any ideas for converting to rotational grazing?

Gabriel.

You stated "My big question is the minimum width of each daily allotment. The paddocks are 1: 84x172, 2: 145x172, 3: 145x165. All of those numbers are yards, not feet. So without boarding to bring in extra animal units, I calculated that most of the strips would be only 20' wide."

The needs of the animals will never be a constant and the paddocks will need to vary in size. Time of year, weather conditions, condition and size of the herd, types of forages, will impact how much forage that should be allocated. It is for this reason I abandoned the fixed paddock size for the 2 parallel strands of permanent wire that are then divided with the polywire and pigtail posts. Doing this allows the daily allocation of forage to be managed based on circumstances. I believe you need to rethink using fixed size paddocks.

PS...the cattle will adjust to being near the electric fence and will not be intimidated by close proximity. My cattle eat the forage underneath the fence with no problem. The cattle will also learn to recognize if the fence is on or off.

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

Yes, you are correct of course. The figure I gave was what I worked out to be a probable yearly average. I know that it will fluctuate and I'm not putting anything permanent in. I read somewhere that cows are uncomfortable in a narrow lane... but now can't remember what the stated width was. That is the source of my concern.

If your going to put up hay, make sure you get someone to do it correctly. Don't just have it done when it's convenient for someone to do. Hay can be cut and bailed when ever but the quality of hay is very dependent on when and how. It may cost more to have someone do your hay when your grass is right, but this is what your cows are eating this winter and timing will cause a significant difference in the quality. After it's done take a core sample and have your county extension test it for TDN and protein. His will indicate how good of a job you did and what you will need to supplement.

__________________
Sold the farm no more critters
I have a postage stamp lot now
I aim to make it the most organic productive 1/3 acre in southwest Missouri
With a 20 acre plot to be added in 3 years or so

Some of my most evenly grazed areas are under or near electric ht wire. It doesn't seem to phase mine one bit. I always water near the fence too. I can run the hose under the fence so they don't trample it. They drink plenty too.
Considering the overly rectangular shape of your layout you should consider following agmans lead and divide it into strips with one or two ht wires per interior fence. Then cross fence to box in your paddocks with the poly and reels. I use the power flex reels and I have a few of the older Obrein reels I like the newer Powerflex reels better.
Anyway I like to use 3 reels. I also cross fence with 2 wires. So I hook the poly to the top wire string it across to the other cross fence and wrap it over the top wire and under the bottom wire then back across the paddock and hook the reel to the bottom wire on the other side. I do this with all three reels and the distance apart depends on stock rate forage stand and alotted time on the paddock. By doing all three reels I make the current paddock and the next one. When I move the herd I take down the back reel and move it to the front. Having the two wire paddock will keep the smaller calves in the paddock, if you have lImited grass you would be surprised how much they will eat if allowed to roam. For full grown cattle 1 wire is sufficient. If you have ample grass let the little calves roam free they'll come back to their mommas.
When it comes to infrastructure follow the less is more approach early on and you'll figure out what you need.
Also try not to take a spring cutting of hay off of your unused land. When summer drouts roll around set up temporary fencing in the standing hay and graze your cattle in it. Resting your good forage during the drout. The good forage will recover quicker in the fall and you'll be impressed with the body score of your cattle on the standing hay.

__________________
Sold the farm no more critters
I have a postage stamp lot now
I aim to make it the most organic productive 1/3 acre in southwest Missouri
With a 20 acre plot to be added in 3 years or so

I have enjoyed reading your posts on rotational grazing. I came across this video on youtube and thought I would share:
It is a good design for a simple working pen

What about irregular shaped land? Ours is shaped funny and has a big holler through it. Ive tried to figure out how to do rotational grazing. I don' think you'd be able to change hte size of each lot, I think you'd have to keep the same ones. I could, however, change the amoutn of time the animals were int he lots. Would this still work?

And how do you supply water?

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I dont know what your plot looks like or what the geography looks like so I would hate to guess. Post a pic and agman is usually generous enough to plott it out for you if you're patient. I know he has mentioned time and again the value of having narrow "transport" lanes through out your pasture and having fixed watering points. I think his rule of thumb is a cow can travel 800 feet or so to water with out much consequence. He lives in the south east so that applies in a reasonably hot climate, I assume it would hold up in a milder climate as well.
Good luck. And if you're patient, he will probably give you some great suggestions. But he will need at least a drawn plott with suggestions of geography adn existing water and fence. A google earth map or similar may prove to be more helpful.
Sorry Agman if I have over promised for you. but I havent seen you tell anyone no in the 2 years or so this thread has been running. you oughtta get a comission though.

