Movable fences and mixed grazing sheep-cattle

Description

Franck Baeschler settles on a farm with degraded soils (Ph, organic matter). His goal is to improve them to stand climatic hazards. For this, it will rely on different techniques: plant cover diversified, mixed cattle/sheep grazing, …. And this will be possible thanks to his mobile park for grazing.

Many breeders do not pasture their plant cover because the field is not fenced. So this technique is a real time-saving trick and it’s more safety for the breeder.
It can be moved thanks to a car (4×4) or a tractor.

He uses 16 fences of 5m in aluminium (weight of one fence : 22 kg with the wheels).

Reason for the innovation

The breeder wants to solve his problems of degraded soils at a lower cost. The goal is also to increase meat production as a complement to cereal production. However, with a view to reduce costs and working time, he can not close all the fields where he wants to graze the intercrops. That’s why he uses movable fences.

The mixed grazing also allows him to answer his issue. Indeed, both species are complementary in pasture.

Farm description

Environment

  • Soil: Loamy-sands
  • Climate: Oceanic climate
  • Altitude: 100m

Grassland management

  • Pasture: Yes
  • Rotating grazing: 4 to 6 days on a paddock
  • Techno-grazing with movable fences
  • Manure: 30 T / year

Structure

  • Annual Work Unit: 1
  • Agricultural area: 70 ha UAA
    • Main forage area: 70 ha
    • Temporay grassland: 10 ha
    • Permanent grassland: 40 ha
    • Cereal stubble: 20 ha (+ neighbors)
  • Breeds : Solognotte
  • Stocking rate: 0,72 UGB / ha of forage area

Animal performance

  • Average carcass weight: 14 kg (Lamb)
  • Average age when slaughtered: 7 months (Lamb)

Why it is working

You must have a minimum of interculture to graze. So it requires technicality for the establishment of intercropping and grazing.

You should not exceed 22 fences and always put an even number (to not have a triangle that is formed during the move, which would break the hinges).

It is necessary to have a 4×4 or a tractor to move the park.

Do not forget the water: it has a trough put on ski to move it with the water ton.

Additional information

Farming system

conventional farming

Domains of innovation

farm system, machinery, tools

Main types of animal

beef cattle, meat sheep

Country

France

Product type

Farmer portrait

Language

English, French

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