Post by ashleyh on Jul 10, 2014 23:37:01 GMT -5
My "yard" is about 2 acres in size. About 1/2 acre is the house, fenced yard and fenced garden. The rested is a partly fenced "pasture" that 20 years ago was someones golf course. I am sure they kept it nice back then. The owners in-between just used it as a pretty yard and occasionally let their horses out on it. We have lived here for just over a year, last year (pre cow) we just mowed the outer grass and did nothing more. I have no idea what kind of grass it is but there is defiantly some sections that have a more putting green appearance and then others that look just like the field grass my neighbors sheep eat. There is lots of weeds including some clover, lots of bind weed, kochia, plantain weed and others. This year we have been letting Belle graze in sections and then moving her to a new section everyday. (right now i have 7 12' panels made into my portable corral) Belle is a 3 year old jersey who is about 6 months into her second pregnancy and has been in lactation for about 13 months. She is feeding a monster of a foster angus calf twice a day, he is just shy of 4 months old, plus we milk once a week or so. I give her 1-2quarts of grain MOST days (not everyday but maybe I should be?) and about 1/4+/- of a bale of 1st cut alfalfa hay (bales average about 60lbs) twice a day. I will be drying her up before the end of the month. My fil says that my grass is not good for her. He says that lawn grass is just a filler and does not have the nutrients a cow needs especially protein. Is that true? I read in Joann's book that she had raised a cow on the lawn and kept her in the garage. Am I doing what is right for my girl? We really love her and want to take care of her properly. Sometimes I think she is thin, other times I think she is alright.