Some observations from my second year of rotational grazing
Sept 2, 2018 21:17:58 GMT -5
Nonesuch Melissa, throwback, and 12 more like this
Post by Shawn on Sept 2, 2018 21:17:58 GMT -5
1. I am SO, SO, SO thankful I started last year, otherwise, with this drought, I would have already been out of grass and had to sell even more of my lovelies.
2. I didn't run out of grass when everyone else's looked burned up. We were getting close, though. I was getting down to nail biting, thinking I'd have to start feeding hay in August and then we got some really nice rains and wow, I cannot believe how it rebounded. I honestly thought the grass wouldn't do much, even with the rain, but boy it has proven me wrong.
In the grazing schools I have attended, they say that native pasture doesn't grow much/any after July 15th. I found this hard to believe, but felt it must be, as the "experts" were saying so. Now I'm thinking that something is off, if my grass is growing like it is. Tonight I noticed the paddock I put them in looks almost as good as it did early last year when I first started RG. ??
3. I have one BLV+ cow that I have never been able to keep on a yearly calving schedule because she struggles to cycle soon enough after calving. This year she calved May 20th. They had been on grass about 2 weeks before she calved. She came into roaring heat about 8/12. So much so, she was sore from being ridden and was sound asleep in the pasture when I went to get her for AI. That has never happened. And if we get through tomorrow without a heat, I think she settled. The only other thing besides the RG that would make a difference for her was I didn't give her a foster calf this year, but she's been feeding another calf most of the time anyway. (He nursed his momma and then emptied out what her calf couldn't eat). I truly think the biggest difference for her has been the grass and being out on the grass when she calved. I would be thrilled if I can keep her on a yearly schedule now for spring calving.
4. Can I just say the grass amazes me. Last year I could see it changing and this year, even with the drought, my cows have "happy lines." Thanks throwback, I love that term.
I'm very interested to see how much longer we'll have grass. Last year I grazed until Oct. 1. We had made four passes around our 17 acres of grass and really stopped because it was getting too dark after work to move cows. The last 2 winters we've bale grazed in the pasture in the poorer spots. We put some effort into mowing in early June to head off the weeds and boy today I could see where that really helped the one section of the pasture. That grass is looking fabulous.
One question I have: Does white Dutch clover grow in the fall at all? (I'm embarrassed to say I can't remember) I had hoped with the moisture it might, since we didn't have any this spring.
So, with that, I can't wait to see what next year brings!
2. I didn't run out of grass when everyone else's looked burned up. We were getting close, though. I was getting down to nail biting, thinking I'd have to start feeding hay in August and then we got some really nice rains and wow, I cannot believe how it rebounded. I honestly thought the grass wouldn't do much, even with the rain, but boy it has proven me wrong.
In the grazing schools I have attended, they say that native pasture doesn't grow much/any after July 15th. I found this hard to believe, but felt it must be, as the "experts" were saying so. Now I'm thinking that something is off, if my grass is growing like it is. Tonight I noticed the paddock I put them in looks almost as good as it did early last year when I first started RG. ??
3. I have one BLV+ cow that I have never been able to keep on a yearly calving schedule because she struggles to cycle soon enough after calving. This year she calved May 20th. They had been on grass about 2 weeks before she calved. She came into roaring heat about 8/12. So much so, she was sore from being ridden and was sound asleep in the pasture when I went to get her for AI. That has never happened. And if we get through tomorrow without a heat, I think she settled. The only other thing besides the RG that would make a difference for her was I didn't give her a foster calf this year, but she's been feeding another calf most of the time anyway. (He nursed his momma and then emptied out what her calf couldn't eat). I truly think the biggest difference for her has been the grass and being out on the grass when she calved. I would be thrilled if I can keep her on a yearly schedule now for spring calving.
4. Can I just say the grass amazes me. Last year I could see it changing and this year, even with the drought, my cows have "happy lines." Thanks throwback, I love that term.
I'm very interested to see how much longer we'll have grass. Last year I grazed until Oct. 1. We had made four passes around our 17 acres of grass and really stopped because it was getting too dark after work to move cows. The last 2 winters we've bale grazed in the pasture in the poorer spots. We put some effort into mowing in early June to head off the weeds and boy today I could see where that really helped the one section of the pasture. That grass is looking fabulous.
One question I have: Does white Dutch clover grow in the fall at all? (I'm embarrassed to say I can't remember) I had hoped with the moisture it might, since we didn't have any this spring.
So, with that, I can't wait to see what next year brings!