Trantham's Sustainable 12 Aprils Dairy Grazing Program: A Top Farm that Almost Went Under

For more sustainable living stories, videos, and information, please visit: cookingupastory.com. Tom Trantham was one of South Carolina's top producing dairymen back in the 1980s. But he wasn't making much money. He ran a typical confined feeding operation and his feed bill alone ate up 65 percent of his gross income. Then something happened that changed his life. One day in April 1989 his cows broke out of the feeding area into a seven-acre field full of natural lush April growth—lamb's quarters, rye grass, a little clover and fescue. The next day there was a two-pound average increase per cow in milk production. Thinking maybe the cows were trying to tell him something, Trantham opened all the gates on his farm and began experimenting with grazing.

Here is a pdf of the Planting and Grazing Guide for Trantham's 12 Aprils Dairy:
http://www.sare.org/index.php/content...
For more information, follow links on bottom of pdf to the www.sare.org website.

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[firee812]

Ok this is awesome, we do rotational grazing, but how do you do this in Ohio in the winter? Are there winter crops that would work here?

[cookingupastory]

I added a link to the pdf of the crops he uses up in the description box just below the video - click 'show more'. Or, you might try to reach him thru his farm website, happycowcreamery [dot] com - he might have a better idea for you.

[dojochuck]

Anyone know if that farm's milk is sold in Florida? I'm sure it's the best there is.

[cookingupastory]

Google "Happy Cow Creamery" - I bet they could tell you where to find some. It is real good - wish we had some around here!

[Cynthia Prater]

WOW so much informaiton presented in this episode that I had no clue about. I like Farmer Tom and glad that he and his cows made the way through troubling times. Wish more would take his advise and maybe there would not be so many chemicals in the milk that we use.

[astro1218]

i love watching this video, i watch it every few months and i love it every time such a great story :) thnx

[BOB TUNNELTON]

COWS ARE SO CUTE, MY UNCLE HAD A FARM AND COWS, PIGS ECT ECT ECT.

[Jefferdaughter]

No doubt there are other sustainable dairies closer to you than Ohio, some using methods more sustainable than frequent mowing and re-planting. Eat Wild dot com is one great place to find sustainably produced foods local to you. Enjoy!

[Jefferdaughter]

Other resources you could check out are Holistic Management International. Dry cows or beef cattle are relatively easy to over winter on grass, even in Ohio. Greg Judy uses hay only a couple weeks/winter at most, and finishes beef on grass only. Google Greener Pastures Farms. The methods can be adapted to dairy. Others are doing this with dairy operations, but sorry, I don't have a link. Dairy farmers are too busy to write books or websites. (grin!)

[Jefferdaughter]

It's not just the protein, the ENERGY levels are higher in the top portion of the plant. The top receives more sunlight. Plants are solar collectors. Yes, all the 'mowing' could be done with managed grazing, and allowing the cattle or other livestock to trample the organic material onto the ground w/out diesel fuel & renew the forages w/out having to re-plant. Holistic Management Int'l is one info resource.

[marchetta67]

Why does he need to mow and replant his grass? Won't it grow back once the cows are moved to a different pallid?

[Anthony Garcia]

Farmer Tom is what true America is about