collegeboundgal
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What we have done the past two years was put the cattle herd in a "sacrifice" lot sometime starting in September and feed hay all fall till after the first killing frost or two. Then we start rotating on stockpiled fescue for all/most of winter into early spring. Took the hubbs just one year to convert him to do it this way till it no longer works. I am grateful for someone in my life that is open to my suggestions and willing to give it a try!!!
The way I see it, we will be feeding hay regardless due to our maintained herd size so I would rather feed when I don't have to have 3/4 clothes layers on and still have a frozen face.
Kids (twin 6 year olds) can (more safely) either go with or at least not die of exposure if left playing in the creek while we feed hay. And if they have good experiences with the farm as kids my hope is at least one would be willing to continue the lifestyle as we age. (we are in our 40's so not exactly retirement age yet, just thinking ahead). In the winter they are finally old enough that I wouldn't worry about leaving them in the car while either their dad or I took less than 10 minutes to roll up a wire or on nicer days, they could go with.
All the fields but the sacrificed lot get to keep growing for maxim stockpiling every day it can during the fall. After rotation starts again the sacrificed lot is left alone till late spring so all the seeds dropped in the hay germinate (most start growing that fall as we do get warmer temps even into December) and get a good root system established.
The fields that the cattle rotate on have never become a quagmire. Might get some mud around the water troughs, but noting much to worry about.
Any calves born during this time are on fairly fresh pasture with grass under them.
We don't have a barn to put our round bales in so by the end of winter the bottom of those bales were looking pretty sorry depending on the amount of rain/snow we'd get. And testing has shown that stockpile quality remains long into the year at a better rate than exposed rounds (we have net wrapped so it didn't drop as much as string tied if I remember right).
We set up poly wire on the more pleasant days if at all possible (in southern Missouri, that's often enough for me) and roll them up every two or three days. Since the grass is not actively growing, no back fence is required.
On days that everything is frozen, a bale or two is rolled out. (more often than not by the husband. LOL)
If it was to snow a lot and stick or frozen rain, we would also feed hay but that has yet to happen the past couple years since we've been doing this.
I will say after this year, I am contemplating on rolling out a bale every 3 days or so as the protein levels have given them loose(er) stools. Other than that, this has been a win on how we feed.
The way I see it, we will be feeding hay regardless due to our maintained herd size so I would rather feed when I don't have to have 3/4 clothes layers on and still have a frozen face.
Kids (twin 6 year olds) can (more safely) either go with or at least not die of exposure if left playing in the creek while we feed hay. And if they have good experiences with the farm as kids my hope is at least one would be willing to continue the lifestyle as we age. (we are in our 40's so not exactly retirement age yet, just thinking ahead). In the winter they are finally old enough that I wouldn't worry about leaving them in the car while either their dad or I took less than 10 minutes to roll up a wire or on nicer days, they could go with.
All the fields but the sacrificed lot get to keep growing for maxim stockpiling every day it can during the fall. After rotation starts again the sacrificed lot is left alone till late spring so all the seeds dropped in the hay germinate (most start growing that fall as we do get warmer temps even into December) and get a good root system established.
The fields that the cattle rotate on have never become a quagmire. Might get some mud around the water troughs, but noting much to worry about.
Any calves born during this time are on fairly fresh pasture with grass under them.
We don't have a barn to put our round bales in so by the end of winter the bottom of those bales were looking pretty sorry depending on the amount of rain/snow we'd get. And testing has shown that stockpile quality remains long into the year at a better rate than exposed rounds (we have net wrapped so it didn't drop as much as string tied if I remember right).
We set up poly wire on the more pleasant days if at all possible (in southern Missouri, that's often enough for me) and roll them up every two or three days. Since the grass is not actively growing, no back fence is required.
On days that everything is frozen, a bale or two is rolled out. (more often than not by the husband. LOL)
If it was to snow a lot and stick or frozen rain, we would also feed hay but that has yet to happen the past couple years since we've been doing this.
I will say after this year, I am contemplating on rolling out a bale every 3 days or so as the protein levels have given them loose(er) stools. Other than that, this has been a win on how we feed.
