Soil health focus underpins quest for sustainable lamb production

For Ian Horsely, what happens below ground on his 56-hectare (140-acre) unit near Bromyard, Worcestershire, is key to his farming future, and utterly dependent on the way he farms. His strategy involves improved forage production, which is done using intensively stocked brassica break crops before reseeding to establish diverse species leys, and management techniques such as mob grazing to create the optimum balance between animal, plant and soil health.He explains: "We are striving to build and maintain soil organic matter and allow the soil biology to function to best effect."By creating diversity in swards and minimising the inputs than inhibit biological activity in the soil - such as inorganic fertilisers - we are allowing mycorrhizal organisms to function symbiotically, transferring plant sugars to feed the beneficial soil bacteria."By supporting these natural processes, we are farming with increased efficiency and higher productivity."LleynMr Horsely, who trades as Garton Hardy Farming, has previously focused on selling performance recorded Lleyn breeding sheep but is now moving increasing towards a more commercial operation, describing his journey as going from pedigree breeder to grassland manager."We have a limited acreage, with only 100 acres for forage after taking out the woodland," he says."Selling more lambs fat as opposed to keeping more as breeding animals reduces the overall headcount and allows us to keep more ewes."In addition, we have adopted a leader-follower rotational grazing system, which makes far more efficient use of available herbage than set stocking.Rotational grazing"We have increased our stocking capacity significantly during the summer months, by investing in some electric fencing and applying the necessary discipline of moving the sheep routinely."Rotational grazing has also delivered advantages in worm control and reduced lameness, because clean ground daily minimises the risks of cross infection in both cases, and the fact you are looking closely at the sheep every day as they are moved means any potential problems are seen more quickly."Mob grazing is less intensive than more conventional rotational grazing systems, with stock usually being moved on to paddocks at 3,000kgDM/ha and then moved off at 2,000kgDM/ha.It is nevertheless still more efficient than set stocking and does allow the fundamental principles of regenerative agriculture to be applied."The aim is to graze a third, trample a third and leave a third, which ultimately ensures we are feeding the soil and maintaining organic matter levels below ground," Mr Horsely adds.Grass mixturesSward diversity is integral to this philosophy, and Mr Horsely is careful to select the optimum mixtures for his requirements.He has most recently used a long-term diverse species mixture, which includes proven timothy and cocksfoot varieties alongside perennial ryegrasses, white clovers and trefoil.