Grazing Grass Podcast sharing Regenerative Ag Stories

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: Okay.

get started with the fast five

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
Okay.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229:
and, and our first question.

What's your name?

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
Okay.

Hello everybody.

My name is Jaime Elizondo, but
here in the States people call me

Jim Alejandro because it's easier.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: it is easier.

Jim,

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
Yeah.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229:
where are you located?

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
Okay.

We moved from Mexico to the United
States back in 2010, 15 years ago.

And I was an American citizen already and
we live in Kaiti, Texas now, and we have

lived in Florida in two different places.

And I have managed cattle and
farms and ranches for, in the

states for around 11 years.

And now I devote my full-time to teach
online and on onsite courses and coaching.

But I still keep my farm in
Mexico in the dry trucks.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: oh, yes.

Does your farm have a name?

Or, actually, maybe we should
just, what's your program name?

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
Oh, yeah.

Well, my farm has a name.

It's Las CORAs, which means red cattle

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: Oh, yes.

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
because I, I have been reading

and looking for the best
teachers and mentors worldwide.

And I was reading a book by John
Bondsman called man Must Measure.

And he said in that book that red
was the best color for cattle in the

tropics because it gets so hot and the.

Infrared raised from the sun and all that.

So that's why I call it Las
Colorado, the red cattle.

Now, I have learned that it's not true.

It depends on the breed
more than the color.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: Oh

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
And I can explain later.

Yeah,

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: And
we, we will talk about breeds

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
yeah, yeah.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: is
the only livestock species

you're grazing there cattle.

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
Now, yes.

When I started, I, I bought that farm
in 1990, so it's been a long time now.

I started with stalkers and he heifers
and steers, and I, I always done,

well, no, when I started I only had
red cows because that was my hobby,

but I was losing money, so not fun.

Cal: Welcome to the grazing grass podcast.

The podcast dedicated to sharing
the stories of grass-based

livestock producers, exploring
regenerative practices that improve

the land animals and our lives.

I'm your host, Cal Hardage and each
week we'll dive into the journeys,

challenges, and successes of
producers like you, learning from

their experiences, and inspiring
each other to grow, and graze better.

Whether you're a seasoned
grazier or just getting started.

This is the place for you.

If you're looking to grow your profits,
elevate your grazing operation, or

just want to get your hands dirty.

Noble Research Institute can help
no matter the size, location,

or scope of your operation.

Noble's two and three day educational
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Noble Land Essentials helps you harness
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Noble Grazing Essentials demonstrates
how to optimize each use to get the best

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can help you improve your business

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For 10 seconds about the farm, I've been
able to go to a couple workshops the last

few weeks, went up to a silvopasture,
silvopro training with Austin Unru

that's been on the podcast a few times.

It is really good.

Gotta look at Josh's farm and what
he's doing there with trees and stuff.

In fact, we plan to have Josh on
the podcast in a couple months.

Secondly, last week went up to the
third annual Sheep and Goats Field

Day and got to see a few people.

Got to see Leah again that came
down and looked at our animals.

Got to see Marque that was on
the podcast just a few weeks ago.

So it was really nice to get
up there, see some people, hear

about discussions about sheep.

They had lots on virtual fencing, and they
even had some No Fence collars there for

sheep, so it was nice to see that as well.

For 10 seconds about the podcast last week
we had Joel on from Smoke River Ranch.

This week we have Jim Elizondo on to
speak about his Total Grazing plan.

Which utilizes high density
or ultra high density grazing.

And the next week we have Hobbs
on, and if you haven't got

Hobbs book, it's called Herd.

And um, the Animals that Gave
Rise to Humanity and why we

need them more than ever.

It's a pretty easy read,
but it's a good read.

So I encourage you to get that.

Uh, he will be on the podcast next week.

And with that, let's get back to Jim.

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
then I started with stalkers,

fattening them on grass, and then
finishing them on my own feedlot.

But I read, I read a very good book
from New Zealand called From Milk

from Grass to Milk by McKennan.

And he stated there, and that was in, I
don't know, 1991 that I read that book.

And he said that the number of
life that you could maintain

per year will determine profits.

And I had graduated as an agronomy
engineer, so I was not making a profit

doing what I was taught conventional.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: Oh

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
So I, I did my numbers because

I also have a degree in as an
subsidiary accountant, and I knew he

was correct McKinnon in new field.

So I started increasing my number of
animals, and that's where I started

to learn what you need to know to
raise at a much higher stalking

rate without running out of breath.

So I, I ended up with
eight to 900 animals.

No, seven to 900 animals on 300 acres.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: Oh yes.

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
Some parts can be irrigated, but

back then we had good rainfall
because it's in the tropics.

Rainfall depends on cycles,
well, like everywhere else.

And we had a six, nine years
of good rains, so I was able

to do it without irrigation.

And then come winter, I would put them in
the field, not finish them and sell them.

But then we switched to dairy grace
dairy, which I, I did for 20 some

years and we decided, my wife and
I, that we will stop the grace dairy

in when our daughters were graduate.

So that finally happened

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: I.

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
and we stopped milking cows.

I had the tropical milking Clear bridge,
the largest her in the world on my farm.

We were milking 320 cows twice a
day on those same, same 300 acres.

And now I am using Maona on them
because I have learned a lot since then.

A lot nutrition razing and genetics.

Genetics, mostly by Johan Zisman
Nutrition, razing mostly from

Andrean McKinna and Mark Bader
of Free Choice Enterprises.

He taught me that part.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: Oh

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
we, yeah, I had the franchise

for 20 some years in Mexico.

So, now we are raising.

