Pondering....

[skyhightree1]

I am trying to wait till grass gets about 6-8 inches taller due to how slow its growing before I put some cattle on this piece. I am still feeding hay and have plenty left. If it were warmer and grasses growing better they would be on it already. My ponder is should I just put them on it now or should I wait. It has been consistently 40 degrees or so each morning and highs 60-70 and raining like crazy. This paddock is 12 acres or so and want to put all my 1st calf heifer pairs on it.

 

[dun]

Turn them in if it is a cool season grass like fescue/OG, etc. If you can break it into smaller sections with a polywire it would be better. If it's cool season grass it will get way ahead of the cows before you know it. I have 3 first calvers with calves and 3 yearling heifers on about 3 acres, been there a week and I can;t see where they have made a dent in the grass.

 

[branguscowgirl]

I'd turn them out. But I leave mine out all year, so what do I know? :mrgreen:

 

[JW IN VA]

I would turn out but make sure they are full of hay because of the amount of clover.

 

[fitz]

You're right on the slow grass due to cool temps. I've already started mine on their rotational grazing. Just moving them sooner than years past.
Goodness forbid, you may need the hay later. I'd let them have it and place some high mag minerals out.

 

[skyhightree1]

Turn them in if it is a cool season grass like fescue/OG, etc. If you can break it into smaller sections with a polywire it would be better. If it's cool season grass it will get way ahead of the cows before you know it. I have 3 first calvers with calves and 3 yearling heifers on about 3 acres, been there a week and I can;t see where they have made a dent in the grass.

Yea, I will fix the fence the deer tore up probably Monday and put them on it by next week sometime. Yes sir it is Fescue/OG I can cut it into 2 sections fairly easily and have access to water on each side.

I'd turn them out. But I leave mine out all year, so what do I know? :mrgreen:

I would turn out but make sure they are full of hay because of the amount of clover.

I have hay bales lining that field I have a couple they can get too.

You're right on the slow grass due to cool temps. I've already started mine on their rotational grazing. Just moving them sooner than years past.
Goodness forbid, you may need the hay later. I'd let them have it and place some high mag minerals out.

Yea another reason I wanted the grass way ahead is im worried about it being dry later. I will put high mag minerals out as well.

 

[Jogeephus]

I'd be grazing it too.

 

[nobull82]

I wish my pasture was that tall. I would turn them out unless you can put them on other pastures first.

 

[skyhightree1]

I wish my pasture was that tall. I would turn them out unless you can put them on other pastures first.

This is the summer pasture they are still on the winter pasture where I am feeding hay. I have to finish fixing the fence that the deer tore down for me then they will be on it. I don't have many heifers so I may stick some bred cows on there too.

 

[greybeard]

Not familiar with your grasses, but here, when it gets tall like that, it starts getting tough, and will get worse as the weeks progress.

Even my bahia is outgrowing what my cattle can keep down with all this year's spring rain and I keep thinking "I need more cows" but then I remember.......................2011....cows eating holly and sweetgum leaves right off the trees and jumping on any yaupon that happens to lean down over a fence...........

 

[papavillars]

Sure wish my cows would eat all the yaupons.