to clip or not to clip

[Anonymous]

My pasture is not currently being used because the cows are away getting bred. Right now the winter rye is seeding, and the bahia is coming out of dormancy good and there are a few heads. Plan is to bring the cows back in 3 weeks. Should I clip the tops to promote growth or leave it be as stockpiled forgae seeing as they are going to be back in a few weeks. Fwiw the rainy season here is just starting but not regular rain for another month or so

 

[dun]

That's always the $64K question. If you clip it the grass should become vegative again rather then reproductive. The catch is if you'll have good enough growing conditions in those 3 weeks for it to do any good. Persoanlly I would wait till just before the cows come home and clip it so that about 1/2-1 inch of the grass blades are removed.

 

[Anonymous]

As usual Dun, you have another well thought out answer for me. It is much appreciated