285:. He noticed differences between the action of a grazing cow versus mowing and feeding hay. Whereas a sward mown for hay is all cut at essentially the same time, a grazed pasture is only cut as fast as the herd is able to eat it. Likewise while a feedlot cow may eat as much as she wants without moving, a pastured cow must both walk to a desirable part of the pasture, and then shear the grass with her teeth one mouthful at a time.
296:. If animals are permitted to remain on the pasture too long, a palatable plant will be grazed a second time before it has had time to recover from the first. Also, repeated grazing at short intervals does not allow the plant to achieve its maximum growth rate, thus limiting the amount of sunlight energy captured and converted to useful feed by the plant.
419:. The loss of Soviet energy and chemical imports necessitated the transition to "an organic and skill-intensive agroecological model" based on the principles of Voisinism. The transition was successful; in 1989, Cuban agriculture had been similar to that practiced in California, but by 1992 it was more akin to that practiced in
389:
The series of lectures opened on 8 December at the
University of Havana. In welcoming Voisin, Castro stated "Through all his works, in all his labor, it can be seen that... human health, human happiness, is the main objective of Professor Voisin's work." On 11 December, Voisin was awarded an honorary
299:
The work Voisin was conducting on his farm began to attract scientific attention. From 1951, Voisin was invited to give lectures both at home and abroad, most notably in the United States in 1951, but also in Great
Britain, Ireland and Germany. In 1956, he was appointed an associate professor at the
393:
At 3:50 pm on 21 December, Voisin died suddenly of a heart attack at his hotel. Fidel Castro announced his death on national television that evening. A state funeral was held the following day at the Great Hall of the
University of Havana. Voisin had previously expressed to his wife the desire
406:
Voisin became, and remains, a celebrated figure in Cuba. The Cuban government declared 1965 "The Year of
Agriculture" in homage to Voisin, and a commemorative stamp was issued on the first anniversary of his death, having a face value of 3¢. Marthe-Rosine Voisin developed a deep fondness for Cuba,
288:
Over time he came to the realisation that existing theories of grazing did not accurately describe the conditions of a grazing animal. In an attempt to follow the scientific method, researchers would focus on the growing of grass (without grazing animals), or the feeding of cut grass to animals in
141:, farmer and author best known for developing the theory of Rational Grazing (also known as Voisinism, Voisin Grazing or Rational Intensive Grazing). He also lectured extensively on his theories in many parts of the world. His books have been translated into 18 languages and reprinted many times.
174:. Following his graduation from the School of Physics and Chemistry, Voisin worked as an engineer in the rubber industry, initially in a tyre factory. He subsequently took on a senior engineering role in the firm SIT, and developed a method for improving the efficiency of production techniques.
157:
region of France. His parents were Albert Voisin and Marie
Antoinette Morthe Legendre, well known farmers and landholders. He undertook his primary and secondary studies in Dieppe at the Jehan Ango school, beginning in 1910, and subsequently at the
242:
by secretly arranging deliveries of food produced on the farm. He also acted as a translator for the mayor, Albert
Thoumyer, in dealings with the Nazi occupiers. In March 1943, he advocated successfully to save a farmer from the firing squad.
250:
in August 1944, Voisin left Le Talou in the care of his wife and travelled to Paris to meet with
Admiral d'Argenlieu. Lieutenant Voisin was assigned a regiment of marine infantry and was then involved in several campaigns with the
289:
feedlots, but very rarely the behaviour of cattle grazing on pasture. Voisin realised that this relationship – which he called "the meeting of cow and grass" – was fundamentally different to either action performed in isolation.
381:
in Cuba on the subject of
Rational Grazing. Despite the negative perception in Europe of Castro's communist government, Voisin agreed. He and his wife arrived in Cuba on 3 December, and were personally greeted by Castro at
351:
The total occupation period on one paddock should be sufficiently short for a grass sheared on the first day (or at the beginning) of occupation not to be cut again by the teeth of these animals before they leave the
410:
Despite Castro's advocacy of his work and its presence in Cuban academia, Voisin's methods were largely ignored by Cuban farmers until forced to adopt less input-intensive methods following the collapse of the
498:
English and German translations were released in 1959, while a second edition with minor changes was released in 1961. It is Voisin's most enduring work, with additional republications released in 1988 and
292:
These realities led Voisin to the realisation that time is critical. It is not the number of animals per acre, but the time which plants are exposed to animals which is the chief determinant of
364:
If a cow is to give regular milk yields she must not stay any longer than three days on the same paddock. Yields will be at their maximum if the cow stays on one paddock for only one day.
181:
in order to improve his ability with the German language. He received his diploma for a thesis entitled "Goethe and France", and was named an
Honorary Citizen of the city of Heidelberg.
319:
per acre (5.5 LU/ha). Prior to starting rational grazing, Voisin claimed his stocking rate was only 0.6 LU/acre (1.5 LU/ha), representing a more-than tripling of his stocking rate.
