Paddock sizes : sucklers

Toplink

Going to start making paddocks out of some of our bigger fields over the next 2 years. We have a herd of 30/40 suckers cows where the weanlings will be sold at 9 months or so.

Just wondering what paddock size would be the most suitable?

I know there will be limitations anyway but in general if you had a 15 acres field for example. What size paddocks would you make out of it.

feartuath

Was on a better farm walk in Kildare ,part of BTAP, their policy was paddocks grazed for 3 days , then left for 3 weeks.
My paddock sizes are roughly 2.5 acres with 29 cows and bull ,this year the grass was two plentyfulll and closed some for hay

reilig

We probably have poorer quality land. Cows would be in no bigger bunches than 20. Paddocks would be between 3 and 4 acres and would last between 3 and 4 days with the calves always feeding ahead in the next paddock through a creep gate.

hugo29

i have 20 cows on 3 acre paddocks, try to set it up as previously mentioned on the 3 day-3 week rule of thumb,

also have one bigger paddock for wet weather to stop poaching, maybe 6 acre or so

blue5000

Ours vary from 2 acres on wet land to 5 acres in dry silage fields. cows run usually in bunches of 20-30.
In silage fields keep the strainers in 25m approx so you can mow all round the field, try leave the permanent fence so that the contractor can mow long, parallel sets. Put the trough in the middle of the field so you can easily sub-divide larger paddocks in spring and autumn.

Zr105

We've around the 30 sucklers plus calves at foot, the paddocks are around 3-4 acres, depending on weather they could last 4-5 days with good growth and take out a paddock for silage, down to barely managing 2 when its a drought or very wet as we keep them moving quickly to stop them mucking it,

Would agree with trying to have atleast 7 divisions per group(3days grazing 3weeks growth) more preferably and also trying to either keep them square as possible or long stops but i wouldn't go mad for long narrow strips were cows end up having to walk from one end to the other for water.
I got a trial weeks trial of the professional version of google earth the first time we set out paddocks and it was great as you can play around an get them even and get a rough idea of were to start your fences(based off a tree you no or a gateway etc)
One other thing to add put in loads of gate ways! Its handy in wet weather if you can go in one and out the other, and also try to leave it so you can skip over one easily!

caseman

I think 15 to 20 cows an heavy land is all you can run together with out doing damage in bad weather,I ran 45 one year and the ground would cut very quick in bad weather.
Paddock size here is from 1 to 5 acres, mostly large block's divided with strip wire, in wet weather small areas and moved every day to avoid poaching and in good weather larger areas that lasts up to five day's to save labour.
As for 3days grazing 3 weeks growth this will vary alot an land type weather and time of year so, it's not much of a guide.

Zr105

caseman wrote: »

I think 15 to 20 cows an heavy land is all you can run together with out doing damage in bad weather,I ran 45 one year and the ground would cut very quick in bad weather.
Paddock size here is from 1 to 5 acres, mostly large block's divided with strip wire, in wet weather small areas and moved every day to avoid poaching and in good weather larger areas that lasts up to five day's to save labour.
As for 3days grazing 3 weeks growth this will vary alot an land type weather and time of year so, it's not much of a guide.

I do have to agree that the 3 day/week growth system isn't a great guide from the point of varying grass growth alright but i said 7 more from the point that we seem to end up running around 7 paddocks in rotation and at times more, but below that and the grass will never have any time to recover really i think?

Toplink

Great feedback so far. Thanks.

Our farm current paddocks are all stone walls so would need to invest in a good fencing system to mke paddocks.

Would also need to upgrade the water distribution. Possibly would need a new borehole. hmmmm