Thanks for all the encouraging replies....
The pasture is a mix of Perennial Ryegrass, Alfalfa, Bromegrass, Tall Fescue, and timothy. Was seeded spring of '05, converted from notill row cropping. Things didnt work out getting the cattle on it untill October, up until then I cut it a couple of times with the batwing mower. I was actually a little nervous that I let the cattle out on it too long last fall, they took pretty much everything down to an inch or two... but I guess not, EVERYTHING came this spring. I havent done any fertilizing at all.
Its only a little more than 6 acres, and I dont a have any secret to my rotations, Im still learning.... When I seeded and fenced it I made it everything square 900'x300', with one cross fence at 450' making two 3 acre paddocks.
Ive got 7500 to 8000 lbs of beef out on it right now, I offered to take a couple of a neighbors pairs for a couple weeks for free to help get through the 1st full rotation, but it didnt happen... I dont own any hay equipment and didnt want to get the neighbor here to make an acre of hay...
I turned the cows out April 20th, (little under 5" sward height) and by the 24th they were out full time. But I was probably about 5 days late in hindsight, with the growth i have on the last 3/4 acre.
I have been moving them daily, (seems like they knock down less if i move them everyday) give them around a 1/4 acre.
Can thank the rain for all the growth, well over 2" in the last week and a half. Sward height on the first 3 acre paddock is over 8" already...
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