Grass fed genetics for people that need
harder genetics that are early maturing

in the tropics, that's not normal.

Many places in the tropics their
cows have for the first time at four

years of age mine, a lot of them
have a two for the first time and

without feeding them anything, but

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: why is that,
why the difference on the four years

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
yeah.

Yeah,

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: two

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
it's mostly genetics.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: Mostly

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
Mostly genetics, yeah.

Because you see people want large animals,
so by not breeding them earlier, they,

they grow taller and and heavier, but
they are losing on selling wind beef.

Beef or, or pounds, pounds of wind
caps per ranch or farm per year.

And they have a, a whole generation
of unproductive animals eating

grass and not producing anything.

So my selecting for precocity and for
a sloping rum that's very important, a

sloping rum gives a bigger bird canal.

I have cattle that can give bread at 14,
15 months of age, keep them in only one

group, make my grazing more efficient.

And those that keep bread and calve
as two at 24 months of age, they

don't have Calvin problems, even
though they are smaller and they are

smaller because tropical grass is low.

Nutrition contrary to what people
believe in the tropics is more

difficult for an a cattle to gain
weight than in a dry environment

because of the quality of the grass.

And the humid and hot nights.

So all that contributes to a lower
daily gains and lower material size

and lower weight at 24 months of h.

Okay.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: Now, you, you
started with this idea of red cows.

What breed did you go with

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
Yeah,

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: with them and
just selected for genetics you want, or

have you introduced some other breeds?

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
started with tropical milk.

No, I started with tropic.

Carne, a breed developed
my, by my late uncle,

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: Oh, yes.

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
but then I switched to the stalkers.

Then I had

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: yes.

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
thousand youth hair chip

and a hundred meat goats.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: Oh, yes.

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
And then I saw the stalkers

and put the dairy cups.

I imported 300 pregnant heifers
jerseys from the United States,

but they are not resistant to the
extreme heat, high heat index we it.

And so I started using the
tropical milk incur on them.

And then I didn't like
that they were too small.

I didn't know anything about genetics,
really only what I had been taught.

So, I sold the tropical milk,
incur bulls, and started and bought

Australian fish and saki while
bulls from Tabasco in the south.

Well,

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: yes.

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
the, there is an Abberant chromosome

in the in SIBO genetics that when
crossed with European boa, like D

Friesian creates embr absorption in the.

First, third to this stage.

So my pregnancy rate went down,
but, but, and they still got pyro

plasmosis, which is the big the
biggest tickborne disease we get.

So I still was having dead cows and not
getting more milk per farm per year.

That's what matters.

Not deal per cow every time she cuts.

So fertility is important.

The size of the animal, the stocking
rate is important and the milk production

per animal is important, but you
need to look at production per year.

Okay?

If you're an accountant like me,
you do an Excel spreadsheet and

you plug in all the numbers, okay?

So then to my fair price, 10 years
later I made an analysis and the

best house were the ones half bought
Jersey with tropical milk in fruit.

So

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: Oh yes.

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
I went back to the tropical milk

in Korea, and then 12 years later,
I had them, the largest herd in

the, in this country, in the world.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: Yeah.

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227: But
then I had, I moved to the States and I

had experience with the Mason cow and,
and I bred the best herd in Florida, not

mine, for, for the boss that I had there.

These cattle were brought in.

I went to buy them in New
Mexico, Northeastern New Mexico.

But I bought the car from
him for this the boss,

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: Yes.

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
I took them a three.

Three pot loads.

We took them, I went with them to the,
to this farm in Florida to regenerate

the land that had been deter degraded
by applications of glyphosate because it

was a, a tree nursery and, and we had to
regenerate it with cattle and no inputs.

So we did that.

And now I also selected
the, the, the bulls.

And every year, and now it's the best
hurt, or it was until I was there.

I, I left two years ago.

I, I kept consulting, but they,
they, they didn't want me anymore.

So I left.

And okay, so I bought six bulls from them.

Mauna not the best,
the ones nobody wanted.

The tail end, the ones left behind

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229:
Why did you buy those?

As opposed to the best

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
because the only.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: or,

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
Because

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: everyone

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
the owners didn't want

to sell me the best ones.

They said, no, no, no.

And then until eight or 10 were
less, they said, no, you can buy.

Okay.

I knew they were good.

I mean, I, any boats that are
not good, I do not allow them

to be sold for, for breeding.

So I knew they were good, so I got
six of them, took them to my farm, and

that's the base of my genetics now.

And you know, when you're selecting
bulls, the best bulls are the

ones that are born looking like a
bull, a miniature bull, not heavy.

We want lightweight bird weight,
light bird weight, sorry.

But we want them to be very
masculine, have a crest on the,

on the back of the neck, and
define muscle when they are born.

When you select this weight,
you get more and more of them.

So now this year I got five
of them born on my farm.

When the normal is to get one in 10,000.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: Oh yes.

Yeah.

so, so your cows are that
tropical Creole dairy cow?

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
Not anymore.

Remember, I thought I told you
I stopped milking three years.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: Did you, so you,
what cows did you bring in at that point?

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
Ah, no, no, no, no.

And this is what I suggest for everybody.

Don't bring,

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: Oh,

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
don't bring cow from outside.

Start by changing your bulls.

And that's what I did.

I brought these six bulls from Florida and
I kept all the HotBot heifers because I

had done some AI before 10, 13 years ago.

And my best cows were the hub blood
macuna hub, blood tropical milking cows.

Much better than the pure
tropical milking cows.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: oh.

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
And now I know why I did a

lot of DNA research with Dr.

