Inside out

[B&M Farms]

Why would you mow pasture? It makes more sense to put cows on it to me.

 

[cowgirl8]

Why would you mow pasture? It makes more sense to put cows on it to me.

Weeds my friend

 

[branguscowgirl]

Why would you mow pasture? It makes more sense to put cows on it to me.

Lot's of people mow for different reasons. I have found that for my pastures it makes them healthier. The cattle want to get to the tender new growth anyway, so it saves their eyes from getting seeds in them. I have nearly eliminated many weeds by mowing them down before they reseed themselves also. I don't want the Dalis grass going to seed and risk getting the ergot fungus in it.
It spreads the manure and makes the flood irrigation more visible also. Especially since we are forced to irrigate in the dark.
And last but not least, because that's the way my dad did it. :D

 

[cowgirl8]

We get taken over with trees.

 

[B&M Farms]

We get taken over with trees.

I see. I usually spray weeds that cattle will not eat. I can cover more ground faster and it seems to control weeds better. If I have extra grass it's usually gone before spring with a little protein added to their diet. Saves on hay and I can sale that.

 

[cowgirl8]

We have a neighbor who sprays. I'll take picture of the difference in our area. We have a field next to his I shredded when he sprayed. The difference is notable. but that's for our area. Sure it's not the same results Fpr everywhere.

 

[highgrit]

Another reason or two for mowing is a weed herbicide will kill clover and a lot of weeds that cows will eat. And the other is pastures look good after being mowed.

 

[cowgirl8]

It does make them pretty.

 

[Limomike]

Another reason or two for mowing is a weed herbicide will kill clover and a lot of weeds that cows will eat. And the other is pastures look good after being mowed.

Exactly why we mow most of our pastures, and spot spray for the weeds. Going to take a hard look at doing some more heavy spraying in a few places in my grazing pastures though.

 

[branguscowgirl]

When I moved here the pastures were over grazed and the weeds were huge, thorny bushes. It did not take long for it to go from the first photo, to the second photo with just mowing and proper grazing. Have never needed to spray.
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[highgrit]

Branguscowgirl, did you add or plant any seeds. It sure looks good now.

 

[branguscowgirl]

Branguscowgirl, did you add or plant any seeds. It sure looks good now.

Thank you highgrit.
No. I mentioned to my neighbor when I first moved in that I had to rip up the pasture and plant some permanent pasture. He said, "Why? you already have permanent pasture. Just water it and see!" (That was 4 years ago.) And he was right! I just kept mowing down the weeds, and the grasses and clover took over. (We mow every 2-3 weeks.) So I added some cross fences to rotate stock, and now I have more grass than what they can eat. :D I know that I need more cattle on it, but do not want to buy with these prices.
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[ga.prime]

That looks like an onion storage facility in the background.

 

[branguscowgirl]

That looks like an onion storage facility in the background.

Actually that is a Prune Dryer across the street. When they dry prunes it is noisy when the dryers are running, but it smells like fresh baked pies! I always thought a prune was a dried plum. I learned when I moved here a prune is just a prune. :lol: They are growing all around me. They smell a lot better processing than "onions" at least.

 

[ga.prime]

A prune is a prune but it's also a kind of a plum, so you were right!

 

[Brute 23]

Around here if you have a planted grass like tifton or coastal that grows 9 mo out of the year we try to keep all the extra weeds out. Plus the huisatche and mesquite will take over with out an annual spraying.

That is nice to have that clean of pastures naturally.

 

[branguscowgirl]

That is nice to have that clean of pastures naturally.

We do some spot pulling of those nasty, thorny weeds. But the water and mowing them (before they seed) has helped the most.
I feel fortunate and very pleasantly surprised at how well it has performed. I guess that we must have really fertile soil here. There are nice pastures and orchards all around me.
Though I have never had my soil tested, I am suspecting that it may be pretty good on minerals also. My cattle have free choice minerals that they barely touch. (Their blood work has always came back within normal limits, and no indication that they are deficient.) It certainly saves me some money there.

 

[Brute 23]

Absolutely. Grass looks great.

 

[branguscowgirl]

Absolutely. Grass looks great.

Thank you Brute. :D

 

[cowgirl8]

Nice pastures BC..
Here is the fields i said i'd post pictures of....
This guy does many things wrong. He doesnt mow, he sprays. He also doesnt rotate. He has less cows on more land than the land we have across the road from him. Pictures taken from same spot on road...
His way

Our way

I just rotated our 32 herd off this 20 acre field after a week of grazing and its ready to bale..lol Of course, getting rain in August will do that. But, the guy across the road has over 300 acres with around 30 cows, and his looks like it does with rain in August.