Superior Farms practices regenerative grazing as part of their sustainability efforts. In the following article, the team at Superior Farms discusses the benefits of implementing regenerative agriculture practices on lamb farms and explores how those changes positively affect the lamb industry as a whole.
Regenerative agriculture is defined as sustainable farming principles that improve the health and resiliency of the soil while helping to manage climate change. How exactly do these practices affect the lamb industry?
Superior Farms explains that regenerative farming is associated with a number of significant benefits in the industry. On-farm improvements in animal nutrition, animal health outcomes, and animal comfort are notable. On an industry level, farmers seek to enhance production and reduce carbon emissions.
Farm-Level Benefits of Regenerative Agriculture Practices
Sustainable farming practices are gaining traction on lamb farms all over the world in an effort to improve animal husbandry and enhance the farm management system. A few of the most notable benefits of regenerative practices are explained below as they relate to animal nutrition, health, and comfort.
Improved Animal Nutrition
Superior Farms says that the improvements to animal nutrition are some of the most significant benefits stemming from regenerative farming. Rotational grazing is one of the key elements here; regularly moving animals off of grazed pasture allows the plants time to regrow and encourages plant health and diversity. Over time, Superior Farms explains that this creates a richer pasture that provides sheep with all of the nutrients they need for optimal growth and health.
One of the main principles of regenerative agriculture is feeding the soil: rotational grazing helps with this too. Superior Farms explains that as animals are moved from pasture to pasture, their manure is left behind to become part of the soil while providing a richer and more balanced environment for plant growth. The animals will reap the benefits of this when they return. As the cycle continues, animal nutrition improves exponentially.
Positive Health Outcomes
Superior Farms says that improving the diversity of grazing land doesn’t only have a beneficial effect on the nutrition of the sheep; it also improves their health. It provides ewes the opportunity to digest plants with richer nutrient profiles and consume a higher rate of natural anti-microbials, thereby enhancing their ability to fight off disease.
The more intensive management of a farm employing regenerative practices also allows farmers the opportunity to monitor their animals more closely and catch early signs of infection or injury. Superior Farms explains that treating these conditions early promotes positive health outcomes in the animals and limits on-farm losses and veterinary costs.
Increased Animal Comfort
The innovative feeding methods at Superior Farms involve automated feeding, which minimizes human interactions, thereby creating a less stressful environment for the animals.
Lower stress levels create happier animals and makes it easier to monitor their health and well-being. Happier animals create better quality food.
Industry-Related Benefits of Regenerative Agriculture Practices
After looking at the benefits of regenerative agriculture on-farm, it’s time to step back and see how these advantages transfer to the sustainability and health of the lamb industry as a whole. Most notably, Superior Farms says that there are improvements in industry productivity and decrease carbon emissions.
Enhanced Production
At one of their facilities, Superior Farms is providing feed to the ewes four times a day, with minimal human interaction. Allowing late-gestation ewes to eat smaller amounts with the frequency provided by this system enables them to produce more milk. This, in turn, produces larger, healthier lambs, which results in a better product.
Lower Carbon Emissions
Just as rotational grazing can improve the nutrition sheep receive from the grass they eat, this regenerative farming practice also helps cut down on carbon emissions. Allowing the plants time to recover ensures they sequester more carbon in their roots, preventing it from emitting into the atmosphere.
Superior Farms also reports that cutting back on the frequency of soil tilling is another sustainable practice that helps cut down on carbon emissions in the industry. Reduced use of tractors and plow machines means reduced burning of fossil fuels and reduced emissions.
Final Thoughts
Regenerative agriculture is the way of the future for the lamb industry. With optimized improvements in animal welfare and the advancements in industry efficacy and sustainability, the future looks promising.
