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Grass Productivity: Rational Grazing
Voisin's classic is still in great demand , nearly three-quarters of a century after it was first written and published. And with so many books in this area that have completely disappeared The main point of it, so often forgotten over and over, that grass is more productive when shorn and given time to re-grow. That is the core base of all the current popular works on rotational and "mob" grazing. It's not too surprising then, that you can go through Voisin's book and find everything they are saying now as "revolutionary". Because he took the time to make a full study of his land, it's cattle, and everything anyone had written on the subject up to that point. Also not too surprising is that only the really profitable grazers actually find this book and study it. Then re-study it. Because a regular re-study of Voison's work brings new understanding, new ideas, and greater simplicity to anyone's grazing operation. As well as more profitability. The underlying basic to this work is that through managed grazing, the cows can help the grass be more productive. They help the soil regenerate through their interaction with the grass, very similar to how the vast roaming herds of grazing and browsing animals across the Western plains developed and maintained the prairies. The sheer size of those herds proved the land was capable of supporting massive tonnage of livestock through grazing - and following natural patterns. But that same land, a few decades later, first was mismanaged into a massive Dust Bowl - and then recovered from it. And that both says a lot about our own human arrogance, and our ability to use humility ot learn from our mistakes. Grazing cattle, done responsibly, can improve the land beyond what it's produced in decades before. It can start restoring the erosion that plowing nad cultivation have created. That's if we actually study that book and apply it. In that way, we can first work to make our farming more sustainable and pay its own way, then we can encourage it to save our futures by restoring the land, and producing higher quality beef and forage than it has in centuries. IF we read, study, and apply now... - - - - This is a reproduction of the original 1959 edition, formatted to trade paperback (6x9). Many original tables and formulae have been reproduced as images. Additional essays by James Anderson have been included. This second edition has been cleaned up and reformatted to take advantage of Print On Demand capabilities - so your reading is less interupted, with the tables and photos closest to where they are mentioned. Scroll Up and Get Your Copy Now.
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First published December 1, 1988
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 6, 2009
A fascinating read and a classic. The appeal of this book is largely the historical aspect but also because Voisin's principles retain contemporary applicability. Plus, I just really like his old style matter-of-fact way about presenting his arguments. For example, note his "laws" for grazing:
"Before a sward, sheared with the animal's teeth, can achieve its maximum productivity, sufficient interval must have elapsed between two successive shearings to allow the grass: (a) to accumulate in its roots the reserves necessary for a vigorous spurt of re-growth; (b) to produce its 'blaze of growth' (or high daily yield per acre)."
And, the important corollary to the "First Law":
"The rest period between two successive shearings varies with the season, climatic conditions and other environmental factors."
He goes on with other important "laws", but the above pretty much sums up pasture management in a nutshell.
Voisin's criticism of the use of crude protein as a measure of forage quality is very interesting to me as this is still used regularly by extension staff and ranchers. In fact, I am very intrigued as to what the "answer" is to many of the questions he raised 50 or so years ago. Is our understanding of grazing systems any better? What other "peasant" knowledge has continued to be ignored over the decades? I'm really curious as to the differences he points out about biological sources of nitrogen (i.e. from forage legumes) and manufactured N. "Clover provides an organic nitrogen, very probably possessing many different qualities not found in mineral nitrogen. It has recently been discovered that the bacteria (Rhizobium) of the nodules of legumes produce Vitamin B12, the anti-anaemia vitamin."
In short, I think this book should be on the desk of every person involved with grazing animals and pasture management.
"Before a sward, sheared with the animal's teeth, can achieve its maximum productivity, sufficient interval must have elapsed between two successive shearings to allow the grass: (a) to accumulate in its roots the reserves necessary for a vigorous spurt of re-growth; (b) to produce its 'blaze of growth' (or high daily yield per acre)."
And, the important corollary to the "First Law":
"The rest period between two successive shearings varies with the season, climatic conditions and other environmental factors."
He goes on with other important "laws", but the above pretty much sums up pasture management in a nutshell.
Voisin's criticism of the use of crude protein as a measure of forage quality is very interesting to me as this is still used regularly by extension staff and ranchers. In fact, I am very intrigued as to what the "answer" is to many of the questions he raised 50 or so years ago. Is our understanding of grazing systems any better? What other "peasant" knowledge has continued to be ignored over the decades? I'm really curious as to the differences he points out about biological sources of nitrogen (i.e. from forage legumes) and manufactured N. "Clover provides an organic nitrogen, very probably possessing many different qualities not found in mineral nitrogen. It has recently been discovered that the bacteria (Rhizobium) of the nodules of legumes produce Vitamin B12, the anti-anaemia vitamin."
In short, I think this book should be on the desk of every person involved with grazing animals and pasture management.
June 19, 2019
This is the best book I’ve read on Rotational Grazing for cattle. It is filled with research, and unsurprisingly, we have forgot so many things that we learned over a 100 years ago. For example, research showed cattle feed for 8 hours max, and then rest and chew cud. Also, studies showed that treating a sub par parcel of land with nitrogen prior to cattle grazing it led to animals feeding more aggressively on this parcel then without a treatment of nitrogen. Both items above were learned thru studies over a century ago, but I would bet not many today know this. But this knowledge and countless other items in the book can impact how we raise cattle today with the aim of putting more weight on our cattle. Excellent book. I keep rereading parts and have highlighted sections so that I won’t forget.
December 15, 2019
"What is rational grazing?
Rational grazing affords maximum satisfaction to the requirements of both grass and animal. It should be remembered that grazing is the meeting of animal and grass, and these two elements should be kept constantly in mind by the grazier. Rational grazing does not result from the mere division of a pasture or use of an electric fence. Division, whether by means of fixed or mobile fences, is not an end in itself but a means of helping to satisfy, by judicious compromise, the requirements of animal and grass."
Rational grazing affords maximum satisfaction to the requirements of both grass and animal. It should be remembered that grazing is the meeting of animal and grass, and these two elements should be kept constantly in mind by the grazier. Rational grazing does not result from the mere division of a pasture or use of an electric fence. Division, whether by means of fixed or mobile fences, is not an end in itself but a means of helping to satisfy, by judicious compromise, the requirements of animal and grass."
June 23, 2019
Incredible wisdom
Understanding this book would confer the knowledge of a college education in agriculture. I wish I read this book 40 years ago.Why was it not part of the agriculture curriculum?
Understanding this book would confer the knowledge of a college education in agriculture. I wish I read this book 40 years ago.Why was it not part of the agriculture curriculum?
March 12, 2016
Surprisingly poetic in its subpar translation.
I am now inclined to seek out meager translations of as many French agrarian handbooks as possible.
I am now inclined to seek out meager translations of as many French agrarian handbooks as possible.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews