Episode 1. Five billion, there's no snakes in Ireland and an upside down graph.
Episode 1 dives into the science with an Irish research paper that looks at the yields of multi species pastures (along with the various different plant species that go into them) at several levels of Nitrogen (including zero). Which grasses work best in different systems? Why bother with Plantain and Chicory? Which plants drive yield? There's some chat about ewes and Red Clover and there's a smell under the table. Link to the main paper Moloney et al, 2020.  http://archive.sciendo.com/IJAFR/ijafr.2020.59.issue-1/ijafr-2020-0002/ijafr-2020-0002.pdf Links to the other two Moloney papers in the trilogy. https://www.jstor.org/stable/27041764?seq=1 and https://www.jstor.org/stable/27041763 Link to the Egan et al 2025 paper on plantain hoovering up nitrate in the soil. This may be partially behind a paywall, but the key bits are available. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0167880924004948 Link to Mustonen et al 2014 which is the study on the effects of feeding red clover silage to ewes https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S175173111400161X?via%3Dihub Link to the Innovative Farmers trial on ewes and red clover. https://www.innovativefarmers.org/media/l00oqr1t/mating-sheep-on-red-clover-final-report.pdf Link to an early UK study into red clover and ewe fertility; Newton and Betts 1973. Still behind a pay wall, but you can see the abstract without paying.  https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-agricultural-science/article/abs/effects-of-red-clover-trifolium-pratense-var-redhead-white-clover-trifolium-repens-var-s-100-or-perennial-ryegrass-lolium-perenne-var-s-23-on-the-reproductive-performance-of-sheep/DBE300E13E0D8D81BF0B6D00ED9B3E90 Link to a review paper/report not mentioned in the podcast which is Marley et al 2011. This is an IBERS report. https://projectblue.blob.core.windows.net/media/Default/Research%20Papers/Beef%20&%20Lamb/effects_of_legumes_on_ewe_and_cow_fertility_review_-_final_report_20jul11.pdf   Â
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1:13:42
The Prologue; contract work, wild animals and he knows who he is.
Michael and Paul introduce themselves and explain why the world needs yet another farming podcast (it's a science podcast). There's bits about their farms, the other stuff they do and how science works and, for no obvious reason, a foray into the world of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.  Here's the link to Frank B. 1885.  https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00572-004-0329-y Link to the original wood wide web paper https://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-023-01986-1 and the recent paper that says more research is needed  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-023-01986-1 These two might be behind a pay wall, so here's a link to a recent review of the ecological functioning of mycorrhizal networks that is definately open access. https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1365-2435.70063
Welcome to this occasionally mildly interesting farming podcast (it's a science podcast), hosted by award winning podcaster Michael Blanche (200m swimming badge 1978) and not-yet-not-a-real-doctor Paul Allison. We talk about recent research into soil, pasture, cows and sheep. People say that it's the podcast they didn't know they wanted or needed, and they definitely didn't ask for it. It's sometimes a bit sweary (not the big one). It's fine.
Cows and effect sounds like cause and effect. It's a play on words. That's funny stuff.
Warning: Following legal advice the listener should be aware that the views and information shared in this podcast do not constitute professional advice or even unprofessional guidance. For God's sake consult someone who knows what they are talking about before making any changes to your farm management practices.
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