Pat Kart of the USDA in Maryland.

I sent him a blood semen and hair
sample from the Florida herd and from

my tropical milk and cows in, in Mexico.

And the results are in what gives the
animals resistance to parasites, diseases,

and heat and nutritional adaptation are
the African bos taurus genes, African bos

taurus as different from both indicators
and different from European bos taurus.

So this cattle look like European, but
they are more resistant even than the

Bos indicus to heat and and diseases.

So, the tropical milk in cows only
have from 27 to 30% African bos taurus.

So when cross with a jersey, there
were not enough African bos taurus

genes to give the require resistance.

That's why I was still having problems.

But when cross those tropical Yeah,
because you need 25%, at least

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: Oh

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227: when
using the, the macuna that has a 73% of

Africa and both towers instead of instead
of 27, things changed and, and because

I teach a course on adaptive genetics
and selection and how to create your own

composite breed, that's what I'm doing.

I am making a composite breed that
is better for difficult environments

and people that buy them from me.

They, they know because they see the
results on their farms or ranches,

and I have a, a long line of people
waiting for my genetics, and that's how

you double your, your, your profits.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: yeah,

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
So now, so now I can see that on return

on investment, you can make the same
money by doing the total grazing with

adapto genetics and with a great theory.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: With those
African bos taurus genetics and you're

saying we should target about 25%,

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
At least

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: at

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
for, for a difficult environment where

you have tick borne diseases and like,
like the tropics, the, the dry tropics.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: yeah.

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
Yeah.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: So as you move
north, how far north can you go and

those genetics still be beneficial?

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
In Manitoba, Canada.

I have students there and the best
beef calf are the one quarter macuna,

three quarter other European breed.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: yes.

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227: Yes.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: Yeah.

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
Let's say you go to Spain

or to France the same.

The same.

It's, it's, you don't need more,
but in Spain and Portugal, they

have a lot of native breeds that
have these genes because they came

from Africa when the Muslims invaded
the, the peninsula for 800 years.

Yeah.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: Yeah.

So yeah, so when we talk about these
African bos taurus genes, it's not

only Mashona there's some other
breeds available, but the Mashona is

probably the popular in the States.

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
It is the one that has the

highest percentage of, of African
bos taurus genes that I know.

That I know of.

You see there are others like the CREs
and like the senepol, the Romosinuano in

South America that have also African bos
taurus, but not as high as the mashona.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: Oh,

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
They're diluted, so to speak.

South Poll have a, a small percentage
because they come from the senepol,

which are, which are low in African
bos taurus genes, but that's

why they are better than others.

But there are still better alternatives.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: Oh, yeah.

Yeah.

I was thinking as you were saying
that through the senepol, south

Poll's giving some of that,

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
Yeah.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: don't know
about barzona Barzona, they were used

in the development of South Poll, but
I don't remember right off what their

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
I, I, I do.

They, they, yeah, they have Afrikaner
blood, which has some Bos indicus

and some African Bos taurus gene.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: Oh, okay.

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
Yeah.

But it's more diluted like the boran.

The boran is a more Bos indicus
and less African Bos taurus.

So they crossbred very good with angus

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: Yes.

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
because of that.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: Oh yeah.

Yeah.

Very good.

With your, your development of
your ranch in Mexico and your, your

cattle, what kind of grazing do you
do there and what do you call it?

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
Okay.

You see, I, I told you that I had to
learn how to graze at high stocking

rates without running out of grass.

So I call this program the Total
Grazing Program because it's

not just one grazing event.

It's a program that considers
the whole year, and we know how

long lived soil carbon is built.

That's your, your soil fertility.

What allows it to keep pongy?

What allows it to hold water for longer?

And what gives your grass
the highest quality?

Because it's nutrients fed on demand.

So we don't use any synthetic
fertilizers, just nothing.

We do not deworm of our cattle
because we want high levels

of soil life and don beetles.

We do not apply insecticide,
herbicide, fungicide, ever.

So I started doing this because of cost.

You see in, in my farm, we sell our
weaned calves for less than half.

The, the price per pound that
you get here in the states,

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: Oh yes.

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
less than half, like 40% of what you get.

So if we don't do it at a
very low cost, we go broke.

So, that's how I learned to
go beyond organic and, and,

and do it following nature.

So my, how can I, my paradigm,
let's call it a paradigm.

My paradigm is to never contradict nature.

When you contradict nature you'll spend
more money, you will not get the best

results, the potential results, and
you will end up fighting and fighting.

Nature is a losing proposition always.

Yeah.

Mm-hmm.

So I follow nature in the grazing.

So we start by knowing how
I, I learned this in school.

Plant physiology, green leaf produce
energy through photosynthesis.

We all know that, but stems
consume energy by respiration.

Not everybody knows that.

The difference between the energy
produced by photosynthesis, by the lid,

and the energy consumed by the stem
is the available energy for growth of

the grass to feed your livestock with
the green dips because they're higher,

higher in digestibility, and to improve
your soil with the root exudates.

But there is a difference in soil carbon.

There is short lived soil
carbon, and long lived soil,

carbon, short lead soil carbon.

It converts to gas and goes into the
atmosphere as CO2 in a few weeks or months

long lived soil carbon held in the soil
last for over a hundred years, and that's

why we want to build up because it's what
people have been mining off our soils by

overgrazing primarily and by conventional
agricul, agriculture, secondary.

I know I'm stepping on a lot of toes
right now, but that's how it is.

That's the truth.

And I, I always try to tell the truth.

Okay.

So by following nature, when we graze,
we know that taking the grass down leap

and stems in the green season by grazing
younger, we are getting the best recruit.

