Episode 12. Cutting corners, a funeral and he can't remember more than one name at once.

Episode 12. Cutting corners, a funeral and he can't remember more than one name at once.

A momentous episode listener; it's the last of the first series of the cult science and farming podcast Cows and Effect. For a while anyway. We are mulling over a second series (TBC). Look out for some occasional "Meet the Authors" episodes over the summer. We'll be monitoring the email address cowsandeffectpodcast@gmail.com [cowsandeffectpodcast@gmail.com] , so drop us a line; maybe suggest some topics/questions for Series 2. You know the drill by now. Dear Michael and Paul, Loving the show. Michael is the best. Etc. The regular listener will know that sometimes we fill episodes with science and sometimes it's mainly us droning on about other stuff. As a treat, we threw off the shackles of convention and rammed both science and talking nonsense into this final episode until it couldn't take any more. There's loads of papers and some completely pointless ramblings including half an hour on our favourite films, which all came about because neither of us had been to the pictures lately, but we thought we would talk about films anyway. And then Paul went to the pictures after the main record, so we spoke about that as well in the outro. Good grief, you are a lucky bunch. Be warned. It's a very long episode. Here are the links to the science. We covered some foundational work looking at mob grazing in Texas. Teague, W.R., Dowhower, S.L., Baker, S.A., Haile, N., DeLaune, P.B. and Conover, D.M., 2011. Grazing management impacts on vegetation, soil biota and soil chemical, physical and hydrological properties in tall grass prairie. Agriculture, ecosystems & environment, 141(3-4), pp.310-322. Grazing management impacts on vegetation, soil biota and soil chemical, physical and hydrological properties in tall grass prairie - ScienceDirect [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880911000934?casa_token=Dqb3lRy4c64AAAAA:xPtJLQyi7LTAEOs6C2sr2l2D4l_WLUt9Z_jb-XXIl5Nf9ZhO42FnsVvwk8Xtt45dz3Tvyryl] This one is for Craig. Hayman, J.M. and Saville, D.J., 1981. Comparison of rotational grazing with set stocking of ewes and lambs in spring on irrigated pasture in Canterbury. New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science, 9(1), pp.11-16. Comparison of rotational grazing with set stocking of ewes and lambs in spring on irrigated pasture in Canterbury - Hayman - 1981 - New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science - Wiley Online Library [https://rsnz.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1080/03015521.1981.10427795] We talk abou an "invited review". This is it. Stanley, P.L., Wilson, C., Patterson, E., Machmuller, M.B. and Cotrufo, M.F., 2024. Ruminating on soil carbon: applying current understanding to inform grazing management. Global Change Biology, 30(3), p.e17223. Global Change Biology | Environmental Change Journal | Wiley Online Library [https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/gcb.17223] South America !!! Moojen, F.G., Bremm, C., Laca, E.A., Machado, D.R., Savian, J.V. and Carvalho, P.C.D.F., 2022. Herbage allowance and stocking method effect on grazing systems: Results of a long‐term experiment. Grass and Forage Science, 77(1), pp.45-54. Grass and Forage Science | Grassland Science Journal | Wiley Online Library [https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/gfs.12556?casa_token=A9UO3AXQuCMAAAAA%3AZDH79y_VkC4aGGY7MJJaEt58ZAxpssSel58Ln_DzaRC5O5h0XdgK6wuu0-cQZdOtTfycAXEeXvW0Ww] The big one. Billman, E.D., Williamson, J.A., Soder, K.J., Andreen, D.M. and Skinner, R.H., 2020. Mob and rotational grazing influence pasture biomass, nutritive value, and species composition. Agronomy Journal, 112(4), pp.2866-2878. Mob and rotational grazing influence pasture biomass, nutritive value, and species composition | Agronomy Journal [https://acsess.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/agj2.20215?casa_token=wQCfm-x85-EAAAAA%3ABZmUX0MSZ77ikSxV3UntvuQv7GHoc-55yRRPHcNBUSzdhXtG2GLvH2VtSu_zM_y4ce9y2x4wOeuj5Q] You, the owl-eared listener, may be here looking for the link to Andrew McGuire's blog with the heated discussion about soil organic matter, that Michael promised to post on the shownotes. Nothing heard on that score from Old Mr Reliability, so here's a link to McGuire's main page. Happy reading. Andrew McGuire's Homepage | Grant County | Washington State University [https://extension.wsu.edu/grant/andrew-mcguires-homepage/] Stop the press. This just in from Mr Last Minute. Regenerative Agriculture: Solid Principles, Extraordinary Claims | Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources | Washington State University [https://csanr.wsu.edu/regen-ag-solid-principles-extraordinary-claims/] That's it. Well done on getting to the end. Toodle Pip. Have a good summer. See you at Groundswell?

