Intensive pastoral farming requires healthy and fertile soils to ensure maximum uptake of available nutrients in the clovers and grasses. Fertiliser inputs have significantly increased in pastoral sytems. These increases have not necessarily translated to higher production and healthier animals. Poor calcium uptake, rumen function (bloat) and poor cycling have added to the concerns of many farmers about current strategies for increasing profitable production.
Cows are ruminants and as such convert plant nutrients in a fermentation vat called the rumen. The efficiency of this process determines the health and productivity of the animal. The rumen is supported by mainly bacteria but there are also fungi and protozoa working to breakdown the complex carbohdrates, sugars and proteins. They perform a number of roles in the rumen but are also a major source of nourishment in the form of high quality microbial protein. An active population of bacteria, fungi and protozoa are essential for profitable farming.
Cows need high quality pasture. To achieve high quality pasture you need available plant nutrients. The only way to achieve this is to:
Pastures need to be bacteria dominated. Biosea offers very simple programmes to kick start and maintain your soil biology. It comprises primarily 4 parts:
The program we recommend will quickly put you onto a path of healthier more fertile soils and healthier more productive animals.