The simultaneous pasturing of multiple animal species together has been practiced worldwide for centuries. A flerd results when you combine the management and grazing of flocks and herds — thus, a flerd. This is most commonly flocks of sheep and herds of cattle.
Cattle are the universally amenable pasture-mates and a good starting point for flerd building. Ratios ranging from 1:1 to 1:10 (cow:ewe) are employed. There is no absolute ratio for flerd compositions, especially as the introduction of additional species means an adjustment of stocking numbers (nearer the 1:1 end of the spectrum).
What additional species? Goats, pigs, chicken, ducks and rabbits are excellent options for co-mingling. Flerding is successful because diversity is successful; the filling of “pasture ecosystem” niches mimics thriving natural systems.
Think about food preferences. Cattle eat mature plants while chickens and ducks prefer seeds and insects. Pigs grub around for roots, plants stubs; they’re foraging at or below soil level while ruminants (cattle, goats, sheep) are looking for their food at higher levels. These animals aren’t competing for food.
It’s important to choose notably docile breeds of animals for flerding (as they’ll be more likely to share space successfully), especially hardy ones that don’t have reputations for diseases susceptibility. Inappropriate breeds can create incompatibilities where least expected. Not all chicken and duck breeds are compatible with each other, let alone with mammals; nor can every goat breed run with other goats! Research is essential.
ALL FOR ONE
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Denne historien er fra March - April 2024-utgaven av Hobby Farms.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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The RISE of Opportunist WEEDS
Be prepared to see increasing changes in weeds we fight, such as poison hemlock and poison ivy, and in the crops we grow.
LIVESTOCK Health
Prepare yourself for how to spot symptoms of illness in your farm animals so that you can get them help before it's too late.
CUT FLOWER Farming
If you're considering growing flowers for sale, brush up on these five key things to know before diving in.
WINTER Survival
Keep your land, animals and yourself in good shape this winter with this helpful advice.
COVERAGE CONCERNS
Avoid common insurance mistakes for rural and hobby farm businesses.
FARMER'S GUIDE Berries
Set the stage for tasty strawberries, blueberries and brambles with these soil-boosting garden tips.
Preconditioning CALVES
Follow our step-by-step guide to get more money for your calves.
Soil Conservation
Often, outside of having a specific problem that needs to be addressed, soil conservation isn't something every farmer readily thinks about. Yet conserving the soil should be at or near the top of every farmer owner or manager's list of concerns because absent the prevention of soil erosion, we have the opportunity for another dust bowl.
Year-Round Lettuce & Salad Mixes
It's easy to think of salad greens as just a spring- or fall-garden crop, but it's possible to enjoy freshly harvested lettuces, mustards and more from your own garden year-round.
Barn Improvements
Days are never long enough for a farmer. From dawn to well into the night, tasks arise that often require immediate action. Having to search for tools or equipment is an enormous time waster and incredibly frustrating when you can't find what you need, especially when you know you have it.
