The document discusses holistic ranching and its connection to nature. It explains that ranching should be managed as a whole system, considering the water cycle, mineral cycle, energy flow, and community. The soil, animals, and grazing are interrelated, and animal performance depends on properly managing these relationships. The goal is to have ranching in sync with natural cycles and succession.

1. Copyright © Community Dynamics, South Africa
RANCHING
in SYNC with
NATURE
By Ian Mitchell-Innes

3. Water
Cycle
Mineral
Cycle
• Tools
• Testing Guidelines
• Planning Procedures
• Monitor
Holistic
Goal
Whole Under Management
Energy
Flow
Community
Dynamics

4. ● Anaerobic
Microbes
● Hair
● Saliva
● Dung
● Urine
● Minerals
● Aerobic Microbes
● Anaerobic Microbes
● Fungi
● Earth worms
● Soil life
● Animal impact
● Tall grass
● Minerals
● Carbon
● Oxygen Ethylene cycle
● Action of Grazing
● Energy
● Capping
● Conventional ration
balancing
● Free Choice
Enterprises
● pH
● Minerals
● Supplementation
● Grazing
THE SOIL
THE ANIMALTHE GRAZING
ANIMAL PERFORMANCE

11. FINANCIAL WEAK LINK

14. Copyright © Community Dynamics, South Africa 14

41. Soil Food
Web Structure
through Succession
Increasing
Productivity
F:B = .01
F:B = 0.1
F:B = 0.3 to 0.5
F:B = 0.75
F:B = 1.1F:B = 2.1 to 5.1
F:B = 5.1 to 100.1
F:B = 100.1
to 1000.1
BareParentMaterial
100%Bacterial
Cyanobacteria
TrueBacteria
Protozoa
Fungi
Nematodes
“Weeds”
- HighNitrates
- LackofOxygen
EarlyGrasses
Mid-Grasses
Vegetables
LateSuccessional
Grasses&RowCrops
Shrubs,Vines,
Bushes,Cotton
DeciduousTrees
ConiferousTrees
Old-GrowthForests

47. BIOCHEMICAL SEQUENCE OF
NUTRITION IN PLANTS
P
E
R
I
O
D
I
C
T
A
B
L
E
1
2
3
4
5 6
7
8

48. Plant Biochemical Sequences begin
with:
1. Boron which activates
2. Silicon, Which carry all other nutrients starting
with
3. Calcium, which binds
4. Nitrogen, to form amino acids, DNA and cell
divisions

49. Amino acids form Proteins such as
chlorophyll and tag trace elements,
especially
5. Magnesium which transfers energy via
6. Phosphorus to
7. Carbon to form sugars which go where
8. Potassium carries them. This is the basis of
plant growth

50. COMMUNITY DYNAMICS (Succession)
50
SIMPLE COMMUNITY
GREAT FLUCTUATION
BARE
SOIL
SOIL
SURFACE
COMPLEX COMMUNITY
STABILITY
Degree of variation
in populations
SOIL SURFACE CONDITION IS KEY
COVERED
SOIL
• PLANT VOLUME
& HEIGHT
INCREASES
• MICRO-ORGANISMS BUILD
SOIL STRUCTURE & DEPTH
• AGE STRUCTURE IS
MORE BALANCED
Copyright © Community Dynamics, South Africa

53. Major Disturbances
Disturbance pushes systems
“backwards,” but how far?
Depends on intensity and frequency.
• GEMS (Genetically Engineered)
• AIR POLLUTANTS
• CLEARCUTTING, THINNING
• COMPACTION

54. •FERTILIZERS
•PESTICIDES, HERBICIDES
•TEMPERATURE (Freeze / Thaw)
•MOISTURE (Wet / Dry)
•TILLAGE (Intensity, Repetition, Timing)
•CROP (Monoculture, Intercropping)
•ORGANIC MATTER
(Timing, Type, Placement)

59. © 2000 Copyright Agri-Dynamics. All rights reserved.

60. © 2000 Copyright Agri-Dynamics. All rights reserved.

61. © 2000 Copyright Agri-Dynamics. All rights reserved.

62. © 2000 Copyright Agri-Dynamics. All rights reserved.

63. © 2000 Copyright Agri-Dynamics. All rights reserved.

64. © 2000 Copyright Agri-Dynamics. All rights reserved.

65. © 2000 Copyright Agri-Dynamics. All rights reserved.

67. © 2000 Copyright Agri-Dynamics. All rights reserved.

68. © 2000 Copyright Agri-Dynamics. All rights reserved.

71. ● Anaerobic
Microbes
● Hair
● Saliva
● Dung
● Urine
● Minerals
● Aerobic Microbes
● Anaerobic Microbes
● Fungi
● Earth worms
● Soil life
● Animal impact
● Tall grass
● Minerals
● Carbon
● Oxygen Ethylene cycle
● Action of Grazing
● Energy
● Capping
● Conventional ration
balancing
● Free Choice
Enterprises
● pH
● Minerals
● Supplementation
● Grazing
THE SOIL
THE ANIMALTHE GRAZING
ANIMAL PERFORMANCE