Episode 11. One job, identifying roadkill, and he had to go and live in London.

Sorry, sorry, sorry. We were a couple of days late getting this one out. It's a busy time of year and Michael found it difficult to fit in all the preparation and research that he needs to do to for the podcast. You wouldn't believe the number of distressed listeners that messaged us, asking if we were OK. So, what to say about this one? We were brilliant on the first take; 45 minutes of pure gold. Then we found a "technical issue" and had to do it again. Second take; a lot of tension in the "studio". Third take; judge for yourselves. We have had a listen and cannot believe that none of the following words and phrases appear in the episode; symptoms, mental health, undiagnosed, broken, dysfunctional, impairment, childhood trauma, disorder, treatment, white coats, & oversized butterfly net. Stick with it listener, we promise that the science does finally arrive. We talk about two substantial pieces of work; two research papers that report long term grazing trials. Fajardo, M., Morgan, S.A., Chilibroste, P., Lee, M.R.F. and Rivero, M.J., 2025. Animal and pasture responses in contrasting temperate pasture-based cattle management systems: set-stocking versus cell grazing. animal, p.101635. Animal and pasture responses in contrasting temperate pasture-based cattle management systems: set-stocking versus cell grazing - ScienceDirect [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1751731125002186] and Andrade, B.O., Shropshire, A., Johnson, J.R., Redden, M.D., Semerad, T., Soper, J.M., Beckman, B., Milby, J., Eskridge, K.M., Volesky, J.D. and Schacht, W.H., 2022. Vegetation and animal performance responses to stocking density grazing systems in Nebraska Sandhills Meadows. Rangeland Ecology & Management, 82, pp.86-96. Vegetation and Animal Performance Responses to Stocking Density Grazing Systems in Nebraska Sandhills Meadows - ScienceDirect [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S155074242200015X] This is McGuire's blog page. Andrew McGuire's Homepage | Grant County | Washington State University [https://extension.wsu.edu/grant/andrew-mcguires-homepage/] Roots so Deep literature page. Published Research | AMP Research, Soil Health, And Grazing [https://rootssodeep.org/amp-research/published-research] This is the Roth paper that looked at how cattle select leaf over stalk, when grazing grass. Roth, L.D., Rouquette Jr, F.M. and Ellis, W.C., 1990. Effects of herbage allowance on herbage and dietary attributes of Coastal bermudagrass. Journal of Animal Science, 68(1), pp.193-205. Effects of Herbage Allowance on Herbage and Dietary Attributes of Coastal Bermudagrass | Journal of Animal Science | Oxford Academic [https://academic.oup.com/jas/article-abstract/68/1/193/4703954?login=false] Futher reading for the nerds. A good review paper. Rouquette Jr, F.M., Sollenberger, L.E. and Vendramini, J.M., 2023. Grazing management and stocking strategy decisions for pasture-based beef systems: experimental confirmation vs. testimonials and perceptions. Translational Animal Science, 7(1), p.txad069. Grazing management and stocking strategy decisions for pasture-based beef systems: experimental confirmation vs. testimonials and perceptions | Translational Animal Science | Oxford Academic [https://academic.oup.com/tas/article/7/1/txad069/7209488?login=false&guestAccessKey=] And good old Dr Wang. Wang, F., Apfelbaum, S.I., Thompson, R.L., Teague, R. and Byck, P., 2021. Effects of adaptive multiple paddock and continuous grazing on fine-scale spatial patterns of vegetation species and biomass in commercial ranches. Landscape Ecology, 36(9), pp.2725-2741. Effects of adaptive multiple paddock and continuous grazing on fine-scale spatial patterns of vegetation species and biomass in commercial ranches | Landscape Ecology | Springer Nature Link [https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10980-021-01273-z] See you at Groundswell listener and don't forget to email in. It's cowsandeffectpodcast@gmail.com [cowsandeffectpodcast@gmail.com] Toodle Pip.

Episode 10. Winnie-the-Pooh, the c**tosphere, and a big box of explosives on the other parachute.

Sorry about this one listener. Calving's started, Paul's been busy with "contract work" and we just didn't get the work done to put out a proper episode with research papers and all that. We did our best and had a good old chat. Think of it this way, it's probably not as bad as the "difficult fifth episode" and it's still free to air. We promise we'll do better next month. The next two episodes will be about grazing and particularly Regen style grazing. Then we'll have two ask-the-scientist episodes; including Dr Shackleton (is she a-relation or no-relation?), Professor Metin Erin (we love him, he's our new best friend) and a genuine, internationally renowned, titan-in-his-field, physicist who will address the question that is on everyone's lips; does the Heisenberg joke work or not? So don't forget to send in your questions. It's cowsandeffectpodcast@gmail.com [cowsandeffectpodcaste@email.com] . Join the many thousands of listeners that have already contacted us via electronic mail on the interweb.

