182. Fat Cows, Happy Plants: The Power of Total Grazing with Jaime Elizondo

182. Fat Cows, Happy Plants: The Power of Total Grazing with Jaime Elizondo

Author: Grazing Grass August 6, 2025 Duration: 1:08:10

In this episode of the Grazing Grass Podcast, Cal visits with Jaime Elizondo, known as Jim in the United States, to explore his Total Grazing Program. This is a comprehensive approach to regenerative ranching focused on lowering costs, improving soil, and increasing livestock performance. With decades of experience managing cattle in Mexico and the U.S., Jim shares his path from red cattle in the tropics to creating a composite breed suited for harsh environments. He breaks down the importance of African Bos taurus genetics, how to build soil carbon, and the strategies behind stockpiling and grazing timing. Listeners will come away with a deeper understanding of how to manage grazing with nature, not against it.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

  • Jim’s story from Mexico to Texas and the foundation of his farm, Las Coloradas
  • His evolution from red cattle to developing an adapted composite breed
  • The significance of African Bos taurus genetics in hot, humid, and disease-prone environments
  • What the Total Grazing Program is and how it differs from ultra high-density grazing
  • How to build long-lived soil carbon and why it matters
  • Stockpiling strategies for winter and how to boost soil and forage health
  • Monitoring livestock performance with gut fill and body condition
  • The role of coaching and mentorship in successful grazing operations
  • Applying these grazing principles to cattle, sheep, and goats


 If you're interested in cutting input costs, improving soil, and raising animals that thrive in your environment, this episode delivers a practical and proven system. Jim offers clear guidance based on firsthand experience. Whether you're on a small farm or a large ranch, his insights can help you improve your land and your bottom line.


Resources Mentioned:

  • Grass Productivity by André Voisin
  • Man Must Measure by Jan Bonsma
  • A Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold
  • The Forage Book by Hutchinson and Metcalf
  • Jim’s paper “Soil Carbon” (available on his website)

Looking for Livestock that thrive on grass?  Check out Grass Based Genetics

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Original Music by Louis Palfrey


There’s a quiet revolution happening in the fields and pastures, one that ties the health of the soil directly to the health of a farm’s bottom line. Grazing Grass Podcast | Rotational Grazing, Soil Health & Profitable Livestock Farming is a part of that conversation, sitting down with the men and women who are putting regenerative principles into daily practice. Hosted by Grazing Grass, each episode feels like a candid chat across a fence line, moving beyond theory into the tangible details of managing livestock on grass. You’ll hear farmers recount their own journeys-what prompted their shift in thinking, the logistical hurdles of changing their operation, and the outcomes they’ve witnessed in their land and ledger books. A recurring segment called "Over Grazing" digs into the specific problems and hard-won lessons that come with this way of farming. This isn’t just a science or nature podcast; it’s a practical resource built on shared experience, aiming to strengthen a community where knowledge about profitable, grass-based systems is passed along openly. Tune in for honest stories that get to the root of what it means to work with the land.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Grazing Grass Podcast | Rotational Grazing, Soil Health & Profitable Livestock Farming
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