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<blockquote data-quote="SRBeef" data-source="post: 691245" data-attributes="member: 7509"><p>Isn't 24-30 months a bit old for an average age to slaughter? From what I have seen so far with my Herefords, they are ready for processing much sooner than that, maybe 14-15 months? And this is on grass no significant amounts of grain.</p><p></p><p>I interseeded some clover last year very successfully with a no till drill. </p><p></p><p>I am also not completely against using some commercial fertilizer. Just don't "guess" or apply "what the neighbors used". Do soil samples, take them in to the coop and see what you have.</p><p></p><p>Perhaps once you get pasture fertility up to where it needs to be you should not need more other than occasional lime. However I hate to see beginners get set against using some needed fertilizer then wonder why their cattle don't have enough to eat.</p><p></p><p>Much of the land in this country has been mined of fertility for many years. Cattle rotationally grazed don't take much off and put a lot back on but you need to know where you are starting from and establish a good base of fertility to begin with.</p><p></p><p>Excess thistles and weeds can be a sign of a fertility or pH imbalance. Just take some soil samples in to a coop and have them analyzed to see where you are at THEN you can see if some fertilizer is needed. </p><p></p><p>Some areas have specific shortages of trace items such as sulphur or boron or zinc or mag. etc. that if brought up to where they should be with a few pounds per acre can really improve pasture. And may never really improve by the cattle grazing alone. Make sure you ask for a trace element analysis on your soil tests also, not just N, P, K and pH.</p><p></p><p>jmho. Jim</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="SRBeef, post: 691245, member: 7509"] Isn't 24-30 months a bit old for an average age to slaughter? From what I have seen so far with my Herefords, they are ready for processing much sooner than that, maybe 14-15 months? And this is on grass no significant amounts of grain. I interseeded some clover last year very successfully with a no till drill. I am also not completely against using some commercial fertilizer. Just don't "guess" or apply "what the neighbors used". Do soil samples, take them in to the coop and see what you have. Perhaps once you get pasture fertility up to where it needs to be you should not need more other than occasional lime. However I hate to see beginners get set against using some needed fertilizer then wonder why their cattle don't have enough to eat. Much of the land in this country has been mined of fertility for many years. Cattle rotationally grazed don't take much off and put a lot back on but you need to know where you are starting from and establish a good base of fertility to begin with. Excess thistles and weeds can be a sign of a fertility or pH imbalance. Just take some soil samples in to a coop and have them analyzed to see where you are at THEN you can see if some fertilizer is needed. Some areas have specific shortages of trace items such as sulphur or boron or zinc or mag. etc. that if brought up to where they should be with a few pounds per acre can really improve pasture. And may never really improve by the cattle grazing alone. Make sure you ask for a trace element analysis on your soil tests also, not just N, P, K and pH. jmho. Jim [/QUOTE]
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