Pic of stockpiled grass after a cold Fall

Agman

Very cool and interesting, but I have a few questions?

Do you put a hot wire behind them also to keep them from backtracking on the previously eaten strip? How do you provide fresh water when the paddock is moving every day? Do you have a mineral feeder on a skid that you move over each day as well? I am interested in trying the concept out and have all the electric fencing in place, just having trouble visualizing how I will handle the water thing.

thanks

Lucky, I have lanes somewhat like a maze that will ultimately lead to piped water from a well. If cattle do not have to travel more than 800 feet to water they will go individually or in small groups. I am fortunate that I also have a small stream that I have managed to run rectangular paddocks parallel with for long distances. The cattle are moved the lengthwise direction of the rectangular paddocks and I let the cattle access the stream in an unusual manner. I do have a wire(flexible poly wire with 9 stainless conductors) in front and behind them during grass growing periods. There are almost no gates on the farm. To give access to water in the stream, I simply lift the single wire adjacent to the water. To hold the wire up I use a length of PVC pipe about 7 ft long. I have a v cut in the end of the PVC pipe for the wire to sit in. The PVC pipe is placed over top of the small post that was holding the wire and the wire lifted and placed in the v. The cattle just walk under the wire to the water. For mineral access when not using the lanes I have a 55 gallon plastic barrel with a cutout for the cattle to get their head through. The barrel is mounted in the hole of a 22.5 road tractor tire that has a short chain affixed to the tire. I just pull this along with the 4 wheeler as I move the cattle. The lanes have a sheltered skid type mineral feeder. This rig is moved rarely. If I am using a small paddock that will be used just for 3 or 4 days, I sometimes will let the cattle have access to the previously grazed section and use that section to get the cattle back to water. In winter, trying to maximize feed use, I often let the cattle back graze if I am short of stockpiled feed. I will take them off before damage is done to the pasture. One of my biggest problems is trying to prevent the cattle from making paths. This is rolling hills country and the paths become ditches when we have lots of rain. I am not always able to convey explicitly the technique. Should you have a question feel free to ask for clarification. Once you get your system going you will never regret the change. I regret that I was unaware of the method and its benefits years ago.

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Agmantoo
If they can do it,
you know you can!

Agman-

Do you think this type of system could work for custom raising dairy heifers? My goal is to get into custom growing dairy heifer and I'm extremely interested in grazing.

NICC08, not only do I think it will work I think the system would create heifers with improved feet. As you are probably aware, foot problems are a dairy farmers nightmare. Since you would be starting with calves that are hand raised, I am of the opinion that early on as young calves you would need to give them a boost by feeding some feed using a creep feeder in addition to the forage. My brood cows are selected to my feed and my methods. I have moderate size cows and cows that do not give excessive milk. I want the cows to be easy kept and to give adequate milk to grow a quality calf but not at the sacrifice of cow condition. I want the calf to rapidly reach the point that it can forage for itself. You need IMO to develop your operation to replicate this without having the brood cow. Using this technique should make you the low cost producer of quality heifers that will be in high demand. Do not focus on the price the heifers will ultimately bring because you have little influence on that, instead focus on the amount of profit you will realize by controlling your costs. Your costs are under your influence. I read and gather inputs that state what producers have in their animals. I am told that the average feeder calf producers has a net return of $75 and that the cost of carrying a brood cow for a year exceed $300 per animal. This may be true elsewhere but not here and numbers like this need not apply to you. Go for it!

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Agmantoo
If they can do it,
you know you can!

I was thinking along those same lines, agman.

My problem is finding enough land to graze enough heifers on to have multiple customers, so as to not put all my fish in one bowl. I think the larger 200+ cow dairies are going to be most interested in this service. Resulting in many critters thus needing a large land base.

Do you find it sensible to rent pasture ground to graze on. as your "facilities" per say are are mobile? fences, waterers, feeders, etc.

I guess the improvement in the pasture would just be a bonus for the landowner.

At what age do you think a young bovine can convert grass effectively to pounds of gain? Sure a 4 month old calf will nibble on grass, but is it benefiting from that grass as much as say a 6 month old calf?

I do plan on starting with calves and taking them to 3 months prefresh eventually. This will take time.

NICC08, I wrote a lengthy reply and purposely deleted it as I was rambling. Yes, lease land and get a formal contract and have the option of renewing same. The land has to have a good perimeter fence, an absolute must. Look for an old dairy or beef farm. Get enough land for current and future needs. I would want to pamper the heifers until they reach six months of age, then I would slack off of the creep feed but I would want them to remain in good condition until they reach750 lbs at which time I would want them bred and I would retain them another 7 months. You could also keep some beef cows to add income from the sell of feeder calves during times of surplus grass. A single bull, preferably an Angus for small calves, could be used on all females. The older cows would be good company and will teach the heifers the routines. To determine what you need, start by backing into the situation. For example, what do you need to be earning 1 year, 2 years, 3 years and 5 years from now? How many animals will you need to market those years to achieve those goals? Ask yourself how many acres will those animals require? These animals and acres will require how much labor and do you have it? What machinery will be required and do you have access to it? Ask yourself how much start up money do I need and can I get it? Question do I have the experience, determination, commitment and personal drive to make this project successful? Once these questions are satisfactorily concluded move ahead. Good luck

__________________
Agmantoo
If they can do it,
you know you can!