Because we do not leave the
stems consuming energy behind.

Now, the grass needs to be adequately
recovered for this to not be overgrazing

because overgrazing is grazing
the plant before it has adequately

recovered it's energy reserves, which
are in roots and crowns, not in the

green leaves left behind because
cattle selectively crave the green

leaves and leave the stands behind.

Just observe, get down in
your knees and observe.

People say, yeah, but they t trample it.

No.

Go to ba grab Bermuda grass.

You can step on it and
it just springs back up.

It doesn't stay trampled.

And even in cool season grasses,
when they trample it, it

stays attached to the ground.

So it on the sea brown,
it keeps respiring.

Okay.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: yeah.

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
And then it's a matter of taking off all

that grass and, and, and stems and then
allowing this, the grass to recover.

And then you get the, the sunlight hitting
the growth points in the new seedlings,

which did not happen when you leave
a lot of residual covering the soil.

No soil hits the soil, no
sun hits, hits the soil.

Sorry.

And I seen this in many places that
graze tall or graze the top third or

selectively graze thinking that you
need the soil armor on your soil.

Yeah, we need the soil armor
to cover the surface, but not

attach too much is attached.

We, we need

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: Oh,

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
just enough and total

grazing leaves just enough.

Okay.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229:
and, much is just enough?

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
Yeah.

As enough to cover the soil, like one to
two inches, but not five, eight inches.

That's attached.

Any conventional farmer that does no
till farmer farming with herbicides

knows about this, the soil gets
cold because of too much residual.

That's the truth.

I mean, I, I'm just telling you,
at, at ris I was in Tasmania at the

grassroots festival and I was, I
told, I told people this, it's true.

And I was in the pasta festival
in Pennsylvania and I told them

this, and in New Zealand, same.

I'm going to Colombia.

Same.

I, I, I will tell the truth because
what I say, you can go out in your.

And check it out and tell
me if it's true or not.

You see, I, I'm a rancher myself.

I am not I get the same economic
pressures, so I have to make the decisions

to solve those economic pressures.

If I make a mistake, I pay for it.

Not if I was a researcher that gets
paid if he's right or if he's wrong.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: now, now one
thing with that residue that's left

after our grazing event talking, or one
thing I hear is we've gotta have enough

cover so the ground doesn't get too hot.

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
Correct.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: And
so that one to two inches that

you're leaving, that's enough to
protect the ground enough from that

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227: Yes.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: sun hitting

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227: Yes.

Because what, what?

You need more than what protects the
soil from erosion later left on top

of the soil or strong roots under the.

Strong roots.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: that's the roots.

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
so to protect the soil

better, we need more plants.

D herbal plants per square foot.

Not more litter.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: Yeah.

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
Just look at it.

Go when it's raining hard like
yeah, when it's raining very hard.

And you will see that all that litter
will be washed away, but the roots of the

strong plants will keep the soil in place.

So by taking it down

after it's been adequately recovered, and
then grazing it down again after it's been

adequately recovered and recruiting more
seedlings, when you stockpile a section

of your farm, a third at least, that we
do that with the art of jumping paddocks.

That's when you recruit seedlings,
not when you're rotationally grazing.

Okay, then you get very
close plant spacing.

And because we alternate these
areas, we get the best of both words.

We get the highest quality grass for our
livestock in the green season, and we

get the densest pasture grown per square
foot in the stockpiling section where

the energy researching roots and ground
will be the highest for next spring

grazing, green season grazing area.

Not only that, I have a paper, a
scientific style paper called soil carbon.

You can find it on my website.

It's free for everyone.

And I explained there how long
deep soil carbon is built and

it's built by stockpiled in grass.

Because that's when the chicory root
exudates that plants execute in the

green season change the fatty and
complex amino acids, root exudates,

that that then fit fungi instead
of bacteria and fungi digested.

And then it can become long
lived soil, carbon, or humus.

So even though you produce more root
exudates in the green season, they

are sugary consumed by bacteria.

Bacteria, release it to the
atmosphere and create compact

compacted soil if you only do that.

But when you alternate with
stockpiling, you create pongy soil.

But because of the fungi and 90%
of all the long lead soil carbon we

create per year is in the stockpiling.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: Oh

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
That's why rotational grazing doesn't

create as much long lived soil car.

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cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: So if I'm
understanding you correctly, to get

that long lived carbon in the soil,
we need to stockpile a certain area,

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227: sir.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: you
mentioned alternating years.

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227: Hmm.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: are you
stockpiling half while you're grazing?

Half?

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
No, no, no.

I develop a better way.

That's what I was taught.

That's what they do in the, let's
say, ultra high density gracing,

but ultra high density racing.

I think it's a wrong name because
it describes an event, and we should

consider the whole year and future years.

We want highest profits for today
and for tomorrow, and that means

improving our soils fertility.

So if you want higher profits, you
should start by lowering your costs.

And what's the highest
cost on a farm or ranch?

Labor.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: Yes.

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
labor.

So having more cattle
lowers the cost per cow

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: Mm-hmm.

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
labor.

That's one second highest cost hay, hay
feeding in the winter or the dropped.

So by stockpiling we can eliminate hay
feeding on unless the snow gets too deep.

But even in Alberta, Canada, yeah, you
can eliminate hay feeding by doing this.

I have students there doing it.

So once you eliminate or greatly
diminish your costs by increasing

your grass productivity, by
minimizing overgrazing, which is only

possible by a high efficiency graz.

You need to take it all off.

If you don't, you need
to come back sooner.

