Tall fescue

[Down in Dixie]

Hi all. New member and but been lurking for about a month. I have a question about tall fescue in my pasture. There is a large percentage of it and of course the cows won't touch it. Right now it's about 12" tall. Should I clip it down lower or leave it? I have plenty of grass and acreage to graze but would rather have more palatable grass to graze on. Just trying to find a good way to manage it? Any advice will be great.

 

[TennesseeTuxedo]

I'm shocked they won't eat 12" tall fescue but so be it. I'd mow it down to about 6 inches and see what they think about that.

 

[Ebenezer]

Consider changing cattle genetics.

 

[Down in Dixie]

Here is a pic of what I'm talking about

 

[chaded]

Very shocked they won't eat that.... my cattle would starve if they wouldn't eat fescue.

 

[sstterry]

It looks to me that you have more grass than cows.

 

[Down in Dixie]

I have to much grass right now. 12 head with 7 calves on roughly 60 acres of pasture. They are on a rotation as well.

 

[TennesseeTuxedo]

I have to much grass right now. 12 head with 7 calves on roughly 60 acres of pasture. They are on a rotation as well.

Yup, that's not enough.

 

[Down in Dixie]

I have to much grass right now. 12 head with 7 calves on roughly 60 acres of pasture. They are on a rotation as well.

Yup, that's not enough.

Not enough grass or cows? Going to a friends farm tomorrow to help him fix his pin and check out his heifers. Hoping to pick up a few extra head.

 

[kenny thomas]

Here is a pic of what I'm talking about

Are you sure you have tall fescue? Unless you have already clipped your pasture it should be headed out. If you have already clipped good for you and the grass looks great.

 

[TennesseeTuxedo]

I have to much grass right now. 12 head with 7 calves on roughly 60 acres of pasture. They are on a rotation as well.

Yup, that's not enough.

Not enough grass or cows? Going to a friends farm tomorrow to help him fix his pin and check out his heifers. Hoping to pick up a few extra head.

Not enough cows. Your grass looks good.

 

[Down in Dixie]

Here is a pic of what I'm talking about

Are you sure you have tall fescue? Unless you have already clipped your pasture it should be headed out. If you have already clipped good for you and the grass looks great.

I clipped it back in April to about 6". Pulled some seed heads the other day and compared to pictures online and I'm 90% sure it's tall fescue.

 

[kenny thomas]

Wish my grass looked that good. I'm just now clipping. It got ahead of me in my rotation

 

[Down in Dixie]

With all this rain we just got the pastures look awesome. I may clip some of the fields at 8-10" to knock the seed heads and weeds down. I have a pasture I cut for hay about a month ago and going to put the cows on them for a week or two. Just have to get my watering setup better to accommodate a mob type grazing system.

 

[kenny thomas]

Unless you have it in 1/4 acre paddock size with those numbers you aren't mob grazing

 

[Lbass]

Look on the drivers side in front of the hip. If its sunk in they arent eating. If its flush or even rounded out, they are full. If they fescue pasture that isnt very diverse. They may be getting warm and not eating in the heat of the day. I bet they just arent eating enough for you to notice though.

 

[Texasmark]

I'm shocked they won't eat 12" tall fescue but so be it. I'd mow it down to about 6 inches and see what they think about that.

Bovines showing their true colors. Too much to eat, one bite 20 paces, one bite 20 paces.......the exact reason I don't waste my time and money on live winter pasture.

Agree on clipping down as stated. 4 things happen: Clippings aid in soil development, clipping causes new tender shoots, clipping improves the overall plant growth...since heads are present, changes the chemistry from mature to growth stage, seed heads make for more clumps and thicker grass on down the line.

 

[Down in Dixie]

Hoping the pasture is dry enough to get on and clip today. Have another pasture I'm moving them to that has some great new growth on it right now.