02/01/2023
At RCS we’re big fans of the legendary Dr Temple Grandin and her pioneer thinking in the world of animal behaviour science. Last August Dr Grandin released a paper which argues rotating cattle, sheep, or other livestock between different pastures can improve both soil health and plant biodiversity, sequester carbon and reduce animal welfare issues.
RCS has been teaching the benefits of rotational and time-control grazing management for over 30 years, and Dr Grandin’s paper brings together over 100 references supporting the case that when performed correctly, grazing improves the land.
“The cattle industry was being 'unfairly bashed'”, Dr Grandin said. "Some people think beef is wrecking the environment when in fact cattle are improving it. One of the biggest misperceptions is around carbon and methane emission. The more I heard these accusations, and the more I looked into the research and science available, the more it became evident there are big dangers in questioning the use of animals for food.”
Dr Grandin believes small producers and independent graziers will lead the way on both animal welfare and sustainability. "Small producers innovate - that's what I've seen over and over in 50 years," she said. - See the full paper here: https://www.mdpi.com/1779582