And when you come back sooner, you
lose the flexibility to stockpile or to

maintain high quality for your livestock.

That's the biggest mistake people make
and they call it rational grazing.

Rotational grazing, adaptive grazing.

Holistic management.

Grazing, intensive grazing.

Intensive management grazing.

There is a new name every week.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: There he is.

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
week and and, and I just call it

total grazing to make it easier for
people to relate to, but in reality

is how nature works in nature.

While animals get fat in the, in the green
season, then, then they maintain that

good body condition through the year.

So we, we should do the same.

Not keep them grazing over mature forest.

Some people faith that
I do, I never do that.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: So here's
where I'm a little confused with this,

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
Mm-hmm.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: you've
got, you're grazing, but you're

also stockpiling some areas.

The first, let's go with this.

The first question, what stage should
you graze grass in for the, the

most production and best for your

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
Okay, here is the answer.

Thank you.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: Okay.

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227: In
the green season, we want our livestock

to gain the fastest, our cows to get
as fat as possible without being obese.

Fertility to be as high as possible,
winning waste to be as high as possible.

So we want to graze our livestock
on grass with the highest quality

possible without causing scours.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: Oh

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
We deal with ruminants, so they

need a minimum amount of fiber to be
able to digest it and ruminate when

it's squirting out out their backs.

We're not having healthy animals, and
we may get good daily gain, but not good

conversion efficiency, and we want it all.

Okay.

So yeah, as long as they're
not squirting, you're good.

And you didn't expect that.

Okay.

But let me tell you, we do that not
in the whole farm, not chasing the

green grass, taking the tops off.

That's the biggest mistake.

Rotational grazier do.

We do a total grades all the time
because the high fiber parts of

the plant are close to the ground.

If you divide the plant in third,
the highest part is very high in

protein, very high in sugars and
season grasses, and very low in fiber.

The lower third will be very low
in protein, very low in energy

sugars, but very high in fiber.

So to give our livestock a to
total mixed ration, like in a feed

load, you need to mix those three
and then they get the best help.

And you know what?

They are consuming.

But don't start early in the morning
because that's when nitrous go up

and energy is the lowest because
it's been all night without sunlight.

Remember, photosynthesis creates energy.

Okay?

So, so you do this, you keep your life.

So again, the fastest during
the green season by practicing

the art of jumping paddocks

in the two thirds of your farm that
is to be used in the green season.

The poorest third of your farm should
be stockpile because that's when it's

going to improve your soil fertility
and recruit seeds of your best species,

all that you cannot see and
learn with coaching, because

it's important if you say, oh.

He gave me all the information I need,
I'm going to save a few hundred dollars.

Let me tell you what's going to happen.

You're going to make mistakes
and they will cost you tens

of thousands of dollars.

I know, because I did those,
I made those mistakes.

So it pays to, to have coach.

It really does.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: And just on
that, I, I think coaching is a area I

don't do well with, but I, the, the high
performers I talk to all have coaches.

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
I have two coaches.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: Yeah.

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
We all have coaches.

Not on this, but I have
coaches on on business.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: Right.

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
important.

I mean, I may think, oh, I have
started five successful businesses

in my life and they've been good.

Yeah.

But I could do better with a coach.

So I'm take I'm, I'm paying a coach.

Yeah.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: yeah.

Now, you mentioned something
earlier, you mentioned the high

dens, ultra high density grazing.

That's not the same as
the total grazing plan.

Can you talk about the
difference in the two?

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
Okay, first, the name is, I

think, should be changed because
it's, it defines an event, right?

Ultra high density integration is
an event, and it doesn't apply to

the desert because you cannot have
ultra high density integration when

each plant is one foot from another,
or one or three feet from another.

So, so I wanted a name that
could involve worldwide everyone.

And

so that's why I call it a program.

But there are some differences.

A few differences, but very important.

For example, in the green season,
I won the highest daily game

possible, and because I know.

That it is not in the green season that
I improve the soil or recruit seedlings

in the green Season's grazing area, then
I can take advantage of the green season

to put the, the maximum daily gain on
my cattle because I know I'm going to

improve my soil in this non grazing or
stockpile area where I grow standing

hay and I say $300 per cow per year.

So that's, that's the main difference
because I have learned, and that's why

I made that scientific style paper for
people to see it and read it, that that's

when you get 90% of your improvement.

So then I don't worry too much.

And then I can be more flexible
with my schedules, my approaches, my

yeah, my way of manage management.

Because on real world, in real
world ranching, we want people

to have money, time, and help.

To be real wel wealthy,
you need those three.

If you don't have time,
you're not wealthy.

Yeah,

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: Right.

Yeah.

With, with your program, are
you moving cows once a day or

is it multiple moves during

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
it varies.

You see, if you want the highest
animal performance and you want the

highest harvest, efficiency, highest
stocking rate, and profits, four

breaks a day is the best because
that's how the rumen functions.

In batches.

The cattle only degrades
eight hours a day on average.

And they have four to
five batches in per day.

So I take advantage of that and,
and I do that when convenient.

It's not always convenient.

So you need to know the basics and then
you apply them to your own situation.

That's what I teach.

And, and, and people need
to make their own decisions.

So second, best, once a day,
once a day works very well.

You could still get 70% harvest
efficiency instead of 80 to 90.

You see, we don't get a
hundred percent, never.

It's impossible.

Not even when you make hay.

When you make hay, you, if you
get 80%, you're, you're the best.

Okay?

So we get a 70% with once a day break.

But that's not all.

You also need to work on your genetics,
your cabin season, and to know a

little about nutrition when racing.

