Small padocks OR Strip graze

NewBeefFarmer

After starting strip grazing a field for the first time on sunday, and wonder whats better, smaller tight paddocks (depending on stock) or strip graze. .

im giving a meter or 2 each day. . . good rectangle field. .. moving the line down the field.


just wondering what do most poeple do, or is it "as it suits the farmer". . .

surely looking at what i done this evening, strip grazing is grass management at its best???. . .

NBF

hmmmmmm cant fix my spelling mistake in thread title. . ..padock to paddock.. .grrrrrrr

Dont be daft

Big fan of strip grazing. Mind you to get the full effect I think back fences are essential.
Probably a cheaper system than making smaller paddocks and if you want to cut silage/top/spread slurry your not tryin to work in tiny fields.

Very easy to fall into the trap of giving the cattle too little each day though.
And it is labour intensive, effectively doubles your paddock work. If your busy as it is I wouldn't recommend.
You can poach the ground very quickly too. If it pisses rain for hour you'd wanna be on your bike and get them of the land, from what I've seen with the bulls.

The brother got a frame for holding the reels the other day. Absolutely delighted with himself. Always have a few extra reels as their effectively rotated around the farm. Handy to have a place for them rather than fcukin them in a corner.

dar31

Dont be daft wrote: »

The brother got a frame for holding the reels the other day. Absolutely delighted with himself. Always have a few extra reels as their effectively rotated around the farm. Handy to have a place for them rather than fcukin them in a corner.

old oil drum with the lid cut out, dose the trick for me.
stakes go in the barrell, and reels hang around the outside on the top lip

Dont be daft

dar31 wrote: »

old oil drum with the lid cut out, dose the trick for me.
stakes go in the barrell, and reels hang around the outside on the top lip

Tried the same setup but found the stakes would get in a big tangle as they were dumped in and the reels were getting in the way when I was taking out stakes. Was driving me mad pulling out 20 stakes when I wanted 10 then knocking off the reels as I did it.

ootbitb

Tried strip grazing but found too much was wasted.

Now I give them a rectangle about 25 metres at it's narrowest and lasting one to two days.

Back fence is ideal but water supply makes this a problem.

Bodacious

ootbitb wrote: »

Tried strip grazing but found too much was wasted.

Now I give them a rectangle about 25 metres at it's narrowest and lasting one to two days.

Back fence is ideal but water supply makes this a problem.

If grass has got a bit strong ... You can't beat the strip grazing to reduce wastage I've ladies that go down on both knees and eat 4ft under the wire without breaking ... Throw the calves trough ahead too so they can creep

1chippy

As was mentioned back fencing and waer supply is the main issues. we done it this year and definately means you get total value out of the grass and the cattle are onto fresh ground the whole time. it is very labour intensive, but if your like myself you dont mind spending that extra few minutes moving the fences. found the cows got far quieter from being in around them that bit more too.

grazeaway

Strip grazing in this weather!! Great way to redden your paddocks

blue5000

Dont be daft wrote: »

Big fan of strip grazing. Mind you to get the full effect I think back fences are essential.
Probably a cheaper system than making smaller paddocks and if you want to cut silage/top/spread slurry your not tryin to work in tiny fields.

Very easy to fall into the trap of giving the cattle too little each day though.
And it is labour intensive, effectively doubles your paddock work. If your busy as it is I wouldn't recommend.
You can poach the ground very quickly too. If it pisses rain for hour you'd wanna be on your bike and get them of the land, from what I've seen with the bulls.

The brother got a frame for holding the reels the other day. Absolutely delighted with himself. Always have a few extra reels as their effectively rotated around the farm. Handy to have a place for them rather than fcukin them in a corner.

Thanks for pic, but I'd only be using it for december and january:P

PatQfarmer

Dont be daft wrote: »

Tried the same setup but found the stakes would get in a big tangle as they were dumped in and the reels were getting in the way when I was taking out stakes. Was driving me mad pulling out 20 stakes when I wanted 10 then knocking off the reels as I did it.

The oil drum works for me, but only with the plastic stakes...and only if you leave the foot and spike of the stake sticking out, otherwise they will get all tangled together at the bottom of the barrell. Won't work at all with the pig-tail stakes, they get tangled, either way. I hang them on bits of old brush-handles, fitted to a wall.

Dont be daft

PatQfarmer wrote: »

The oil drum works for me, but only with the plastic stakes...and only if you leave the foot and spike of the stake sticking out, otherwise they will get all tangled together at the bottom of the barrell. Won't work at all with the pig-tail stakes, they get tangled, either way. I hang them on bits of old brush-handles, fitted to a wall.

Yeah, its all pigtails here. Thats a great idea about the brush handles, we've them all laid out on a flatbed trailer which isnt ideal.
Must try set up something like that. Thanks for that.