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Diversity
is
the
Key
By Jack Cox
Popular through much of Europe has been a traditional system known as “high farming”. This is a carefully thought out integrated system whereby plants are grown to feed your livestock, the animals feed the soil through their manure, and the land in its turn supports the plants.
The basis of this idea is both animal and crop rotation. This way each type of animal and plant takes what it needs and gives back what it can. All livestock suffer from parasites. If we keep one species on the same piece of land for too long there will be a build up of parasitic
organisms.
Generally speaking, the parasites of one animal do not affect other host species, so following one type of animal with a different kind will greatly ease the problem. Different animals can benefit from each other too. For example pigs can be fed on spoilt eggs from the hen house just as much as from spoilt grain from the fields.
Planet Earth is a self regulating system. Nature abhors monoculture. In the wild, if one species becomes too prolific some pest or disease is sure to come along and restore the balance. The same thing applies on our fincas. If we become too specialised we are building up trouble for the future. Diversity is the key to healthy crops and healthy livestock.
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