November 25, 2024
McDonald’s AMP grazing project
Project overview
The McDonald’s FAI AMP project looks to gain valuable insight into what Adaptive Multi Paddock (AMP) grazing looks like on a successful commercial UK beef system. AMP is a regenerative grazing technique that works with nature by placing cattle and their managers within the natural environment, mimicking natural processes in order to achieve more resilient farming systems. In 2020, FAI transitioned the beef enterprise over to AMP grazing and over the subsequent 4 years are collecting the detailed ethical, environmental and economic metrics to understand and document the impact of this novel grazing system.
Our latest AMP project update
The results are in: The AMP grazing transition led to substantial regenerative outcomes in all 3 Es (environmental, ethical & economic) areas.
Highlight results included:
Environment
- Soil water infiltration rates 3 times faster on average across the farm compared to pre-AMP grazing (some fields > 100 times faster)
- The farm supports over 50 species of birds (as measured by bioacoustics devices in June 2023)
- Low carbon suckler beef, with modelling suggesting the beef enterprise is completely offset by carbon sequestration in our pasture
Ethics
People:
- An enjoyable system to work in - all the farm staff said it was either likely or very likely that they would still be implementing regenerative agriculture practices in 5 years-time
Animals:
- High levels of behavioural synchrony and positive social behaviours in the herd suggesting good herd welfare
- Low levels of pathologies (as recorded at the abattoir) and minimal requirements for antibiotics
Economics
- Reduced age at slaughter (from 25-28 months to 22-24 months), achieving daily liveweight gains of approximately 0.8kg/day in a solely pasture-based system
All Videos
Introducing to our Adaptive Multi Paddock (AMP) Grazing project
An introduction to Our Multi Paddock (AMP) Grazing project.
AMP Project Update: Tackling the Farm’s ‘Red Flags’
Tackling Farm’s Red Flags – Clare and her team are looking closely at the root cause of problems on the farm by spotting ‘Red Flags’ such as weeds and cases of New Forest Eye. Find out how red flags can provide a deeper dive into what is really happening within the farm ecosystem.
Our AMP Project Update: Answering your questions on AMP grazing
The FAI team address a range of questions, from the practicality of keeping cows in cells and how long to keep them there; through to how we are building soil carbon and by how much. Finally, we briefly discuss the need for outcome based assessments of regenerative systems to ensure true regeneration for certification.
Adaptive Multi Paddock Grazing: Year 2: What have we learnt so far?
In this video, at the end of Year 2, Clare summarises our key learnings from adopting an Adaptive Multipaddock Grazing system on the FAI farm.
Visit to FAI Farms to see the AMP grazing project
Two groups of farmers from McDonald’s UK&I Sustainable Beef Network (SBN) visited FAI Farms to see the AMP grazing project. On a tour of the farm, Silas Headley-Lawrence, FAI’s Farm Manager explains the system and the environmental and economic benefits we are seeing. We find out the SBN’s farmers thoughts about this system, including a few things that surprised them.
Adaptive Multipaddock Grazing: Year 3 – facing multiple challenges
n the third year of our McDonald’s AMP project, along with the rest of the farming community, we faced some significant uncertainty including variable weather patterns and significantly increasing costs. In our Year 3 video, Silas and Karl reflect on these challenges and how our Regenerative AMP beef system held up in 2022.
Adaptive Multi Paddock Grazing: Building a resilient system
After a wet December, Silas discusses how Adaptive Multi paddock Grazing has built resilience into our farming system.
Multi Paddock (AMP) Grazing project: Grazing management and planning
Multi Paddock (AMP) Grazing project: Grazing management and planning
AMP Wrap Up 2024
Wrap up Video for AMP Grazing Project 2024
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