__________________
Sold the farm no more critters
I have a postage stamp lot now
I aim to make it the most organic productive 1/3 acre in southwest Missouri
With a 20 acre plot to be added in 3 years or so

Use google maps to find your location, then use the "satellite" feature and screenshot it.

Here are some of our latest additions...

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Godsgapeach

“There are two ways to get enough: one is to accumulate more and more. The other is to desire less.”

–GK Chesterton

And here is the composite post I mentioned that got run over by the bushhog.





You can see that it was sheared a little on one side and it's definitely crooked, but still usable, and not shattered to pieces. It also didn't tear up the bushhog like a steel T-post is likely to do.

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Godsgapeach

“There are two ways to get enough: one is to accumulate more and more. The other is to desire less.”

–GK Chesterton

I love my power flex posts. I just wish they had a sturdy permenant corner post configuration that did not need end strainers.

__________________
Sold the farm no more critters
I have a postage stamp lot now
I aim to make it the most organic productive 1/3 acre in southwest Missouri
With a 20 acre plot to be added in 3 years or so

Godsgapeach, those are cute! Baby farm animals are a big perk to the lifestyle, imo.

Thanks, Gabriel. I've got one more that arrived after the photo shoot. The only non-black/brown in the bunch. It's dark grey with a few small black spots (from a white mama).

And I totally agree. They're always good for bringing a smile.

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Godsgapeach

“There are two ways to get enough: one is to accumulate more and more. The other is to desire less.”

–GK Chesterton

Godsgapeach

Good lookign calves, what breed is that red cow in the 4th picture, my wife really likes her color - bet she stays a little cooler in the summer than the black-hided cattle too!

LuckyLegs, they are Santa Gertrudis--a Brahman/Shorthorn cross--and they're a pretty big breed. Bigger by far than any of Agman's. We're in the process of downsizing... But if you're looking for a BIG, fairly sleek herd, you'd be in business.

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Godsgapeach

“There are two ways to get enough: one is to accumulate more and more. The other is to desire less.”

–GK Chesterton

That color is very similar to a red poll, but red polls are a smaller frame cow. You can see some in the link in my sig

__________________
Sold the farm no more critters
I have a postage stamp lot now
I aim to make it the most organic productive 1/3 acre in southwest Missouri
With a 20 acre plot to be added in 3 years or so

Godsgapeach

I keep following the thread, wanting to use the system even though I am in a zone 4. I realize I may have to feed hay during the true winter months, but being able to extend the grazing months by three to four months would be a bonus.
I love the colour of the red soil. What is this soild called? Do you know what gives it this colour?
How is your father feeling about the changes?

Someone had mentioned to look at the grasses that grow on the sides of the roads to know what will grow easily in the pastures. I will have to learn how to use a digital camera and post pictures to have the grasses identified.

Even though this thread is geared to cattle, I am hoping to graze a small herd of dexter cows (small frame size) and pigs. My goal is to feed the family and build a direct market.

That's good ol' georgia red clay... red color is caused by iron in the soil I believe.

trbizwiz

I would love to get a few red polls once I get my fencing redone, though I have never seen or heard for sale within a reasaonable drive of S. Louisiana.

We have lots of red clay on my prop too and in my area bahia seems to be the most common pasture forage - would love to get some fescue established if it is possible down here.

Hi, Skip.

ArmyDoc is right. The dirt (clay) is red because of iron oxide. It stains everything it touches. And right now, we're feeding some hay, but not nearly as much as in previous years. Hopefully next year will be even better. Daddy has been very pleased with everything we've done. I'm familiar with Dexters--some friends have some.

LuckyLegs, I just looked in my Southern Forages book and it says LA is out of the zone for good production. Don't know what a good substitution would be.

As promised, here is the grey calf and Ma:



and posing:

__________________
Godsgapeach

“There are two ways to get enough: one is to accumulate more and more. The other is to desire less.”

–GK Chesterton