Episode 9. Mr Tickle, a cloud of low energy photons and Tom Cruise is going to come round and punch you.

Howdy, yee-haw and yippee-ki-yay buckaroos. Get your ears on, because we're headed west of the Pecos for the rootin' tootin' episode 3. of Lab Rat Jazz Club, where things are fixing to get plumb loco down in the lab. Hot-diggerty-dawg. As usual, there's the odd cuss word, but not the big one. Here's the link to the paper, but listen first and read after. Link to Dr Eren's fine research paper. [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352409X19305371] Here is a link to the Supplementary Data, which has all the photographs in it. It's true, they actually did it. [https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https%3A%2F%2Fars.els-cdn.com%2Fcontent%2Fimage%2F1-s2.0-S2352409X19305371-mmc1.docx&wdOrigin=BROWSELINK] Email questions, comments, suggestions and Michael Blanche fan mail to cowsandeffectpodcast@gmail.com [cowsandeffectpodcast@gmail.com]. You should probably open with; "Dear Michael, loving the show; oh my goodness, you are so fab (etc, etc.)" We really can't be arsed with the admin for social media or fending off all the inevitable and well deserved online abuse, so help us out listener. In the unlikely event that you 1. enjoy the podcast and 2. don't mind people finding out that you enjoy the podcast; then tell your friends. You know the drill by now; "Have you heard about Cows and Effect? It's a farming podcast with the charming, handsome and and brilliant Michael Blanche. You know, the guy from The Pasture Pod and that time thing. He's amazing. I love him. There's another one, but I've forgotten his name. It doesn't matter; did I say it's got Michael Blanche in it?" Somehow, we keep coming back to polar explorers and we finally got around to Scott. Links to short films about Scott's last expedition. Geordie of the Antarctic [https://youtu.be/jxXbpHeIrUc?si=9vVpFFb-Nlvsl9Za] Scott's equipment list [https://youtu.be/M3RacavLulI?si=nxWcqEQkUFY7sjbJ]

Episode 8. A pirate, a confidence player and everyone's right; animals are complicated.