Okay, so you have this under your
belt, you're doing once a day

breaks, and then you decide, ah,
why not give them when I can?

Two or three breaks, and then
one break the other day and

then a week, and then no.

Ruminants require a routine because
the microbes in the rumen need

time to adjust to a change in diet.

How long?

10 to 14 days.

So if you, if you don't move them
once a day, the next best is to move

them once every two to three weeks.

Ah, that's overgrazing.

Yes, it is over Grazing and overgrazing
reduces grass production by three to five

times, depending on how much you do it.

So there is your answer.

Once a day, four times a day, once
a day, a day, or every two to three

weeks, that's the best for the animal.

And that's why people say, oh I did
this rotational grazing stuff for this

total grazing stuff without taking
the course and without coaching.

And and I move them every
three days or every week.

And they didn't gain as
much as conventional ion.

Well, of course the rumen, you're
wrecking havoc in the rumen.

Don't do that

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: is the
moving them every once, every two or

three weeks not doing the same thing?

Is that

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
in the rumen.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: Yes.

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
no, no.

Because it takes to 10 to 14
days to adjust to the change.

And you're giving them that
time to adjust to the change.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: Oh,

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
do much better, unless during short,

cool season forages and they get.

Diarrhea, scours,

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: Yeah,

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
you do the best you can.

I mean, I'm, I'm, I'm telling you
the fundamental, but everybody

needs to do the best they can.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: yeah.

And then with your stockpile,
are you grazing those areas?

You stockpile every winter?

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
Yes, I you need to finish it off or the

touch will inhibit the regrowth next
spring because the lack of sunlight,

just as when you are selectively
grazing, create and create a touch.

The lack of sunlight,
kill the growth points.

Just bend down in your knees
on tall grass and look at the

growth points near the soil.

And if they are white, they're dead.

If they're yellow, they are dying.

If they're green, they are healthy.

When we stockpile after a total grace.

We get healthy growth points and
they don't turn white be, and they

are very close plant spacing because
we take it off at least once a year.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: yeah.

Okay.

In, in my past, we would stockpile
cool season grasses, but we would start

during the warm seasons to stockpile em.

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
That's too late.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: That's, that's
what I thought you were going to say.

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
I'm sorry.

Yes.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: No, no.

I, I want to hear this.

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
Okay.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: Yeah.

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
yeah, when, when you wait until

summer your best early spring
grasses will not have the time.

To establish the seedlings.

I'm, I'm talking about, remember that

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: yeah.

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
stockpile for three, four

things at the same time.

One is to create standing
hay to say $300 per cap.

Another one is to recruit
seedlings of your best species.

Another one is to improve your
soil by long lived soil carbon.

Another one is to create
a, a wildlife habit.

Okay, so there are many things.

How are you going to allow the
seedlings of your best two season

grasses to establish if you're
grazing them in the early spring?

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: Oh, yeah,

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
And your total bulk of standing

hay come winter will be lower
the later you start stockpiling.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: right.

Yeah.

Yeah.

one thing you mentioned throughout
this is livestock performance.

How do you monitor your livestock to
make sure you're getting good performance

while maintaining body condition?

And I know you've said we don't
want 'em scouring, but we want 'em

on as good a forage as we can get
'em there without the scouring.

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
that's a very good question.

And you will, if you listen to my
podcast that I made last week, it

will come out like in two more weeks.

And that's the exact thing
that I talk about there.

And if it's by every, every day at the
end of the day in the evening, the cow

or you should have the left flank, the
gut feel between the, a triangle that

formed between the last rib and the hip
bone should be bulging out very full.

If it's not you use lost that days gain.

So you better give them another break.

Okay?

So you want high harvest efficiency, but
you also want your cattle to do the best.

So how do you monitor?

That's one.

The other one is to look at the happy
lines, the, the lines that are transversal

to the root cage, that fat deposits.

The other one is to be able
to judge body condition.

You need to be able to
judge body condition.

1.1

of body condition is equal to 50 pounds,
so you need to be able to watch for that.

And that's the covering of fat
in ribs, the spine and the hips.

And tel you,

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: are you using a
one to 10 body conditioning score system

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
you, you, you can use whatever you want.

I prefer the one to five.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: Oh, okay.

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
That's because that's what they

use in Europe and in Mexico.

So I'm used to that, but
it can be simply converted.

So, body condition at
cabin determines reception.

So they asked me yesterday what's
the best body condition to have at,

well, seven, no, what I don't recall.

3.75

and up to 4.2.

And in, it's one to nine.

No, not, not one to 10.

Yeah.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: Right,

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
You want, you want a 7.7?

7.75?

Yeah.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: Oh, okay.

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
Yeah.

Easy.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: Yeah.

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
But yeah, it is the fat covering

because fat is required from the immune
system to work to function properly.

That's why I do not agree with those
people that say, oh, let the cows or

the youth lose weight in the winter,
and they will regain it in the spring.

No, because when they lose that fat,
the immune system doesn't work properly.

And then I couldn't win
the herd from dewormers.

I have win my cattle from dewormers
over 20 years ago by keeping them fat

in good body condition year round.

That's why my slogan is Fat cows.

Fat cows, fat cows.

If any of you decides to try this
without taking the course or the coaching

and then blame the total grace in program
for that, think cows are going to create.

Remember this, my slogan is fat cows.

Fat cows.

Fat cows.

A fat cows may, may give you
profit a think cow on the pity.

Think cows don't make a profit.

They don't even get bread.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: Right?

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
do that.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: With
talking about not losing condition

during winter and your grazing
stockpile, is your stockpile enough

to keep that condition on the cows?

