Grazing Expert Says “No Fences Needed”
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Bob Kinford believes in rotational and intensive grazing but he doesn’t need fences to do it. Kinford champions Instinctive Migratory Grazing (IMG), a practice he teaches to cowboys, not cows. Once IMG is implemented properly, the cattle graze and move together. Once that has been accomplished, the herd can be gently directed to the areas that need to be grazed to help regenerate the plants growing there.
“IMG reboots the natural herd instinct so the herd will strip graze by migrating around the pasture in as high a density as forage quality and density will allow,” says Kinford. “Where it is lush, they graze shoulder to shoulder. Where it is sparse, they spread out, but still in a group. This provides holistic/regenerative grazing without extra fencing, multiple paddocks or daily pasture moves.”
Kinford lets the cattle do the work. He breaks all the rules by not pushing the herd from behind. He also doesn’t head it off at the front. Rather he starts from the front of a herd and walks his horse back alongside the animals. Once the entire group is moving, he uses a combination of moves by the horse and rider to redirect the cattle. Sometimes he moves at an angle, and occasionally he moves in the opposite direction he wants the cattle to go. The key is to keep the cattle relaxed.
“If cows are relaxed, they stay in a group,” he explains. “When they are under stress, they spread out.”
Kinford teaches his approach through weeklong classes of up to 10 students per class. Unlike most such programs, his classes are on the range with all students on horseback. Each takes their turn working with the cattle while Kinford talks the other students through the process.
“I’m not training cattle,” says Kinford. “I’m training people to treat cattle differently.”
At the same time, he is teaching the students about the condition of the range they are on. They study the type and amount of grass and other plants.
“By implementing good grazing practices and allowing for adequate rest among other things, soil health can be restored, and biodiversity can once again thrive,” says Kinford. “On our ranch, we’ve been able to triple our stocking rate in 10 years.”
Kinford has found the best reception of his techniques among ranchers in Mexico and Australia. However, he has found plenty of advocates in the U.S. as well, and they aren’t all large ranches.
“The techniques work as well with a herd of 75 as they do with 3,500,” says Kinford. “I have people with smaller operations use the techniques on foot, making the same approaches and getting the same results.”
Kinford charges a flat $2,500 fee for a group of up to 10 students, plus 85¢ a mile from his home to the site of the class. He prefers contact via phone, Facebook, his website or email. He also maintains a blog and multiple instructor videos on IMG at YouTube.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Bob Kinford, Van Horn, Texas (ph 432 284-1553; bob@2lazy4u.us; www.migratorygrazing.com).
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Grazing Expert Says “No Fences Needed” FENCING Miscellaneous Bob Kinford believes in rotational and intensive grazing but he doesn’t need fences to do it Kinford champions Instinctive Migratory Grazing IMG a practice he teaches to cowboys not cows Once IMG is implemented properly the cattle graze and move together Once that has been accomplished the herd can be gently directed to the areas that need to be grazed to help regenerate the plants growing there “IMG reboots the natural herd instinct so the herd will strip graze by migrating around the pasture in as high a density as forage quality and density will allow ” says Kinford “Where it is lush they graze shoulder to shoulder Where it is sparse they spread out but still in a group This provides holistic/regenerative grazing without extra fencing multiple paddocks or daily pasture moves ” Kinford lets the cattle do the work He breaks all the rules by not pushing the herd from behind He also doesn’t head it off at the front Rather he starts from the front of a herd and walks his horse back alongside the animals Once the entire group is moving he uses a combination of moves by the horse and rider to redirect the cattle Sometimes he moves at an angle and occasionally he moves in the opposite direction he wants the cattle to go The key is to keep the cattle relaxed “If cows are relaxed they stay in a group ” he explains “When they are under stress they spread out ” Kinford teaches his approach through weeklong classes of up to 10 students per class Unlike most such programs his classes are on the range with all students on horseback Each takes their turn working with the cattle while Kinford talks the other students through the process “I’m not training cattle ” says Kinford “I’m training people to treat cattle differently ” At the same time he is teaching the students about the condition of the range they are on They study the type and amount of grass and other plants “By implementing good grazing practices and allowing for adequate rest among other things soil health can be restored and biodiversity can once again thrive ” says Kinford “On our ranch we’ve been able to triple our stocking rate in 10 years ” Kinford has found the best reception of his techniques among ranchers in Mexico and Australia However he has found plenty of advocates in the U S as well and they aren’t all large ranches “The techniques work as well with a herd of 75 as they do with 3 500 ” says Kinford “I have people with smaller operations use the techniques on foot making the same approaches and getting the same results ” Kinford charges a flat $2 500 fee for a group of up to 10 students plus 85¢ a mile from his home to the site of the class He prefers contact via phone Facebook his website or email He also maintains a blog and multiple instructor videos on IMG at YouTube Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Bob Kinford Van Horn Texas ph 432 284-1553; bob@2lazy4u us; www migratorygrazing com
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