For those who live in the fescue belt.....Ky, Tn,Va.,N.C.Missouri and probably OH.and IN. and other states that grow fescue very well.....with just a little bit of planning.....you should be able to graze to at least Jan.1st.
The reason most people can't get that far is because even though they are in the 'fescue belt' they don't really have that much fescue. Fescue will die out if kept short...maybe not die out completely but can get pretty thin.
I know from experience. I have a 30 acre field at another place that i have been encouraging the crabgrass and letting the cows graze it short during the summer, subsequently the fescue in that field is thinning a lot...too much for very much winter grazing.
Ever since I started intensive grazing about 8 years ago, the shortest time i have ever been able to graze was Jan. 1. and usually up into Feb.
It can be done.