grazing patterns

bullnuts

A block of Land I have been renting is this year in paddocks which is great as I can already see extra grass ! I keep Sucklers about 20 cows with calves at foot and 15 yearlings ! Never a problem but now that they are more compact could I run into problems ? Grass in last paddock is eaten to yellow ! Moved them today but should I be making them eat it bare or will I have worm problems or any other fore warnings to watch for ?

billie holiday

The idea with paddocks is to hit a small area very very hard (no poaching) graze as tight as you can then get them off that land to allow maximum recover time.

bullnuts

billie holiday wrote: »

The idea with paddocks is to hit a small area very very hard (no poaching) graze as tight as you can then get them off that land to allow maximum recover time.

Yes but on land that was never grazed tight before is there things I need to watch out for like red water or anything like that

billie holiday

Not sure to be honest.

cacs

bullnuts wrote: »

A block of Land I have been renting is this year in paddocks which is great as I can already see extra grass ! I keep Sucklers about 20 cows with calves at foot and 15 yearlings ! Never a problem but now that they are more compact could I run into problems ? Grass in last paddock is eaten to yellow ! Moved them today but should I be making them eat it bare or will I have worm problems or any other fore warnings to watch for ?

I saw your post there. I was at newford farm they said you should grazing in there days no longer or you are eating regrowth. You should grow in 21 days. If your not getting 3 days your over stocked or your paddock is too small for your stocking rate. They graze to four cm grow to ten cm. I am in the process of splitting 20 acres into 7 paddock I keep 15 cows and bull I would like Keep the weanlings until September but I am not sure have I got enough grass. How many acres and paddocks do you have

Miname

cathal irwin wrote: »

I saw your post there. I was at newford farm they said you should grazing in there days no longer or you are eating regrowth. You should grow in 21 days. If your not getting 3 days your over stocked or your paddock is too small for your stocking rate. They graze to four cm grow to ten cm. I am in the process of splitting 20 acres into 7 paddock I keep 15 cows and bull I would like Keep the weanlings until September but I am not sure have I got enough grass. How many acres and paddocks do you have

Presuming you've just under 3 acres to a paddock and letting cows in with calves at foot at 1400 covers then for three days you'll need another 35 cows along with your own. Keep your paddocks down to an acre, you'll be fighting to use all the grass you'll have.

dh1985

cathal irwin wrote: »

I saw your post there. I was at newford farm they said you should grazing in there days no longer or you are eating regrowth. You should grow in 21 days. If your not getting 3 days your over stocked or your paddock is too small for your stocking rate. They graze to four cm grow to ten cm. I am in the process of splitting 20 acres into 7 paddock I keep 15 cows and bull I would like Keep the weanlings until September but I am not sure have I got enough grass. How many acres and paddocks do you have

Yeah I would agree with Miname, you could do with more.paddocks. I would go with 12 myself.
It's not always possible to split in perfectly even paddocks so whatever fits best for yourself. You should have no problem with shortages of grass. Probably the opposite but again it depends on land quality and how much grass growth potential your land has. I would be mindful also that newford were going with a bag of can after every grazing boosting growth. When starting out don't feel to restricted to the 3 day on 3 week off method as you might find a more appropriate balance for yourself

cacs

dh1985 wrote: »

Yeah I would agree with Miname, you could do with more.paddocks. I would go with 12 myself.
It's not always possible to split in perfectly even paddocks so whatever fits best for yourself. You should have no problem with shortages of grass. Probably the opposite but again it depends on land quality and how much grass growth potential your land has. I would be mindful also that newford were going with a bag of can after every grazing boosting growth. When starting out don't feel to restricted to the 3 day on 3 week off method as you might find a more appropriate balance for yourself

Thanks

croot

I thought this article gives good advice on setting up paddocks.

http://www.farmersjournal.ie/setting-up-a-paddock-grazing-system-179820

billie holiday

When setting up paddocks always always give consideration to the prevailing wind and aspect topography..... there is no shelter in electric wire.....

billie holiday

Also observe where cattle prefer to lie down in the field... generally older farmers are a wee bit sharper on these things than grass measuring 4cm teagasc type lads

bullnuts

billie holiday wrote: »

Also observe where cattle prefer to lie down in the field... generally older farmers are a wee bit sharper on these things than grass measuring 4cm teagasc type lads

That's good advise! The landlord was very good like that! Every grazing block has cover and water !split into 4 in all so a week in each