Choosing to Ranch Differently: Holistic Grazing and Cattle Management

Shane Maddock is a fourth-generation ranchers on a first-generation farm. He and his wife, Lindsey, operate Maddock Ranch in partnership with Shane’s brother where they apply the generational holistic management knowledge passed down to them by their father. Maddock Ranch is primarily a cow-calf operation but also includes backgrounding, heifer development, yearlings and a little farm ground.  

Why manage the operation holistically? For Shane the answer is simple. 

He says, “It seems to me that we're working with a degraded resource.” 

He views holistic or regenerative practices as a way to improve these natural resources and continue the family legacy.  

“By doing some of these practices we can rebuild some of these resources back up to where they're profitable for the rancher and the farmer,” says Maddock. 

Maddock largely credits his father for both exposing and teaching him how to ranch holistically.  

He explains, “It was just second nature for me to start implementing some of these practices and building upon them.” 

Maddock explains that holistic management involves looking at everything as whole from how grass grows to what feeds grass and how grazing animals impact these resources. It’s a cycle where everything works together to benefit each other. 

One unique example of holistic management on the Maddock Ranch is the placement of water sources in the middle of their cropland that connects to the farmstead. This allows them to split fields in the winter depending on if they are grazing, bale grazing, using the hay processor or implanting another practice. 

He says, “I wanted flexibility to be able to do some of these practices to see what works.” 

During the spring and summer months, he uses adaptive grazing to make pasture management decisions. Maddock explains that adaptive grazing is making judgements based on what a specific pasture needs and is telling you today.  

“We're not long-term grazing,” says Maddock. “It's three to five days on each pasture and we're gone.” 

Proper recovery periods is a key component to adaptive grazing and holistic management to avoid plant and soil degradation. Maddock shares that knowing how grass grows is the key to knowing if it has fully recovered or needs more time.  

“Grass will grow from the endpoint out from where it's bitten,” explains Maddock. “So, I'm looking for full recovery on that grass where it has a tip.” 

One new tool Maddock is excited about is composting as a method of add nutrients back onto their cropland. He is specifically focusing on applying compost teas using manure and waste from their backgrounding feedlots.  

Maddock acknowledges that choosing to manage holistically doesn’t come without challenges. 

He says, “Labor, from the beginning, was probably my biggest challenge.”  

He encourages other interested ranchers to not be afraid of making these changes and to seek mentorship from those who are already managing holistically. 

“It's so rewarding,” says Maddock. “Don't be scared to chase it and find a good mentor to walk with you on it.”  

Listen to the full conversation on the Casual Cattle Conversations podcast.