Grazing fields at end of year....confused??

max12

depending on what you read, i seem to get a different idea on whether to graze tight at the end of the year or leave some cover of grass.

Which is best.

In my situation, i don't tend to get cattle turned out until april due to weather.

all my cattle are housed for winter so which is best.

do people only leave some cover if they let cattlle out in feb time?

appreciated opinions on this.

reilig

I try to graze as tight as I can at this time of year, but usually the ground gets too wet and I end up housing the cattle before they have it fully ate. But that's why I keep a few sheep - they'll finish the job for me every year.

Like you, I don't let out many cattle until April, and some years it can be early may. I find that if grass isn't eaten well at this time of year, there will be a dirty sole of white grass on it by the time I let the cattle out. They won't eat it properly when they get out as it won't be as clean and I end up topping it straight after the first eating,

max12 wrote: »

depending on what you read, i seem to get a different idea on whether to graze tight at the end of the year or leave some cover of grass.

Which is best.

In my situation, i don't tend to get cattle turned out until april due to weather.

all my cattle are housed for winter so which is best.

do people only leave some cover if they let cattlle out in feb time?

appreciated opinions on this.

Pat the lad

I graze it tight - if the weather allows. I found that the heavy frost stunts the growth the following spring if i dont - well it did last year on some fields that I didn't get to graze. Like what reilig said - a tuff a white grass that has to die off or be cut before the swath freshen's up again

whelan1

i have heavy ground too:rolleyes: i am aiming this year to get all the paddocks grazed down well , touch wood the weather is being good to us , would normally have cows in at night around 10 october , there's still plenty of grass there to work away at... that was the beauty of letting sheep in for the winter , all the paddocks got grazed out fully , to make way for new grass

farmer1

We always start the last rotation the first week in October. The paddocks are totally cleaned off. Am fortunate to have a dry farm so can turn the cattle out early. Had the bulls out 28 January this year. Cattle seem do far better on the spring grass even though it most of it grows in the autumn! Compensatory growth I suppose.

denis086

We generally dont like leaving grass on the fields but if the weather doesnt allow it then theres no option but leave a bit on them. But we noticed the last 2 yrs the whole country side looks like its after being burnt off after the winter anyway and no doubt its because the ground is lacking but the men in suits know best you cant take out what you dont put in! :mad: but anyway anywhere there was a bit of grass left it turned yellowy and was slowest to come back so id say grazing the fields out is best .
Mind you at a farm walk teagasc was on about measuring grass etc and they said you should have a few weeks grass ahead of you at closing so you can turn them out early.
Ill leave you decide!

BOND747

With the weather being so dry at the moment im leaving them graze it tight

irishh_bob

max12 wrote: »

depending on what you read, i seem to get a different idea on whether to graze tight at the end of the year or leave some cover of grass.

Which is best.

In my situation, i don't tend to get cattle turned out until april due to weather.

all my cattle are housed for winter so which is best.

do people only leave some cover if they let cattlle out in feb time?

appreciated opinions on this.

since you dont go to grass early in the spring , it makes sense for you to graze out completley at the back end , leaves it much easier for slurry spreading in january aswell