Grazing a new stand of pasture?

Dieselrider · #1 09/05/12, 06:41 AM

Taking back a field for grazing to extend our pastures. This piece (about 3 acres) was planted to oats and grass this spring and is looking good right now. Oats have been off for about 6-8 weeks now. Neighbor has said I shouldn't graze it this year as the animals may hurt the new roots of the grasses. I could really use the space as it has been dry and other paddocks are not coming on fast enough to keep up. I found this from, the university of Georgia How long should I wait to graze newly planted forages?

Any of you cattle folks have any input on this? Thanks.

bigbluegrass · #2 09/05/12, 07:56 AM

What kind of grass or grasses did you plant?

Some grasses should not be grazed in the establishment year. The ones that come to mind are native warm season grasses - big bluestem, little bluestem, switchgrass, eastern gamagrass, indiangrass. You can kill them or set them back if you graze them in the establishment year - especially this late in the summer. Wait until the first hard frost or November 1 and then graze it.

Most cool season grasses - fescue, orchard grass, timothy, etc. would be fine. They are just going to start regrowing with cooler fall weather. I would do a quick rotation through it and then let it regrow before winter - you won't really be able to stockpile this late, but it will green back up and you could get another rotation through it.

Alfalfa would probably be best not to graze this late in the year. Wait until the first hard frost or November 1 and then graze it.

Clovers - could be grazed now until after the first frost.

At least that is how I do things!

agmantoo · #3 09/05/12, 08:59 AM

Dieselrider

My thoughts would be to go ahead and feed hay until the first frost. After the frost do what rotational grazing you can. I believe the days on hay will not be any longer than if you did not feed hay at this time. Energy levels are not high at this time and marginal hay should keep the cattle in good body condition. You still have some weather that should enable growth regardless of what is planted. Therefore, rather than sacrifice this growth by grazing now you will have more total growth from the newly planted area and by waiting better root establishment when you do graze. IMO this practice will lessen the amount of total hay fed and increase the total forage available for grazing.

Dieselrider · #4 09/05/12, 09:22 AM

Thanks guys.
I was hoping to feed grass till butcher time. But, your wisdom and experience is appreciated. I can feed hay and some grass from a sacrifice lot and maybe move butchering dates up to get a few head off the grass as well. That will cut the numbers down.