Modular electric fencing solutions at scale
At Grazing Lands we work with ambitious, conservation-minded landowners. Our goal is to produce regenerative beef at scale. In order to be commercially viable this typically means that we are leasing large ranches, 5000 acres or more, within a rainfall zone that receives at least 30 inches or more of rainfall per year and has the capacity to run about 1000 animal units. In Texas these ranches have traditionally focused on wildlife management for the past 30 plus years. This often (but not always) means a few things - the interior fences are minimal and the water system will not support large numbers of livestock. As anyone in the ranching business knows building new permanent fences are costly and not economically favorable, especially for a lessee. We needed a solution that was simple, cost effective and scaleable. To solve this equation we implemented a modular electric fencing system designed by Range Ward. Here is a little excerpt from the Range Ward website about how the company got it’s start. “Norm Ward took his first Holistic Management course from Allan Savory in 1987. Allan went on to write the Holistic Resource Management in 1988. HM allows one to set goals around quality of life, production and landscape. Ecosystem foundation blocks such as water cycle, mineral cycle, energy flow and succession provide a frame work to work within. The Power Grazer Trailer and Razer Grazer Trailer grew out of the need for a grazing/fencing tool which could be used to manage the landscape goals of their previous ranch in the Alberta Foothills. Norm graduated from the University of Alberta in 1975 where he studied Animal science and Grazing Management. Combining his vast experience with land management, land sciences, and environmental and industrial concerns has led Norm down the path of invention.”
Range Ward has a great variety of products to support regenerative grazing at scale. We primarily use the Razer Grazer unit that features the following: 50-Watt Foldable Solar Panel
Patriot P30, 3 Joule Energizer (we upgraded this to a 6 Joule Speedrite charger)12-volt 100 Amp/Hour Deep Cycle Battery (make sure you have an extra one on hand for cloudy weather patterns)Post Storage Rack c/w 80 Step-In Pigtail Posts (we rarely use the post rack since we are rotating our cattle every day, sometimes multiple times per day, the posts usually end up in the back of the RTV)12 Volt Electric Reel w/ Manual Handle Override (we replaced the switch with a toggle that can be flipped on/off)½ mile Reel Of Power Braid Reflective Rope (we replaced the 1/2 mile of rope with 1.5 miles of Powerflex PolyBraid 9)Integrated Power Arm (we often take this off and mount it to the front of our RTV to roll up fence)The map below demonstrates how you can take a permanent pasture that would normally be about 500 acres and by utilizing modular electric fencing break that pasture into 20 to 30 acre subdivisions. The solid lines are permanent, 5-strand barbed wire fences and the dotted lines are the paddock subdivisions created with temporary electric fencing. In a hypothetical situation if we are running 1000 steers at 800 lbs per unit, that's 800,000 lbs of cattle. If we simply grazed the 500 acres that's a stock density of 1,600 lbs/acre. It would be impossible to achieve our soil health and greater ecological goals with that low of stock density. By controlling the herds grazing in 20 acre paddocks that's 40,000 lbs/acre. We have found that within that stock density range we can achieve our ecological goals as well as animal performance. It takes a really keen eye and skill level to utilize this type of grazing system. That being said just like anything else in life "practice makes perfect." The only way we are currently able to achieve this type of rotational system at scale is by utilizing a modular electric fencing system such as Range Ward. A well-designed water distribution is the other 'key' to the equation, but we will tackle that one in another blog.
At Grazing Lands we utilize fencing products that are centered around the use and management of cattle. Our methodology and tools help to regenerate above and below ground biodiversity, improve water cycles, improve carbon cycles, and help improve the vitality and resilience of the ecosystem and the people on the land. Our modular electric fencing tools focus on effectively and easily controlling time, which is one of the keys to regenerative grazing management. Controlling the timing of plant grazing and recovery provides a very powerful and effective management practice. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me via email: travis@grazinglands.com Thanks for reading, Travis Krause, CEO & Founder of Grazing Lands
