Flying Mule Farm

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Flying Mule Farm

• Enhancing the Environment through Managed Grazing

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Flying Mule Farm Grazing Management

• Overview and History
• Environmental Enhancement and Resource Management
• Animal Health and Welfare
• Predator Protection
• Community Education
• Custom Grazing
• Highland Farms Grassfed Lamb

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Overview and History

• The Macon Family founded Flying Mule Farm in
  Auburn in 2001
• Currently converting to mule-based farming of
  summer and fall vegetables
• Also produce eggs and poultry
• Offering firewood (oak and Douglas fir) in 2007
  converting to mule-based logging techniques.
• Dan and Samia Macon have been raising sheep since
  1990
• Our daughters Lara and Emma participate in our
  farming endeavors

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Overview and History
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Overview and History
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Overview and History

• We raise Dorper and Dorper-cross sheep
• Dorper sheep originated in South Africa
• A cross between Dorset sheep (from England) and
  Black-headed Persian sheep (from the Middle
  East), Dorpers shed their wool (rather than
  requiring shearing)
• We custom graze cattle and sheep for other
  producers.
• Multi-species grazing provides numerous benefits

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Overview and History

• Dan Macon - professional experience
• California Rangeland Trust founding executive
  director
• Society for Range Management California-Pacific
  Section Past President
• Sierra College instructor (Agriculture
  Department)
• UC Davis guest lecturer (Animal Science,
  Agricultural Law and Environmental
  Policy/Planning)

• Samia Macon, DVM professional experience
• UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine
  graduated 1994
• Loomis Basin Large Animal Clinic associate
  veterinarian (1995-2005)
• Samia Macon Mobile Veterinary Services owner
  (2005-present)

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Environmental Enhancement

• Through our management intensive grazing system,
  we enhance the environment by
• Restoring native and perennial grasses
• Controlling yellow starthistle, blackberries and
  other invasive weeds
• Restoring and improving pastures
• Reducing wildfire fuels
• Eliminating competitive weeds and brush in newly
  established timber stands

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Flying Mule Farms grazing management strategies
also protect water quality by maintaining
riparian buffers and carefully monitoring grazing
use.
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Off-Stream Water Development
Using solar-powered pumps and holding tanks, we
provide stock water without allowing livestock
access to creeks and ponds.
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Resource Management

• The key elements of our management intensive
  grazing system are
• Low stress livestock handling
• Portable electric fencing (with a battery-powered
  low impedance energizer)
• Short grazing periods followed by lengthy rest
  periods
• Regular adjustments in stocking rate based on
  forage growth

Electric charge on the netting is kept between 7
and 9 kilovolts (7-9,000 volts). The charge
pulses every other second on the netting and only
lasts 0.003 milliseconds each pulse.
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Managed Grazing

• We use a grazing calendar to track our management
  and to plan for future years
• We also track precipitation to help anticipate
  grass growth and appropriate stocking rate

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Animal Health and Welfare

• Our management intensive, multi-species grazing
  system reduces the incidence of respiratory
  ailments, internal and external parasites, and
  other health problems (mostly by eliminating the
  need for close confinement)
• Samia Macon, DVM, oversees our vaccination and
  health management program
• Multi-species grazing reduces the need for
  administering de-wormers.

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Animal Health and Welfare

• We use low stress livestock handling techniques
• Livestock are allowed to move at their own pace
• Our system is entirely pasture based sheep have
  constant access to growing feed and fresh water
• We use well-trained herding dogs to assist with
  livestock movement and placement.

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Predator Protection

• Sheep are vulnerable to a variety of predators,
  including mountain lions, coyotes, and domestic
  dogs
• Flying Mule Farm uses predator friendly
  management systems
• Portable electric fencing
• Livestock Protection Dogs

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We use cross-bred Livestock Protection Dogs to
guard our sheep.
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Predator Protection

• Livestock protection dogs were among the first
  dogs that domesticated by humans
• These dogs live with our sheep around the clock
• Livestock protection dogs discourage predators
  through barking and intimidation

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Community Education

• Flying Mule Farm is committed to educating new
  producers, youth and the community
• Educational programs include
• Harvest Festivals
• Extension Workshops (lambing management, pasture
  management, etc.)
• Community College courses
• Internships
• We can also provide orientation sessions for new
  landowners and visitors

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• We market our lambs as Highland Farms Grass-fed
  Lamb
• Our lamb is available direct to customers,
  through local farmers markets and at fine local
  restaurants

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• Our lamb is
• Hormone and antibiotic free
• 100 grassfed higher in omega-3 and conjugated
  linoleic acids
• Humanely raised
• Predator friendly

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Custom Grazing

• Flying Mule Farm custom grazes cattle and sheep
  for other producers.
• Custom grazing programs can be designed to meet
  your needs.
• Our grazing programs can also help control
  invasive weeds and other problem vegetation.

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Flying Mule Farm Grazing Management

• Flying Mule Farm can help landowners
• Improve pastures
• Reduce invasive weeds and wildfire danger
• Reduce or eliminate the need for mowing large
  fields and pastures
• Increase land productivity
• Turn grass and weeds into income