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
Oh, yes, because by then in the Total

Grading Academy includes the four
online courses for Life total grading

program that explains all this.

Adapt the genetics and selection
guidelines to help cattle that can do

more with less optimal cabin season,
to not have lactating cows in the

winter and nutrition when grazing that.

I explain all this, mostly the time
of the day to grades and the four

breaks, first one day, and what
to do under special circumstances.

And then to coach that I, I respond
daily on a closed Facebook group,

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: I hope

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227: plus
the live human sessions plus the a lot

of things and masterclass every month.

And those things when they go into the.

Fat wallet membership.

Okay,

so how do you be okay at a lactating cow
going into the winter requires double

the amount of nutrients than a dry cow.

That's why we win them before
going to the stockpile.

In special circumstances, it pays to
feed them more protein to maintain

the calf on the teeth because you
have enough stockpile than to win

the calf and, and fit it more.

Okay?

But if you allow the cow to lose body
condition, you're going to pay for

that next breeding season because body
conditional carbon determines profits.

That ception.

Sorry, sorry.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: Right.

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
Okay.

So by feeding them a dry cow,
a small amount of a protein

supplement they can consume.

The stamps and the leaves of the stockpile
frosted over mature standing hay.

If they are lactating, you
need to give double the amount

of the protein supplement.

It's as simple as that.

And if, and, and doing that even
after discounting the supplement

in places like yours, but not in
other places that you don't need

to to provide a protein supplement.

Even after discounting the cost of
the supplement and feeding it and

everything, you still save $300 per
cow per year compared to feeding hay.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: Oh yeah.

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
So when people say, yeah, don't,

don't feed protein, you're going
to lose your shirt and your farm

and, and they're feeding hay.

Okay.

They don't even know how
to do an economic analysis.

Mm-hmm.

I'm sorry for them.

No.

Really?

Huh?

You need to make money.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: Right, right.

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227: No.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: Okay.

Moving beyond cattle, you
have other livestock feces?

Do you have people managing sheep
or goats in the total grazing plan?

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
Oh yeah, yeah, of course.

In, in New Zealand I
just went there in March.

Andy, Bonnie Farm near Wellington in
the north island, and he's managing a

4,000, 4,500 juice and 400 beef cows.

And now doing this, he's getting
excellent results To where?

Over there now they're getting into there.

It's winter right now, but their
grass is growing so much better now.

And this was in March that
he needs more livestock.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: Oh,

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
Yeah.

And that's with, with
chip and with beef cows.

Yeah.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: yeah.

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
But we did a very important thing, we

reduced the number of hertz or flocks.

So it could be easier
to manage the grazing.

You see over grazing is always the culprit
of lower grass productivity, and it's

very difficult to minimize over grazing
when you have many groups of livestock.

So I always suggest to have
one group is possible two.

If not, that's it.

Not eight or 10 that
I see everywhere I go.

So in my farm's, one
group only, that's it.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: So when
you wean calves, do you market

them quickly after weaning?

Oh,

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
because I have a precocity in my genetics.

The bulk cups that I'm not going to keep,
I sell them before they get to be eight

months old or they will breed the females.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: oh yes.

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
Okay.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: Yeah.

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
ones I'm going to keep as a for bulls,

I put them with my bulls on a separate.

As far away from the cows as possible.

Pasture that I only move like
every month or every two weeks.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: Oh, yes.

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
Easy.

And the cows, the herd, the heifers.

When they are wind, I put a, a,
a metal plate on their noses.

Like, period.

Like a pie, like a piercing.

Not the ones they sell here in the states.

No,

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: Oh,

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
a special one.

Homemade with a piercing like
the piercings that people do.

Gross put piercings all
the time, just like that.

And then we take it off in three
weeks and they stay with their moms.

And if any of them reattaches to the dam
we put it again for another three weeks.

It does have worked beautifully.

And I don't need to separate.

Mm-hmm.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: So, so
your heifers, you're not separating,

you're putting the plate on them.

but it's different than
what we have available here.

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
Very different.

You can look, look at it in my, in my
fat wallet memberships, because I don't

want to put it public because a lot
of people will say, oh, that's animal

welfare and those things, the same
people that had the, the piercing on

their noses will say, so that's crazy.

Quite some people do it for
life and, and a and a and a calf

cannot wear it for three weeks.

I don't understand.

I don't understand.

In Europe, they tell me,
no, we cannot do that.

We're gonna get the animal rights people

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: Oh yeah.

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
crazy.

The same animal rights people
have the piercing on their nose.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: Yes.

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
understand.

Okay.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: is there anything
else you'd like to share about your

program before we move to the famous four?

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
Oh, there are so many things.

I could talk all day and if I don't
want to bore people, it's better.

Really, it's better to take
the or or listen to my podcast.

I talk there every week.

They're short.

10 to 13 minutes.

No, no longer.

But I, I give a lot of information
in, in a short sentences.

What else would I like to say?

Well, okay, this works
because we follow nature.

That's the main thing
you need to remember.

E and we have people doing this because
they know that God's creation was

assigned in such a way that if we follow
how it works, we're going to do well.

If we go against it, we're
not going to do well.

It's a simple, it's like
the 10 Commandments.

They don't force you, but if you
don't abide by them, you're going

to get into trouble by yourself.

It's a easy of that.

When I learned that a long time ago, I
said, wow, God really loves us really.

So I love that because people say,
no, no, God doesn't like love us

because he puts these constraints.

Well, guess what?

It keeps you out of trouble.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: It does was

very true.

Very true.

Yeah.

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227: So
we did the same, keep you out of trouble

and, and, and we just, the better.

