permaculture

["rafter t. sass" <rafter@liberationecology.org>]

Does anyone have resources or data on mob stocking with very small  
herds?

This seems crucial for applying these techniques to homestead design.

For instance, someone who is doing rotational grazing of 3 sheep, in  
600 sq. ft movable paddocks, through .5 acre of pasture.
Their pasture is being slowly degraded just as if it were in continual  
grazing.
I'm tentatively recommending (1) smaller enclosures, (2) more sheep if  
possible, (3) overseeding (in the fall) and frost seeding with  
desirable pasture species, and possibly (4) following the sheep with  
chickens (which now range freely).

They can "cinch down" their enclosure gradually until they get the mob  
stocking effect of universal (non-picky) eating. But who knows if you  
can actually achieve that behavioral response from small numbers of  
animals? It might only emerge in larger groups. Any ideas?

What kind of resources are there (if any) for calculating herd-to-area  
size ratios for intense rotational management?
And is there any clue if existing resources will scale down to micro- 
herds?

Thanks, y'all.

best,
rafter



rafter t. sass
The Liberation Ecology Project
liberationecology.org
518-567-7407
skype: raughter