#150 Double the Number of Cows in your Herd: A Smarter Way to Ranch

Hello, friends! Let me ask you something: Would you like to double the number of cows in your herd without buying more land or spending more on hay? If your answer is yes, then you're in the right place.

For decades, we’ve been told that expanding our cattle numbers requires more acres, feed, and work. But what if I told you there’s a smarter way—one that helps you increase your herd size while improving your land’s fertility and productivity without more work?

And this is the best part? It doesn’t require breaking your back or your bank account. It’s all about understanding how nature really works and managing your grazing the right way.

In this blog, I’ll break down why conventional practices have held ranchers back, what actually works, and how you can start doubling your herd today.

And at the end of this post, I have an invitation for you—a free Q&A session where you can ask me anything about grazing smarter and increasing your profits. Stick with me, and I’ll show you exactly how to get in on that.

Why Conventional Practices Have Failed Ranchers

If you’ve ever been told that the only way to grow your herd is by buying more land, spending more on feed, or relying on expensive inputs—you’re not alone.

The truth is, most of the advice ranchers have been given over the years is outdated and doesn’t match how grasslands and cattle actually work together. Those grazing gurus that give wrong advice have done more harm than good to ranching.

Here are the biggest myths that have held ranchers back:

❌ Myth #1: Rotational Grazing is the Best System

• We’ve been taught to move cattle frequently and leave tall residuals behind. But this allows selective grazing, which weakens our best productive grass species over time.
• It also increases labor demands, requiring more frequent pasture moves, and more fencing and management, which takes time away from other ranching responsibilities.

❌ Myth #2: You Need More Acres to Run More Cows

Many times, we want to expand to grow our cattle numbers, but the land is expensive, and managing another property makes costs per cow skyrocket

• The reality is that how you manage your grazing matters far more than how many acres you have. Stockpiling grass and managing regrowth properly allows you to carry more cattle on the same land, lowering your costs per cow per year.
• Grazing the land in sections, rotating in a way that maximizes regrowth, allows pastures to produce more forage without the need for expansion.
• I have a client who wanted to buy another ranch for expansion, and by applying these principles, he saved the money and worked another ranch required and doubled his cow numbers 

❌ Myth #3: Cattle Should Only Eat the Tops of the Grass

• The problem? This results in selective grazing, where cattle take the best parts and leave the rest, leading to land degradation and lower-quality pastures.
• Allowing cattle to graze efficiently down to 1-2 inches ensures that all forage is utilized, reducing waste and encouraging better regrowth.

If we keep following the same advice that has led to weaker pastures, rising feed costs, and fewer profits, how can we expect better results?

We need a new approach—one that allows ranchers to increase stocking rates without harming their land. Our approach regenerates the land, the soil, and the pasture.

A Smarter Grazing System: Doubling Your Herd Without Extra Costs

Imagine increasing your stocking rate while improving your soil, eliminating brush, and cutting your hay costs. That’s exactly what Effortless Planned Grazing helps you do.

Here’s how it works:

✅ Step 1: Maximize Grazing Efficiency

• Instead of rotating cattle too frequently, we allow them to harvest grass down to 1-2 inches before moving them, we move them every 2 to 4 weeks in the dry season.
• This prevents selective grazing and ensures better pasture recovery.
• It also eliminates competition from undesirable species that thrive in overgrazed systems.

✅ Step 2: Stockpile Forage for Year-Round Grazing

• Instead of relying on hay, we dedicate one-third of our pastures for stockpiling grass as standing hay.
• This allows cattle to graze leafy, stockpiled forage all winter, reducing input costs.
• Stockpiling also improves soil fertility by allowing roots to store more carbon and nutrients in the  soil.
• Stockpiling a third of your property every year allows your best species seedlings to establish without being uprooted by returning livestock like would happen under rotational grazing at high stocking rates needed for profit

✅ Step 3: Increase Stocking Rates by Improving Pasture Productivity

• When grass is managed properly, it regrows faster and stronger, supporting more cattle per acre.
• By rebuilding long-lived soil carbon, pastures become more resilient, even in dry seasons.
• This process mimics nature, creating a self-sustaining system where forage grows back stronger after grazing.

✅ Step 4: Select Cattle That Thrive on Forage Alone

• Many cattle in modern herds require too much supplemental feed. The key is to select animals that are genetically adapted to thrive on grass.
• Selecting cattle with nutritional adaptation reduces the need for grain-based supplementation, cutting costs further.

✅ Step 5: Allow Pastures to Recover Fully

• Grazing regrowth before full recovery weakens root systems. Letting grass fully recover before regrazing is key to long-term productivity.
• Grass that is given time to recover fully develops deeper root systems, which improves drought resistance and nutrient retention.

By following these steps, ranchers worldwide have been able to double their herd size without increasing their workload or costs.

I know this might sound different from what you’ve been taught—but it works. And I want to help you implement these changes on your ranch.

That’s why I’m hosting a free Q&A session, where you can ask me anything about:

• Increasing your stocking rate
• Reducing hay dependency
• Improving pasture health
• Improving soil fertility without inputs
• Selecting better cattle genetics
• Boosting profits while working less

This is your opportunity to get real answers from someone who has been ranching profitably for over 30 years. Just head over to www.rwranching.com/grazingcourse and register for the next session. It’s completely free, and you’ll walk away with actionable strategies you can use right away.