managing livestock in a pastoral setting with communal land ownership.