337:
Before a sward, sheared with the animal's teeth, can achieve its maximum productivity, sufficient interval must have elapsed between two successive shearings to allow the grass:
465:
movements, he remains relatively unknown in his home country. According to a socialist compatriot Gérard
Pestrinaux, he is a political paradox: "(Voisin) was not a man of the
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301:
192:
At the outbreak of war in September 1939, Voisin quit his position in the rubber industry to join the war effort. He was initially stationed with the French Navy in
394:
that, should he die whilst abroad giving lectures, his remains should be buried in the country of his death. In accordance with his wishes, Voisin was buried at
629:
407:
and visited many times until her death in 2012 at age 107. She was buried in Chécy, France, close to Orleans, with her parents, Gabriel and Irmis Fernagu.
589:
234:
In October 1940, Voisin returned to occupied France to administer his family farm, "Le Talou", a 130-hectare (320-acre) estate in Gruchet, south of
861:
442:. Savory is perhaps the most vocal advocate of Voisin's methods among western authors. Voisin's principles strongly influenced his development of
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871:
798:
358:
The animals with the greatest nutritional requirements must be helped to harvest the greatest quantity of grass of the best possible quality.
256:
196:. He was involved in two naval missions in the Mediterranean during 1939, being seriously injured in the second. After initial treatment in
824:
278:
Towards the end of 1945, having fulfilled his duty to his country, Voisin returned to Gruchet to pursue his true passion of farming.
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458:
443:
563:
386:. Castro and Voisin, as well as numerous dignitaries, then led an inspection of a nearby farm owned by the Cuban Prime Minister.
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327:
Eventually Voisin developed his "four laws" of rational grazing; he argued that these principles were applicable universally,
505:(1958) – a practical guide to rational grazing, co-authored with André Lecomte, a member of the Veterinary Academy of France.
20:
434:
In the 1980s and later, Voisin's work received increased attention from English-speaking authors, notably Allan Nation,
305:
633:
228:
215:, Voisin was ordered to evacuate to England. He and a small contingent of men crossed the English Channel from
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In 1924 he graduated with a diploma of biochemistry from the School of Physics and Chemistry,
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He undertook his military service with the French navy in 1923, graduating as a lieutenant.
266:
In 1946 Voisin published his memoirs of the war, based on his war diaries, under the title
466:
170:
201:
415:
in 1989, which plunged Cuba into a three-year economic crisis which became known as the
219:
in a daring boat journey lasting several days. Once in England, Voisin met with Admiral
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In 1940 he undertook several ground engagements in France, and was also involved in the
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to accumulate in its roots the reserves necessary for a vigorous spurt of re-growth;
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439:
435:
428:
374:
453:
Although Voisin's research is now considered one of the foundational works of the
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for the most productive part of the grazing season (10 May – 23 September) of 2.2
293:
252:
529:
Rational Grazing – The Meeting of Cow and Grass: A Manual of Grass Productivity
473:, and yet he is buried in the cemetery of the heroes of the Cuban Revolution!"
281:
Voisin would derive great pleasure simply from observing his cattle graze the
138:
270:. It was illustrated by the official Navy artist, Commander Luc-Marie Bayle
171:école supérieure de physique et de chimie industrielles de la ville de Paris
470:
329:"whatever the soil conditions, climate, altitude, latitude or longitude."
377:
extended an invitation to Voisin to deliver a series of lectures at the
485:(1946) – war memoirs based on Voisin's diaries. Published in French as
412:
260:
197:
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74:
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Voisin married Marthe-Rosine Fernagu in occupied Paris during 1943.
632:(in Spanish). Instituto André Voisin Internacional. Archived from
420:
630:"Biography and Chronology of Marcel André Voisin and his legacy"
343:
to produce its “blaze of growth” (or high daily yield per acre).
749:"André Voisin (1903–1964), French agronomist and science writ"
446:). Savory later wrote an introduction for the 1988 reprint of
566:. Éditions France Agricole. 16 September 2013. Archived from
729:(in French). Bibliothèque Numerique – Ville de Dieppe. 2011
592:(in Spanish). Cuban Science Network. 2003. Archived from
124:
106:
98:
90:
82:
63:
37:
30:
659:. London: Crosby Lockwood & Son. p. 311.
137:(7 January 1903 – 21 December 1964) was a French
827:(in French). Paris-Normandie-TV. 22 October 2014
825:"André Voisin, inconnu à Dieppe et héros à Cuba"
801:. Organic Connections Magazine. Archived from
698:"The Roots of Cuba's Agricultural Renascence"
8:
255:forces, notably the short-lived but intense
779:, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, 2006
544:Fertilizer Application: Soil, Plant, Animal
537:(1963) – originally published in French as
517:(1960) – originally published in French as
494:(1957) – originally published in French as
223:and was made Secretary Attaché to Admiral
27:
691:
689:
555:
423:communities. By 1995, the practice of
311:In 1954, Voisin recorded an effective
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149:Voisin was born on 7 January 1903 in
16:French biochemist, farmer, and author
7:
705:Latin American Issues and Challenges
302:National Veterinary School of Alfort
259:in October. He was injured again in
238:. From 1941 to 1944 he assisted the
14:
670:Peter Ballerstedt (1 June 2010).
