Naturally Occurring Forage Chains by Abram Bowerman

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In this episode of Insights from the Pasture, full-time grazier Abram Bowerman shares a refreshing and practical look at how to build resilient forage systems using the species already on your land. Rather than fight weeds or chase monocultures, Abram invites graziers to embrace the “organized chaos” of nature and manage with the seasons.

He explains how each plant—whether it’s a common grass, overlooked forb, or wild-growing shrub—has its own nutritional window and role to play in your year-round forage chain. With a mindset of stewardship, patience, and multi-species grazing, you can unlock hidden nutrition and reduce your dependence on inputs.

🔑 Key Points Covered:

1. The Forage Chain Concept: Think of a pasture as a linked system where each plant community supports the others across the seasons.

2. Seasonal Plant Successions: From dock and dandelion in spring to cedar and rosehips in winter, each phase has its ideal forages.

3. The Role of “Weeds”: Many so-called weeds offer high-value nutrition—if grazed at the right time by the right species.

4. Mineral Access Through Diversity: Each plant has a different mineral profile, allowing livestock to self-balance through selective grazing.

5. Livestock-Led Diversity: True species diversification happens through livestock impact, not just seeding.

🌱 Actionable Insights:

1. Manage your pastures to encourage diverse plant life—don’t mow or spray what livestock might one day eat.

2. Match your grazing rotation to the optimal growth phase of each forage species.

3. Use multi-species grazing to better utilize available forages and reduce weed pressure naturally.

4. Adjust paddock sizes and rotations dynamically to take advantage of changing seasonal nutrition.

5. Let livestock teach you what’s palatable and nutritious—what they mob today may be gold tomorrow.