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Mob Grazing — A Glimpse into the Past for a Greater Future
Going back hundreds of years to life on the early prairies, bison existed in staggering proportions. Estimates range from 30 million to 60 million. These animals traveled in large herds, or mobs, across the country, constantly moving on to new, fresh grass. As they moved steadily along, they would eat only the most nutritious portion of the plant, the top 20 to 30 percent, where the energy lies. The remainder of the grass would be trampled back into the soil, the animals’ hooves distributing fallen grass and manure.

This area would be left to rest until bison came back across many months later. Each time they came back, the top soil greatly improved and the forage that grew back was more nutritious, thicker and in greater variety. Following the bison would be smaller breeds of animals, followed by even smaller breeds, and so on.

This is the process that mob grazing mimics — working in sync with what nature intended these animals to be doing. At Mount Vernon Farm, we move our cattle through the fields in tight groups several times a day, using temporary electric wire and staying off the grazed area for 50 to 100 days to give it plenty of time for recovery. We follow our cows with sheep, which eat different varieties of grasses, so there is competition for only 30 percent of similar forage. We plan our grazing program for the year, but by constantly studying the condition of the grass, soil and animals, we adapt and change as conditions on the ground dictate.

Selling healthy, nutrient-dense meats and eggs directly to our customers is the byproduct of our farming methods. Harvesting grass, building and restoring organic matter in our soils and increasing the amount of beneficial microbes in our soils are our primary goals. If we do these three tasks successfully, then we will heal our land. Healing the earth through grazing management is not something new or foreign, but in our haste we have forgotten how to observe and work with nature. Bringing the focus back to the health and welfare of the animals and soil has a long list of benefits not only for the environment, but in the meat we consume as well.

Mike Peterson, Mount Vernon Farm
Mount Vernon Farm is managed holistically. The farm’s cattle and sheep are 100 percent grass-fed and hormone- and antibiotic-free. Pigs and chickens are free range.

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