Seeding feeding area

[pricefarm]

Where I feed the cows this winter I have around 2 acres of ground that's tore up bad. I ran the disc over it to smooth things out and was going to spread some seed. What would be a good grass to plant that would give me some fast grazing. I will be planting k31 but what would be good to plant with it barley, wheat, rye, oats?? Or something else?

 

[skyhightree1]

I feed same spots yearly so the only thing I do is disc and eventually grass comes back. I stopped throwing money away on replanting and let it come back when it does. However if planting ky31 I try to plant a good bit of clover with the ky31 but if I had to mix it oats grow fast and are fairly cheap if you use the non certified oats.

 

[Dave]

I do that every year. Feed in the same spot, so I know it will get beat up next winter. I seed it with oats every spring. I stopped using certified seed and just use whole oats from the feed store for about half the cost. I have used annual ryegrass in the past too but I am in a whole different climate area than you are. About 4 bags of oats raises me a bunch of feed. With the cows there all winter there is no shortage of nutrients in that ground. I generally just disk in the oats but every couple years I rip it and plow to break up the soil compaction.

 

[Nesikep]

Ryegrass might be a good one to try.

My feeding area is nothing but rock, and with the heat/dryness we have here it's hopeless to plant anything on it

 

[ClinchValley]

This has been on my to do list for a couple weeks now. I had bought 100 lbs of K31 for my lawn bare spots and spots throughout our pastures. But that stuff is expensive. And you raise a good point, I plan to feed there again, so why use the expensive seed.

I can get grain oats from local feed store and sow it? Do you guys insulate the seed with anything, such as straw? Or is that a waste?

I have also been wondering, how long to keep the cattle away from these seeded spots? Til the grass is 6-8" tall? What do you experts recommend?

 

[skyhightree1]

This has been on my to do list for a couple weeks now. I had bought 100 lbs of K31 for my lawn bare spots and spots throughout our pastures. But that stuff is expensive. And you raise a good point, I plan to feed there again, so why use the expensive seed.

I can get grain oats from local feed store and sow it? Do you guys insulate the seed with anything, such as straw? Or is that a waste?

I have also been wondering, how long to keep the cattle away from these seeded spots? Til the grass is 6-8" tall? What do you experts recommend?

No expert at all.. Yes you can get oats and sew them they germinate around 80% I work my soil up really good if im planting a patch of it and broadcast it then lightly disc over them. My soil is really loose and sandy so I wait a foot or so if soil is still loose and not packed down from rain. I like to keep cattle off as long as possible. Here is some oats I planted 2 weeks ago well my kids broadcasted the seed.

 

[ClinchValley]

Thanks Sky