19:For the French chess player, see
751:. Colnect, connecting collecters
521:, and written as a successor to
306:Academy of Agriculture of France
390:doctorate from the university.
862:20th-century French biologists
799:"Joel Salatin on Allan Savory"
427:, particularly via the use of
200:, he spent four months in the
128:Martha Rosine Voisin (m. 1943)
1:
877:French expatriates in Germany
797:Bruce Boyers (October 2013).
153:, a coastal community in the
872:20th-century French chemists
21:André Voisin (chess player)
893:
483:A Single Foot on the Earth
268:A Single Foot on the Earth
94:Biochemist, farmer, author
18:
707:. Nova Science Publishers
628:Pinheiro Machado (2004).
487:Un seul pied sur la terre
696:Paul L. Gersper (2009).
496:Productivité de l'herbe,
229:Free French Naval Forces
179:University of Heidelberg
177:In 1936 he attended the
118:Soil, Grass & Cancer
727:"Le Fonds André Voisin"
413:Communist Common Market
369:Visit to Cuba and death
867:French microbiologists
519:Dynamique des herbages
515:Better Grassland Sward
509:Soil, Grass and Cancer
396:Colon Cemetery, Havana
304:, and a member of the
655:André Voisin (1961).
590:"2003 Commemorations"
503:The Cow and her Grass
217:Cherbourg-en-Cotentin
674:. Grass Based Health
379:University of Havana
257:Battle of the Vosges
160:Lycée Louis-le-Grand
636:on 26 November 2015
459:holistic management
444:Holistic management
248:liberation of Paris
221:Thierry d'Argenlieu
204:hospital in Paris.
135:André Marcel Voisin
42:André Marcel Voisin
672:"Grass and Cancer"
657:Grass Productivity
523:Grass Productivity
492:Grass Productivity
448:Grass Productivity
431:, was widespread.
384:Jose Marti Airport
236:Arques-la-Bataille
113:Grass Productivity
425:urban agriculture
274:Return to farming
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469:, but a classic
227:, leader of the
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102:Rational Grazing
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67:21 December 1964
51:
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28:
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805:on 16 July 2015
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570:on 21 July 2015
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539:Tetanie d'herbe
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317:Livestock Units
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211:. Prior to the
209:Narvik Campaign
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188:Military career
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773:Dairy Your Way
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564:"André Voisin"
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471:Gaullist right
463:grass-fed beef
417:Special Period
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373:In June 1964,
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225:Émile Muselier
213:Fall of France
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155:Upper Normandy
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99:Known for
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71:(aged 61)
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52:7 January 1903
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429:organoponicos
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91:Occupation(s)
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62:
57:
40:
36:
29:
26:
22:
829:. Retrieved
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807:. Retrieved
803:the original
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781:, retrieved
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753:. Retrieved
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731:. Retrieved
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709:. Retrieved
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676:. Retrieved
665:
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638:. Retrieved
634:the original
598:. Retrieved
594:the original
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572:. Retrieved
568:the original
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543:
538:
535:Grass Tetany
534:
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522:
518:
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508:
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491:
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477:Publications
455:permaculture
452:
447:
440:Allan Savory
436:Joel Salatin
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392:
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375:Fidel Castro
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202:Val-de-Grâce
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108:Notable work
69:(1964-12-21)
32:André Voisin
25:
857:1964 deaths
852:1903 births
362:Fourth Law:
349:Second Law:
294:overgrazing
253:Free French
83:Nationality
846:Categories
551:References
356:Third Law:
335:First Law:
246:After the
240:Resistance
162:in Paris.
145:Early life
139:biochemist
48:1903-01-07
323:Four Laws
352:paddock.
58:, France
809:19 June
783:20 June
711:19 June
261:Benfeld
198:Algiers
194:Algeria
831:28 May
755:27 May
733:28 May
678:28 May
640:27 May
600:27 May
574:27 May
546:(1964)
531:(1962)
511:(1959)
402:Legacy
151:Dieppe
125:Spouse
120:(1959)
115:(1957)
86:French
77:, Cuba
75:Havana
56:Dieppe
777:(PDF)
770:"4",
701:(PDF)
499:2013.
421:Amish
283:sward
833:2015
811:2015
785:2015
757:2015
735:2015
713:2015
680:2015
642:2015
602:2015
576:2015
467:left
461:and
438:and
64:Died
38:Born
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