I fired this one off to Elaine just the other day, this list would be a good place for her to answer, I expect...
----- Original Message ----- From: "Frank Teuton" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Cc: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Friday, February 08, 2002 8:23 AM Subject: Organic pathogen control in a rotational grazing system > Dear Drs Millner and Ingham: > > I am a collaborator on a farm pasture project involving rotational grazing > of sheep in an apple orchard understory context. > > In rotational grazing the animals are moved periodically from one section > (paddock) of pasture to the next, then once adequate pasture regrowth has > occurred, returned to the original paddock for further grazing. (Voisin, > Savory, Murphy). > > At a high stocking rate, this can be highly productive, but also present > pathogen problems and the related problem of high refusal rates of pasture > in zones of repugnance upon regrazing the original paddocks. > > So, I am looking for acceptable interventions that can be undertaken between > grazings of paddocks that would accelerate manure decomposition *and* > achieve significant pathogen reduction. Some possibilities under > consideration include: > > Mechanical removal of manure by rake, sweeper and/or vacuum technologies; > > Harrowing for manure dispersal enhancing UV and biological remediation; > > Pasturing poultry immediately after sheep (chickens, turkeys) for 'avian > bio-harrowing'; > > Introduction of substantial numbers of epigeic earthworms (Eisenia fetida > and Eisenia andrei cultures) either alone or in a topdressing of > compost/vermicompost; > > Topdressing with compost and/or vermicompost; > > Application of aerobic tea cultures from compost and/or vermicompost > (Ingham) > http://www.soilfoodweb.com/multimedia/compostteamanual.html > > > Application of fine rock dust (Millner) > http://wsare.usu.edu/sare2000/062.htm > > Irrigation suitable to deep sand pasture, perhaps including syringing (early > afternoon application of small amounts of water for stress relief); > > And similar practices that would be acceptable in an organic production > system, and compatible with animal and plant health in this context. > > Please note that all apples for human consumption in this system are tree > harvested; all drops become exclusively animal fodder. > > This project is in the brainstorming phase and guidance as to general > principles, references to literature, and contact information for > researchers looking into this topic would be greatly appreciated. Please > feel free to suggest other ideas I may be overlooking! > > Thanks in advance, > > Frank Teuton >