And it's amazing how nature works because
it starts to, we get like, have you

ever heard of the term Happy plants?

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: I think so.

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
Okay, go to my paper and

you will see them there.

It's when grass plants grow much larger,
leaves five times larger, and they

don't sense the need to go to seed.

And that only happens when the
long lived soil carbon levels are

high enough that the plant doesn't
need to go to seed to survive.

When plants have chore roots or in
a drought, they always go to sea.

They bolt.

But when you have good water retention in
the soil because of high human content and

high nutrition and high energy, because of
all, all that I have been talking about,

then you start getting happy plants.

And now I have students around the
world getting them too, not only me.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: yeah.

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
So I talk about that in my scientific

type paper, soil, carbon, and, and you
can go to my website and get it for free

and you can see the pictures there and,
and then you can try it for yourself.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: Oh, very

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
It's amazing.

And that proves that what I say is true.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: yeah.

Well, Jim, it is time for us to
transition to our famous four

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
Okay.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: same four
questions we ask of all our guests.

Our first question.

What's your favorite grazing
Grass related book or resource?

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
I feel love.

Andrea Bosan, grass Productivity.

That's a very good book.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: Yes,

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
Just when you read it, just remember that

his economic reality was very different
in the Second World War than it is now.

Because as time passes, our
products that we sell do not go

up in price as fast as our inputs.

That's why we need more steers
now to buy a pickup, a new

pickup than our fathers needed.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: yes.

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
old enough to remember that.

So that's a very good book and,
and learned about different fors.

Learn about different forage.

A very good book is The Forage Book
by hit Hutch, hutches and Metcal.

That's the one I read when I was
a boy and that sparked my passion.

Another good book that I love is
the Sands County Almanac by out the,

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: Oh yes.

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227:
I love that one.

Forest Trees by Russell, another good one.

That sparked my love for edible
silver pasture that I do now.

Yeah, you see a savana is so much
better than than a, a bear pasture,

a ana with trees and pasture.

That's the very best.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: Oh yes.

squadcaster-40h5_1_07-11-2025_103227: And
then start getting hearing and men get

a mentor, the best mentors in the world
in whatever you're interested in, and go

and search for them and learn from them.

That's where you will get the.

Most advanced information not in college.

cal_1_07-11-2025_103229: Very good.

Excellent resources there.

Our second question, what's
your favorite tool for the farm?

I'm not sure what happened there.

We lost the last bit of Jim's
audio, but it was just those

last couple of questions.

So I think the rest of it was, was
enough for us to release this episode

without that last bit, he mentioned
Bonsma earlier in the podcast and I have

a book called Man Must Measure by Him.

And if you would like this book,
email me at cal@grazinggrass.com.

Send me your address and I'll send
you this book, first person that

emails me at cal@grazinggrass.com.

I'll get this book out to you.

So last week we had Joel
on from Smoke River Ranch,

this week, Jim, on from Total Grazing,
and next week we have Hobbs on, and I

mentioned at the beginning his book Herd.

I find Ultra high density grazing
and the total grazing program.

Very interesting.

It appears they're pushing that envelope.

They're getting higher utilization and
better production with their animals,

so I'm interested to see how it goes.

I'm also interested in implementing
it somewhat on the, on my farm.

Of course, every time I look at these
things, grazing, however we do it,

I'm looking at it through a lens of
someone who's working off the farm.

I worked off the farm for years.

So I know, and I know your time is
limited and valuable, so how can

we graze animals in such a way?

It doesn't take a lot of time when
you're working off the farm, but

you can graze 'em in a regenerative
fashion that helps your land improve

your animals product, produce to the
optimal level, and that once a day

moves for total grazing may be it.

So this spring and summer I
played with taking my grass

lower than I ever had before.

The two pieces that I need to
work on most of all is watching

that rumen fill and making sure
they're, they're completely full.

And secondly is body condition scoring.

I have not done a good
job of that in the past.

The way I typically do it, I kind of
glance at the herd like, yeah, overall

we need a little bit more flesh.

Overall, we're in good shape
trying to calve it like that.

6.5,

I think Jim called it 6.75.

I know Jim brought up that during winter
you don't want your cows losing condition.

That's what I do with
my cows every winter.

I let 'em lose some condition
so I can poor a boy.

It.

You know, poor people have poor ways.

My grandpa always said that.

And then they gain back that
condition when grass gets here.

Jim says, don't let 'em do that.

Give 'em some extra protein so
they can utilize those low quality

forages and keep condition.

So, so I'm, I'm listening and I'm
evaluating and reflecting upon my

practices and how to implement it and
do a better job and how it works for you

as someone working off the farm?

'cause I know many of our listeners,
they're off the farm, they're coming home.

I know how it is to get home tired and
just wanna set down for a little bit.

We will keep you abreast of how
our journey's going and I love

to hear about your journey.

And don't forget the first person
that emails me that they want

this man must measure book.

It gets the book.

Cal: Thank you for listening to this
episode of the grazing grass podcast,

where we bring you stories and insights
into grass-based livestock production.

If you're new here, we've
got something just for you.

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Is packed with everything you need
to get started on your listening

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It gives you more information
about the podcast about myself.

And next steps.

You can grab your free
copy at grazinggrass.com

slash guide.

Don't miss out.

And Hey, do you have a
grazing story to share?

We're always looking for passionate
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whether you're just starting out or have
years of experience your story matters.

Head over to grazing grass.

Dot com slash guest.

To learn more and apply to be a guest.

We'd love to share your journey with
our growing community of grazers.

Until next time.

Keep on grazing grass.