creaturelink
Member
We've been experiencing a decline in our cattle's health and production over the past 5 years and we are searching for a remedy to our situation. Below I will explain.
History & Problems
We are located in Virginia. Currently we are on a Rotational Grazing Management Plan. Our pastures are mixed bluegrass, clover, orchard grass, and the majority now being KY31. Here is what we have - 7 pastures varying between 2-30 acres per pasture. Rough total of 90 acres. We rotate 47 cows and roughly 35 calves on those cows between the different pastures. When we move the cows they will devour all grasses except fescue within a matter of days. There's ample fescue but the cattle will not eat it. When comparing these pastures to others in the county there is more grass here.
KY31 has taken over the more fertile fields since beginning our rotational grazing at a rate of near 90%.
We've begun soil PH and Fertilization programs and planted clover. That of which succeeded in primarily aiding the growth of the KY31 with no help toward the other grasses.
Since the beginning of our Rotational Grazing (roughly 5 years), our weaning rates have dropped drastically every year.
Cows are losing tails, many cows are sore footed, initial milk production in some cows after calving is very slow, taking 3-4 days to come in.
All cows stand in the creek most of the time. Some even laying flat in the creek.
Over 1/2 the cows are not shedding hair until late fall, if at all.
Spring calving cows if not bred before March, will not breed again until fall.
Calves are more prevalent to scours, pink eye, and foot rot. Newborns are more prone to navel infections as well.
Our cattle on rented pastures, that are not tended nearly as often, are outperforming the cattle on our home pastures.
We've fed mineral with Tasco, we've tried mineral with MTB?, we've tried hay with pasture grazing in summer months, we've tried drilling clover and broadcasting clover in early spring, all of which have yeilded no results.
Due to many failed attempts to resolve our cattle/forage problems we are desperate to make the right decision to proceed with. We believe an entire grass change to Max Q or seeding heavily with a combination of Lespeza, white clover and red clover is in order.
Has anyone else experienced these types of problems with any solutions?
History & Problems
We are located in Virginia. Currently we are on a Rotational Grazing Management Plan. Our pastures are mixed bluegrass, clover, orchard grass, and the majority now being KY31. Here is what we have - 7 pastures varying between 2-30 acres per pasture. Rough total of 90 acres. We rotate 47 cows and roughly 35 calves on those cows between the different pastures. When we move the cows they will devour all grasses except fescue within a matter of days. There's ample fescue but the cattle will not eat it. When comparing these pastures to others in the county there is more grass here.
KY31 has taken over the more fertile fields since beginning our rotational grazing at a rate of near 90%.
We've begun soil PH and Fertilization programs and planted clover. That of which succeeded in primarily aiding the growth of the KY31 with no help toward the other grasses.
Since the beginning of our Rotational Grazing (roughly 5 years), our weaning rates have dropped drastically every year.
Cows are losing tails, many cows are sore footed, initial milk production in some cows after calving is very slow, taking 3-4 days to come in.
All cows stand in the creek most of the time. Some even laying flat in the creek.
Over 1/2 the cows are not shedding hair until late fall, if at all.
Spring calving cows if not bred before March, will not breed again until fall.
Calves are more prevalent to scours, pink eye, and foot rot. Newborns are more prone to navel infections as well.
Our cattle on rented pastures, that are not tended nearly as often, are outperforming the cattle on our home pastures.
We've fed mineral with Tasco, we've tried mineral with MTB?, we've tried hay with pasture grazing in summer months, we've tried drilling clover and broadcasting clover in early spring, all of which have yeilded no results.
Due to many failed attempts to resolve our cattle/forage problems we are desperate to make the right decision to proceed with. We believe an entire grass change to Max Q or seeding heavily with a combination of Lespeza, white clover and red clover is in order.
Has anyone else experienced these types of problems with any solutions?
