221 | Grazing Cattle in Vermont: Can a Southern Breed Thrive Up North?

221 | Grazing Cattle in Vermont: Can a Southern Breed Thrive Up North?

Author: Grazing Grass April 29, 2026 Duration: 1:10:41

What happens when a producer in the heart of dairy country decides to build a grass-based beef herd? In this episode of the Grazing Grass Podcast, Cal visits with John Smith from northern Vermont.

John shares how his family farm moved out of dairying decades ago, how his career in dairy co-ops shaped his perspective, and how a desire to raise his own food led him back to livestock ownership. After trying multiple breeds, John found the fit he was looking for in South Poll cattle.


They discuss restoring worn-out pastures through grazing management, adapting southern cattle genetics to Vermont winters, raising pigs in wooded systems, and building a future seedstock herd for the Northeast.


This episode is full of practical lessons on persistence, genetics, pasture recovery, and finding livestock that match your goals and environment.


Topics Covered:

  •  Growing up connected to a former dairy farm 
  •  Working in the dairy industry and helping producers 
  •  Returning home to raise food for the family 
  •  Leasing family ground and restoring poor pasture 
  •  Why South Poll cattle stood out 
  •  Adapting cattle to harsh Vermont winters 
  •  Multi-move grazing and tighter paddock management 
  •  Using cattle to rebuild soil fertility 
  •  Raising feeder pigs in woodland systems 
  •  Building a seedstock future for New England producers 

Resources Mentioned:

  • Greg Judy
  •  South Poll cattle breeders and community 
  • Grazing conferences and producer networks 

Find Out More:

  • Wandering Brook Farms | https://www.wanderingbrookfarm.com

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Until next episode, keep on grazing.



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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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