Happy New Year listener. Eight episodes in (hard to believe for many reasons) and it's a bit different this month. There's absolutely no big swears; there's a few mediums, but not the big one. And also because we talk about lots of research papers addressing two subjects; small cows and short tails in sheep. Listeners to Michael's "exceptional value" Pasture Pod Patreon channel will have heard about these slightly niche topics before. Do smaller cows cause less damage to soil in pastures than heavier cows? Are the intakes of cows proportional to their weight? If you breed for short tails in sheep, will you impact lamb weights and spine lengths? These are the questions that keep Michael awake at night. We have an email address listener. It's cowsandeffectpodcast@gmail.com [cowsandeffectpodcast@gmail.com] Please email your questions for the authors of the papers that we have discussed. Subject to the restraining orders, we'll try to get them lined up for Episode 12. Feel free to email in with any other questions or suggestions. Please start your emails with this phrase, "Dear Michael, loving the show. You are my favourite. It's only a shame that the other one keeps interupting you. You're the best. I love you. Oh my goodness, you're so handsome." Michael doesn't read the show notes so it will be a lovely surprise for him and make everybody else's life that bit easier. See the Episode 7. shownotes for how to get in touch with Karin. The three papers on the ground effects of heavy vs light cows Fraser, M.D. and Vale, J.E., 2014. Breed type differences in hoof volume in beef suckler cows. The Future of European Grasslands, p.362. https://www.europeangrassland.org/fileadmin/documents/Infos/Printed_Matter/Proceedings/EGF2014.pdf#page=819 [https://www.europeangrassland.org/fileadmin/documents/Infos/Printed_Matter/Proceedings/EGF2014.pdf#page=819] Negrón, M., López, I. and Dörner, J., 2019. Consequences of intensive grazing by dairy cows of contrasting live weights on volcanic ash topsoil structure and pasture dynamics. Soil and Tillage Research, 189, pp.88-97. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167198718305415?casa_token=A1nd7b22ygcAAAAA:CSyGKxQKsQlj03n9X4Ru4VMqmcvqvFXMjrMcrrhhtj9bdDXsiDM5zNFYZVbkSetlf4Dgy_cJ [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167198718305415?casa_token=A1nd7b22ygcAAAAA:CSyGKxQKsQlj03n9X4Ru4VMqmcvqvFXMjrMcrrhhtj9bdDXsiDM5zNFYZVbkSetlf4Dgy_cJ] Tuohy, P., Fenton, O., Holden, N.M. and Humphreys, J., 2015. The effects of treading by two breeds of dairy cow with different live weights on soil physical properties, poaching damage and herbage production on a poorly drained clay-loam soil. The Journal of Agricultural Science, 153(8), pp.1424-1436.https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-agricultural-science/article/effects-of-treading-by-two-breeds-of-dairy-cow-with-different-live-weights-on-soil-physical-properties-poaching-damage-and-herbage-production-on-a-poorly-drained-clayloam-soil/4B005421D226B9499038330C38C4C082 [https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-agricultural-science/article/effects-of-treading-by-two-breeds-of-dairy-cow-with-different-live-weights-on-soil-physical-properties-poaching-damage-and-herbage-production-on-a-poorly-drained-clayloam-soil/4B005421D226B9499038330C38C4C082] Two books and a couple of papers on how much cows eat. The AFRC book Alderman, G. and Cottrill, B.R., 1996. Energy and protein requirements of ruminants. The review paper that says that the AFRC books under estimates beef cow intakes and needs revisions. Cabezas-Garcia, E.H., Lowe, D. and Lively, F., 2021. Energy requirements of beef cattle: Current energy systems and factors influencing energy requirements for maintenance. Animals, 11(6), p.1642.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/6/1642 [https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/6/1642] The paper from french France that says that Paul's cows are the best. Sepchat, B., D'hour, P. and Agabriel, J., 2017. Production laitière des vaches allaitantes: caractérisation et étude des principaux facteurs de variation. INRAE Productions Animales, 30(2), pp.139-152. https://productions-animales.org/article/view/2240/4630 [https://productions-animales.org/article/view/2240/4630] The INRA book. Noziere, P., Sauvant, D. and Delaby, L., 2018. INRA feeding system for ruminants (pp. 640-p). Wageningen Academic Publishers. Order it from your local independent book seller or; Amazon link [https://www.amazon.co.uk/INRA-feeding-system-ruminants-2018/dp/9086862926/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1PA0EYF479QZW&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.q49RiGnTXL94MR1wXQ__ItWJkOuKlaZDKTelfZAusqBZf85kQzakp3Cfztatzkmu9e87lsaaVSRSfO0ymjpvRIeZjaFASKOHp-s3Zx0j0LRXiDGiWtxerr4bFjsTsFxnnyoknXMNSoPlh9Nd9WEt1_CKHEb4_qYqYe8ddvVjsPDWL8424H-0Imhf4724nb6V.BkqPeLmYTzrkRLq7gSJZoGy0RnD6_iOfV98TFHI3R8s&dib_tag=se&keywords=ruminant+nutrition+INRA&qid=1769604370&s=books&sprefix=ruminant+nutrition+inra%2Cstripbooks%2C116&sr=1-1] Moving on to short tails in sheep. The webinar that started it all for Michael. Low Input Sheep Progeny Test: Virtual Field Day [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1xhgTBTMOw] Hannah's paper. Hummelchen, H., Wagner, H., Brügemann, K., König, S. and Wehrend, A., 2025. Effects of Breeding for Short‐Tailedness in Sheep on Parameters of Reproduction and Lamb Development. Veterinary Medicine and Science, 11(1), p.e70138. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/vms3.70138 [https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/vms3.70138] Scobie, D.R., O'Connell, D., Morris, C.A. and Hickey, S.M., 2007. A preliminary genetic analysis of breech and tail traits with the aim of improving the welfare of sheep. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research, 58(2), pp.161-167. https://connectsci.au/cp/article-abstract/58/2/161/128623/A-preliminary-genetic-analysis-of-breech-and-tail?redirectedFrom=fulltext [https://connectsci.au/cp/article-abstract/58/2/161/128623/A-preliminary-genetic-analysis-of-breech-and-tail?redirectedFrom=fulltext] The South African one. Teubes, M., Cloete, S.W.P., Dzama, K. and Scholtz, A.J., 2023. Is there sufficient genetic variation to breed Elsenburg Merino sheep with shorter tails?. Animal Production Science, 63(11), pp.1043-1051. https://connectsci.au/an/article-abstract/63/11/1043/20642/Is-there-sufficient-genetic-variation-to-breed?redirectedFrom=fulltext [https://connectsci.au/an/article-abstract/63/11/1043/20642/Is-there-sufficient-genetic-variation-to-breed?redirectedFrom=fulltext] A big sample size in this one; 57,760 lambs. Hodge, M.J., Brown, D.J. and Walkom, S.F., 2025. Genetic evaluation of tail length in Australian sheep. In Proceedings of the AAABG 26th Conference (p. 407). Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics. https://www.aaabg.org/aaabghome/AAABG21papers/Greeff21237.pdf [https://www.aaabg.org/aaabghome/AAABG21papers/Greeff21237.pdf] Well done if you got this far. I'm going to have a lie down.