How to Boost Animal Health and Farm Productivity with Ecological Principles
Episode Notes:
Guest: Dr. Gustavo Lascano, Associate Professor of Ruminant Nutrition, Clemson University
Host: Drs. Gabe Kenne & Buz Kloot
Length: ~70 minutes
In this conversation with Dr. Gustavo Lascano, Ruminant Nutrition Specialist at Clemson University, we discuss integrating ecological principles like succession and diversity into farm management to improve animal, soil, and human health. Dr. Lascano describes intricate details of ruminant nutrition and reinforces that it should focus not only on calories but also on proper nutrient balance and feeding the microbial ecosystem within the rumen. His expertise in this field comes not only from advanced degrees and field and laboratory research, but also from experiencing indigenous agricultural systems firsthand and seeing how they offer valuable insights into sustainable, low-input food production systems.
Episode Highlights:
- Rethinking Production Systems with Ecological Succession
- Diverse Background with Global Roots
- Free Choice Feeding & Ruminant Efficiency
- Rumen Microbiology & Soil Parallels
- Industrial vs. Regenerative Feeding Models
- Agroecological Inspirations from the Amazon
- The Role of Animals in Regenerative Ag
To learn more about Dr. Lascano and ruminant nutrition, check out the below links:
- Gustavo Lascano at Clemson University
Faculty Profile
Soil Health Lab Podcast Archives
Featured in the episode: Cotton, Country, Conservation (8-year regenerative agriculture study)
